CHAPTER XXVII.
Independent detachments, occupied in robbery on both banks of theDniester, were made up of men of all nationalities inhabiting theneighboring countries. Runaway Tartars from the Dobrudja and Belgrodhordes, wilder still and braver than their Crimean brethren, alwayspreponderated in them; but there were not lacking either Wallachians,Cossacks, Hungarians, Polish domestics escaped from stanitsas on thebanks of the Dniester. They ravaged now on the Polish, now on theMoldavian side, crossing and recrossing the boundary river, as theywere hunted by the perkulab's forces or by the commandants of theCommonwealth. They had their almost inaccessible hiding-places inravines, forests, and caves. The main object of their attacks was theherds of cattle and horses belonging to the stanitsas; these herds didnot leave the steppes even in winter, seeking sustenance for themselvesunder the snow. But, besides, the robbers attacked villages, hamlets,settlements, smaller commands, Polish and even Turkish merchants,intermediaries going with ransom to the Crimea. These bands had theirown order and their leaders, but they joined forces rarely. It happenedoften even that larger bands cut down smaller ones. They had increasedgreatly everywhere in the Russian regions, especially since the time ofthe Cossack wars, when safety of every kind vanished in those parts.The bands on the Dniester, reinforced by fugitives from the horde, werepeculiarly terrible. Some appeared numbering five hundred. Theirleaders took the title of "bey." They ravaged the country in a mannerthoroughly Tartar, and more than once the commandants themselves didnot know whether they had to do with bandits or with advance chambulsof the whole horde. Against mounted troops, especially the cavalry ofthe Commonwealth, these bands could not stand in the open field; but,caught in a trap, they fought desperately, knowing well that if takencaptive the halter was waiting for them. Their arms were various. Bowsand guns were lacking them, which, however, were of little use in nightattacks. The greater part were armed with daggers and Turkishyataghans, sling-shots, Tartar sabres, and with horse-skulls fastenedto oak clubs with cords. This last weapon, in strong hands, didterrible service, for it smashed every sabre. Some had very long forkspointed with iron, some spears; these in sudden emergencies they usedagainst cavalry.
The band which had halted at Sirotski Brod must have been numerous ormust have been in extreme peril on the Moldavian side, since it hadventured to approach the command at Hreptyoff, in spite of the terrorwhich the name alone of Pan Volodyovski roused in the robbers on bothsides of the boundary. In fact, another party brought intelligence thatit was composed of more than four hundred men, under the leadership ofAzba Bey, a famous ravager, who for a number of years had filled thePolish and Moldavian banks with terror.
Pan Volodyovski was delighted when he knew with whom he had todo, and issued proper orders at once. Besides Mellehovich and PanMotovidlo, the squadron of the starosta of Podolia went, and that ofthe under-stolnik of Premysl. They set out in the night, and, as itwere, in different directions; for as fishermen who cast their netswidely, in order afterward to meet at one opening, so those squadrons,marching in a broad circle, were to meet at Sirotski Brod about dawn.
Basia assisted with beating heart at the departure of the troops, sincethis was to be her first expedition; and the heart rose in her at sightof those old wolves of the steppe. They went so quietly that in thefortalice itself it was possible not to hear them: the bridle-bits didnot rattle; stirrup did not strike against stirrup, sabre againstsabre; not a horse neighed. The night was calm and unusually bright.The full moon lighted clearly the heights of the stanitsa and thesteppe, which was somewhat inclined toward every side; still, barelyhad a squadron left the stockade, barely had it glittered with silversparks, which the moon marked on the sabres, when it had vanished fromthe eye like a flock of partridges into waves of grass. It seemed toBasia that they were sportsmen setting out on some hunt, which was tobegin at daybreak, and were going therefore quietly and carefully, soas not to rouse the game too early. Hence great desire entered herheart to take part in that hunt.
Pan Michael did not oppose this, for Zagloba had inclined him toconsent. He knew besides that it was necessary to gratify Basia's wishsometime; he preferred therefore to do it at once, especially since theravagers were not accustomed to bows and muskets. But they moved onlythree hours after the departure of the first squadrons, for Pan Michaelhad thus planned the whole affair. Pan Mushalski, with twenty ofLinkhauz's dragoons and a sergeant, went with them,--all Mazovians,choice men, behind whose sabres the charming wife of the commandant wasas safe as in her husband's room.
