The Deluge. Vol. 2

"According to order! a hair will not fall from his head," said the little knight.

"Pan Michael," said Zagloba to him, after the departure of the voevoda, "I am curious to know what persons are urging our Sapyo[2 - Sapyeha.] not to let Radzivill live when he captures him."

"How should I know?" answered the little knight.

"If you say that what another mouth does not whisper to your ear your own will not suggest, you tell the truth! But they must be some considerable persons, since they are able to command the voevoda."

"Maybe it is the king himself."

"The king? If a dog bit the king he would forgive him that minute, and give him cheese in addition. Such is his heart."

"I will not dispute about that; but still, do they not say that he is greatly incensed at Radzivill?"

"First, any man will succeed in being angry, – for example, my anger at Radzivill; secondly, how could he be incensed at Radzeyovski when he took his sons in guardianship, because the father was not better? That is a golden heart, and I think it is the queen who is making requests against the life of Radzivill. She is a worthy lady, not a word against that, but she has a woman's mind; and know that if a woman is enraged at you, even should you hide in a crack of the floor, she will pick you out with a pin."

Volodyovski sighed at this, and said, —

"Why should any woman be angry with me, since I have never made trouble for one in my life?"

"Ah, but you would have been glad to do so. Therefore, though you serve in the cavalry, you rush on so wildly against the walls of Tykotsin with infantry, for you think not only is Radzivill there, but Panna Billevich. I know you, you rogue! Is it not true? You have not driven her out of your head yet."

"There was a time when I had put her thoroughly out of my head; and Kmita himself, if now here, would be forced to confess that my action was knightly, not wishing to act against people in love. I chose to forget my rebuff, but I will not hide this: if Panna Billevich is now in Tykotsin, and if God permits me a second time to save her from trouble, I shall see in that the expressed will of Providence. I need take no thought of Kmita, I owe him nothing; and the hope is alive in me that if he left her of his own will she must have forgotten him, and such a thing will not happen now as happened to me the first time."

Conversing in this way, they reached their quarters, where they found Pan Yan and Pan Stanislav, Roh Kovalski and the lord tenant of Vansosh, Jendzian.

The cause of Sapyeha's trip to Tyshovtsi was no secret, hence all the knights were pleased that so honorable a confederacy would rise in defence of the faith and the country.

"Another wind is blowing now in the whole Commonwealth," said Pan Stanislav, "and, thanks be to God, in the eyes of the Swedes."

"It began from Chenstohova," answered Pan Yan. "There was news yesterday that the cloister holds out yet, and repulses more and more powerful assaults. Permit not, Most Holy Mother, the enemy to put Thy dwelling-place to shame."

Here Jendzian sighed and said: "Besides the holy images how much precious treasure would go into enemies' hands; when a man thinks of that, food refuses to pass his throat!"

"The troops are just tearing away to the assault; we can hardly hold them back," said Pan Michael. "Yesterday Stankyevich's squadron moved without orders and without ladders, for they said, 'When we finish this traitor, we will go to relieve Chenstohova;' and when any man mentions Chenstohova all grit their teeth and shake their sabres."

"Why have we so many squadrons here when one half would be enough for Tykotsin?" asked Zagloba. "It is the stubbornness of Sapyeha, nothing more. He does not wish to obey me; he wants to show that without my counsel he can do something. As you see yourselves, how are so many men to invest one paltry castle? They merely hinder one another, for there is not room for them all."

"Military experience speaks through you, – it is impossible!" answered Pan Stanislav.

"Well, I have a head on my shoulders."

"Uncle has a head on his shoulders!" cried Pan Roh, suddenly; and straightening his mustaches, he began to look around on all present as if seeking some one to contradict him.

"But the voevoda too has a head," answered Pan Yan; "and if so many squadrons are here, there is danger that Prince Boguslav might come to the relief of his cousin."

"Then send a couple of light squadrons to ravage Electoral Prussia," said Zagloba; "and summon volunteers there from among common people. I myself would be the first man to go to try Prussian beer."

"Beer is not good in winter, unless warmed," remarked Pan Michael.

"Then give us wine, or gorailka, or mead," said Zagloba.

Others also exhibited a willingness to drink; therefore the lord tenant of Vansosh occupied himself with that business, and soon a number of decanters were on the table. Hearts were glad at this sight, and the knights began to drink to one another, raising their goblets each time for a new health.

"Destruction to the Swedes, may they not skin our bread very long!" said Zagloba. "Let them devour their pine cones in Sweden."

"To the health of his Royal Grace and the Queen!" said Pan Yan.

"And to loyal men!" said Volodyovski.

"Then to our own healths!"

"To the health of Uncle!" thundered Kovalski.

"God reward! Into your hands! and empty though your lips to the bottom. Zagloba is not yet entirely old! Worthy gentlemen! may we smoke this badger out of his hole with all haste, and move then to Chenstohova."

"To Chenstohova!" shouted Kovalski. "To the rescue of the Most Holy Lady."

"To Chenstohova!" cried all.

"To defend the treasures of Yasna Gora from the Pagans!" added Jendzian.

"Who pretend that they believe in the Lord Jesus, wishing to hide their wickedness; but in fact they only howl at the moon like dogs, and in this is all their religion."

"And such as these raise their hands against the splendors of Yasna Gora!"

"You have touched the spot in speaking of their faith," said Volodyovski to Zagloba, "for I myself have heard how they howl at the moon. They said afterward that they were singing Lutheran psalms; but it is certain that the dogs sing such psalms."

"How is that?" asked Kovalski. "Are there such people among them?"

"There is no other kind," answered Zagloba, with deep conviction.

"And is their king no better?"

"Their king is the worst of all. He began this war of purpose to blaspheme the true faith in the churches."

Here Kovalski, who had drunk much, rose and said: "If that is true, then as sure as you are looking at me, and as I am Kovalski, I'll spring straight at the Swedish king in the first battle, and though he stood in the densest throng, that is nothing! My death or his! I'll reach him with my lance, – hold me a fool, gentlemen, if I do not!"

When he had said this he clinched his fist and was going to thunder on the table. He would have smashed the glasses and decanters, and broken the table; but Zagloba caught him hastily by the arm and said, —

"Sit down, Roh, and give us peace. We will not think you a fool if you do not do this, but know that we will not stop thinking you a fool until you have done it. I do not understand, though, how you can raise a lance on the King of Sweden, when you are not in the hussars."

"I will join the escort and be enrolled in the squadron of Prince Polubinski; and my father will help me."

"Father Roh?"

"Of course."

"Let him help you, but break not these glasses, or I'll be the first man to break your head. Of what was I speaking, gentlemen? Ah! of Chenstohova. Luctus (grief) will devour me, if we do not come in time to save the holy place. Luctus will devour me, I tell you all! And all through that traitor Radzivill and the philosophical reasoning of Sapyeha."