Basia herself, having to ride on a man's saddle, was dressedaccordingly; she wore pearl-colored velvet trousers, very wide, lookinglike a petticoat, and thrust into yellow morocco boots; a gray overcoatlined with white Crimean sheep-skin and embroidered ornamentally at theseams; she carried a silver cartridge-box, of excellent work, a lightTurkish sabre on a silk pendant, and pistols in her holsters. Her headwas covered with a cap, having a crown of Venetian velvet, adorned witha heron-feather, and bound with a rim of lynx-skin; from under the caplooked forth a bright rosy face, almost childlike, and two eyes curiousand gleaming like coals.
Thus equipped, and sitting on a chestnut pony, swift and gentle as adeer, she seemed a hetman's child, who, under guard of old warriors,was going to take the first lesson. They were astonished too at herfigure. Pan Zagloba and Pan Mushalski nudged each other with theirelbows, each kissing his hand from time to time, in sign of unusualhomage for Basia; both of them, together with Pan Michael, allayed herfear as to their late departure.
"You do not know war," said the little knight, "and therefore reproachus with wishing to take you to the place when the battle is over. Somesquadrons go directly; others must make a detour, so as to cut off theroads, and then they will join the others in silence, taking the enemyin a trap. We shall be there in time, and without us nothing willbegin, for every hour is reckoned."
"But if the enemy takes alarm and escapes between the squadrons?"
"He is cunning and watchful, but such a war is no novelty to us."
"Trust in Michael," cried Zagloba; "for there is not a man of morepractice than he. Their evil fate sent those bullock-drivers hither."
"In Lubni I was a youth," said Pan Michael; "and even then theycommitted such duties to me. Now, wishing to show you this spectacle, Ihave disposed everything with still greater care. The squadrons willappear before the enemy together, will shout together, and gallopagainst the robbers together, as if some one had cracked a whip."
"I! I!" piped Basia, with delight; and standing in the stirrups, shecaught the little knight by the neck. "But may I gallop, too? What,Michael, what?" asked she, with sparkling eyes.
"Into the throng I will not let you go, for in the throng an accidentis easy, not to mention this,--that your horse might stumble; but Ihave ordered to give rein to our horses immediately the band drivenagainst us is scattered, and then you may cut down two or three men,and attack always on the left side, for in that way it will be awkwardfor the fugitive to strike across his horse at you, while you will havehim under your hand."
"Ho! ho! never fear. You said yourself that I work with the sabre farbetter than Uncle Makovetski; let no one give me advice!"
"Remember to hold the bridle firmly," put in Zagloba. "They have theirmethods; and it may be that when you are chasing, the fugitive willturn his horse suddenly and stop, then before you can pass, he maystrike you. A veteran never lets his horse out too much, but reins himin as he wishes."
"And never raise your sabre too high, lest you be exposed to a thrust,"said Pan Mushalski.
"I shall be near her to guard against accident," said the littleknight. "You see, in battle the whole difficulty is in this, that youmust think of all things at once,--of your horse, of the enemy, of yourbridle, the sabre, the blow, and the thrust, all at one time. For himwho is trained this comes of itself; but at first even renowned fencersare frequently awkward, and any common fellow, if in practice, willunhorse a new man more skilled
than himself. Therefore I will be atyour side."
"But do not rescue me, and give command to the men that no one is torescue me without need."
"Well, well! we shall see yet what your courage will be when it comesto a trial," answered the little knight, laughing.
"Or if you will not seize one of us by the skirts," finished Zagloba.
"We shall see!" said Basia, with indignation.
Thus conversing, they entered a place covered here and there withthicket. The hour was not far from daybreak, but it had become darker,for the moon had gone down. A light fog had begun to rise from theground and conceal distant objects. In that light fog and gloom, theindistinct thickets at a distance took the forms of living creatures inthe excited imagination of Basia. More than once it seemed to her thatshe saw men and horses clearly.
"Michael, what is that?" asked she, whispering, and pointing with herfinger.
"Nothing; bushes."
"I thought it was horsemen. Shall we be there soon?"
"The affair will begin in something like an hour and a half."
"Ha!"
"Are you afraid?"
"No; but my heart beats with great desire. I, fear! Nothing andnothing! See, what hoar-frost lies there! It is visible in the dark."
In fact, they were riding along a strip of country on which the longdry stems of steppe-grass were covered with hoarfrost. Pan Michaellooked and said,--
"Motovidlo has passed this way. He must be hidden not more than acouple of miles distant. It is dawning already!"
In fact, day was breaking. The gloom was decreasing. The sky and earthwere becoming gray; the air was growing pale; the tops of the trees andthe bushes were becoming covered, as it were, with silver. The fartherclumps began to disclose themselves, as if some one were raising acurtain from before them one after another. Meanwhile from the nextclump a horseman came out suddenly.
"From Pan Motovidlo?" asked Volodyovski, when the Cossack stopped rightbefore them.
"Yes, your grace."
"What is to be heard?"
"They crossed Sirotski Brod, turned toward the bellowing of thebullocks, and went in the direction of Kalusik. They took the cattle,and are at Yurgove Polye."
"And where is Pan Motovidlo?"
"He has stopped near the hill, and Pan Mellehovich neat Kalusik. Wherethe other squadrons are I know not."
"Well," said Volodyovski, "I know. Hurry to Pan Motovidlo and carry thecommand to close in, and dispose men singly as far as halfway from PanMellehovich. Hurry!"
The Cossack bent in the saddle and shot forward, so that the flanks ofhis horse quivered at once, and soon he was out of sight. They rode onstill more quietly, still more cautiously. Meanwhile it had becomeclear day. The haze which had risen from the earth about dawn fell awayaltogether, and on the eastern side of the sky appeared a long streak,bright and rosy, the rosiness and light of which began to color the airon high land, the edges of distant ravines, and the hill-tops. Thenthere came to the ears of the horsemen a mingled croaking from thedirection of the Dniester; and high in the air before them appeared,flying eastward, an immense flock of ravens. Single birds separatedevery moment from the others, and instead of flying forward directlybegan to describe circles, as kites and falcons do when seeking forprey. Pan Zagloba raised his sabre, pointing the tip of it to theravens, and said to Basia,--
"Admire the sense of these birds. Only let it come to a battle in anyplace, straightway they will fly in from every side, as if some one hadshaken them from a bag. But let the same army march alone, or go out tomeet friends, the birds will not come; thus are these creatures able todivine the intentions of men, though no one assists them. The wisdom ofnostrils is not sufficient in this case, and so we have reason towonder."
Meanwhile the birds, croaking louder and louder, approachedconsiderably; therefore Pan Mushalski turned to the little knight andsaid, striking his palm on the bow, "Pan Commandant, will it beforbidden to bring down one, to please the lady? It will make nonoise."
"Bring down even two," said Volodyovski, seeing how the old soldier hadthe weakness of showing the certainty of his arrows.
Thereupon the incomparable bowman, reaching behind his shoulder, tookout a feathered arrow, put it on the string, and raising the bow andhis head, waited.
The flock was drawing nearer and nearer. All reined in their horses andlooked with curiosity toward the sky. All at once the plaintive wheezeof the string was heard, like the twitter of a sparrow; and the arrow,rushing forth, vanished near the flock. For a while it might be thoughtthat Mushalski had missed, but, behold, a bird reeled head downward,and was dropping straight toward the ground over their heads, thentumbling continually, approached nearer and nearer; at last it began tofall with outspread wings, like a leaf opposing the air. Soon it fell afew steps in front of Basia's pony. The arrow had gone through theraven, so that the point was gleaming above the bird's back.
"As a lucky omen," said Mushalski, bowing to Basia, "I will have an eyefrom a distance on the lady commandress and my great benefactress; andif there is a sudden emergency, God grant me again to send out afortunate arrow. Though it may buzz near by, I assure you that it willnot wound."
"I should not like to be the Tartar under your aim," answered Basia.
Further conversation was interrupted by Volodyovski, who said, pointingto a considerable eminence some furlongs away, "We will halt there."
After these words they moved forward at a trot. Halfway up, the littleknight commanded them to lessen their pace, and at last, not far fromthe top, he held in his horse.
"We will not go to the very top," said he, "for on such a brightmorning the eye might catch us from a distance; but dismounting, wewill approach the summit, so that a few heads may look over."
When he had said this, he sprang from his horse, and after him Basia,Pan Mushalski, and a number of others. The dragoons remained below thesummit, holding their horses; but the others pushed on to where theheight descended in wall form, almost perpendicularly, to the valley.At the foot of this wall, which was a number of tens of yards inheight, grew a somewhat dense, narrow strip of brushwood, and fartheron extended a low level steppe; of this they were able to take in anenormous expanse with their eyes from the height. This plain, cutthrough by a small stream running in the direction of Kalusik, wascovered with clumps of thicket in the same way that it was near thecliff. In the thickest clumps slender columns of smoke were rising tothe sky.
"Yon see," said Pan Michael to Basia, "that the enemy is hidden there."
"I see smoke, but I see neither men nor horses," said Basia, with abeating heart.
"No; for they are concealed by the thickets, though a trained eye cansee them. Look there: two, three, four, a whole group of horses are tobe seen,--one pied, another all white, and from here one seems blue."
"Shall we go to them soon?"
"They will be driven to us; but we have time enough, for to thatthicket it is a mile and a quarter."
"Where are our men?"
"Do you see the edge of the wood yonder? The chamberlain's squadronmust be touching that edge just now. Mellehovich will come out of theother side in a moment. The accompanying squadron will attack therobbers from that cliff. Seeing people, they will move toward us, forhere it is possible to go to the river under the slope; but on theother side there is a ravine, terribly steep, through which no one cango."
"Then they are in a trap?"
"As you see."
"For God's sake! I am barely able to stand still!" cried Basia; butafter a while she inquired, "Michael, if they were wise, what wouldthey do?"
"They would rush, as if into smoke, at the men of the chamberlain'ssquadron and go over their bellies. Then they would be free. But theywill not do that, for, first, they do not like to rush into the eyes ofregular cavalry; secondly, they will be afraid that more troops arewaiting in the forest; therefore they will rush to us."
"Bah! But we cannot resist them; we have only twenty men."
"But Motov
idlo?"
"True! Ha! but where is he?"
Pan Michael, instead of an answer, cried suddenly, imitating a hawk.Straightway numerous calls answered him from the foot of the cliff.These were Motovidlo's Cossacks, who were secreted so well in thethicket that Basia, though standing right above their heads, had notseen them at all. She looked for a while with astonishment, nowdownward, now at the little knight; suddenly her eyes flashed withfire, and she seized her husband by the neck.
"Michael, you are the first leader on earth."
"I have a little training, that is all," answered Volodyovski, smiling."But do not pat me here with delight, and remember that a good soldiermust be calm."
But the warning was useless; Basia was as if in a fever. She wished tosit straightway on her horse and ride down from the height to joinMotovidlo's detachment; but Volodyovski delayed, for he wished her tosee the beginning clearly. Meanwhile the morning sun had risen over thesteppe and covered with a cold, pale yellow light the whole plain. Thenearer clumps of trees were brightening cheerfully; the more distantand less distinct became more distinct; the hoar-frost, lying in thelow places in spots, was disappearing every moment; the air had grownquite transparent, and the glance could extend to a distance almostwithout limit.
"The chamberlain's squadron is coming out of the grove," saidVolodyovski; "I see men and horses."
In fact, horses began to emerge from the edge of the wood, and seemedblack in a long line on the meadow, which was thickly covered withhoar-frost near the wood. The white space between them and the woodbegan to widen gradually. It was evident that they were not hurryingtoo much, wishing to give time to the other squadrons. Pan Michaelturned then to the left side.
"Mellehovich is here too," said he. And after a while he said again,"And the men of the under-stolnik of Premysl are coming. No one isbehind time two 'Our Fathers.' Not a foot should escape! Now to horse!"
They turned quickly to the dragoons, and springing into the saddlesrode down along the flank of the height to the thicket below, wherethey found themselves among Motovidlo's Cossacks. Then they moved in amass to the edge of the thicket, and halted, looking forward.
It was evident that the enemy had seen the squadron of the chamberlain,for at that moment crowds of horsemen rushed out of the grove growingin the middle of the plain, as deer rush when some one has roused them.Every moment more of them came out. Forming a line, they moved at firstover the steppe by the edge of the grove; the horsemen bent to thebacks of the horses, so that from a distance it might be supposed thatthat was merely a herd moving of itself along the grove. Clearly, theywere not certain yet whether the squadron was moving against them, oreven saw them, or whether it was a detachment examining theneighborhood. In the last event they might hope that the grove wouldhide them from the eyes of the on-coming party.
From the place where Pan Michael stood, at the head of Motovidlo's men,the uncertain and hesitating movements of the chambul could be seenperfectly, and were just like the movements of wild beasts sniffingdanger. When they had ridden half the width of the grove, they began togo at a light gallop. When the first ranks reached the open plain, theyheld in their beasts suddenly, and then the whole party did the same.They saw approaching from that side Mellehovich's detachment. Then theydescribed a half-circle in the direction opposite the grove, and beforetheir eyes appeared the whole Premysl squadron, moving at a trot.
Now it was clear to the robbers that all the squadrons knew of theirpresence and were marching against them. Wild cries were heard in themidst of the party, and disorder began. The squadrons, shouting also,advanced on a gallop, so that the plain was thundering from the trampof their horses. Seeing this, the robber chambul extended in the formof a bench in the twinkle of an eye, and chased with what breath was inthe breasts of their horses toward the elevation near which the littleknight stood with Motovidlo and his men. The space between them beganto decrease with astonishing rapidity.
Basia grew somewhat pale from emotion at first, and her heart thumpedmore powerfully in her breast; but knowing that people were looking ather, and not noticing the least alarm on any face, she controlledherself quickly. Then the crowd, approaching like a whirlwind, occupiedall her attention. She tightened the rein, grasped her sabre morefirmly, and the blood again flowed with great impulse from her heart toher face.
"Good!" said the little knight.
She looked only at him; her nostrils quivered, and she whispered,"Shall we move soon?"
"There is time yet," answered Pan Michael.
But the others are chasing on, like a gray wolf who feels dogs behindhim. Now not more than half a furlong divides them from the thicket;the outstretched heads of the horses are to be seen, with ears lyingdown, and over them Tartar faces, as if grown to the mane. They arenearer and nearer. Basia hears the snorting of the horses; and they,with bared teeth and staring eyes, show that they are going at suchspeed that their breath is stopping. Volodyovski gives a sign, and theCossack muskets, standing hedge-like, incline toward the onrushingrobbers.
"Fire!"
A roar, smoke: it was as if a whirlwind had struck a pile of chaff. Inone twinkle of an eye the party flew apart in every direction, howlingand shouting. With that the little knight pushed out of the thicket,and at the same time Mellehovich's squadron, and that of thechamberlain, closing the circle, forced the scattered enemy to thecentre again in one group. The horde seek in vain to escape singly; invain they circle around; they rush to the right, to the left, to thefront, to the rear; the circle is closed up completely; the robberscome therefore more closely together in spite of themselves. Meanwhilethe squadrons hurry up, and a horrible smashing begins.
The ravagers understood that only he would escape with his life whocould batter his way through; hence they fell to defending themselveswith rage and despair, though without order and each for himselfindependently. In the very beginning they covered the field thickly, sogreat was the fury of the shock. The soldiers, pressing them and urgingtheir horses on in spite of the throng, hewed and thrust with thatmerciless and terrible skill which only a soldier by profession canhave. The noise of pounding was heard above that circle of men,like the thumping of flails wielded by a multitude quickly on athreshing-space. The horde were slashed and cut through their heads,shoulders, necks, and through the hands with which they covered theirheads; they were beaten on every side unceasingly, without quarter orpity. They too struck, each with what he had, with daggers, withsabres, with sling-shots, with horse-skulls. Their horses, pushed tothe centre, rose on their haunches, or fell on their backs. Others,biting and whining, kicked at the throng, causing confusionunspeakable. After a short struggle in silence, a howl was torn fromthe breasts of the robbers; superior numbers were bending them, betterweapons, greater skill. They understood that there was no rescue forthem; that no man would leave there, not only with plunder, but withlife. The soldiers, warming up gradually, pounded them with growingforce. Some of the robbers sprang from their saddles, wishing to slipaway between the legs of the horses. These were trampled with hoofs,and sometimes the soldiers turned from the fight and pierced thefugitives from above; some fell on the ground, hoping that when thesquadrons pushed toward the centre, they, left beyond the circle, mightescape by flight.
In fact, the party decreased more and more, for every moment horses andmen fell away. Seeing this, Azba Bey collected, as far as he was able,horses and men in a wedge, and threw himself with all his might onMotovidlo's Cossacks, wishing to break the ring at any cost. But theyhurled him back, and then began a terrible slaughter. At that same timeMellehovich, raging like a flame, split the party, and leaving thehalves to two other squadrons, sprang himself on the shoulders of thosewho were fighting with the Cossacks.
It is true that a part of the robbers escaped from the ring to thefield through this movement and rushed apart over the plain, like aflock of leaves; but soldiers in the rear ranks who could not findaccess to the battle, through the narrowness of the combat, rushedafter them straightway in
twos and threes or singly. Those who wereunable to break out went under the sword in spite of their passionatedefence and fell near each other, like grain which harvesters arereaping from opposite sides.
Basia moved on with the Cossacks, piping with a thin voice to giveherself courage, for at the first moment it grew a little dark in hereyes, both from the speed and the mighty excitement. When she rushed upto the enemy, she saw before her at first only a dark, moving, surgingmass. An overpowering desire to close her eyes altogether was bearingher away. She resisted the desire, it is true; still she struck withher sabre somewhat at random. Soon her daring overcame her confusion;she had clear vision at once. In front she saw heads of horses, behindthem inflamed and wild faces; one of these gleamed right there beforeher; Basia gave a sweeping cut, and the face vanished as quickly as ifit had been a phantom. That moment the calm voice of her husband cameto her ears.
"Good!"
That voice gave her uncommon pleasure; she piped again more thinly, andbegan to extend disaster, and now with perfect presence of mind.Behold, again some terrible head, with flat nose and projectingcheek-bones, is gnashing its teeth before her. Basia gives a blow atthat one. Again a hand raises a sling-shot. Basia strikes at that. Shesees some face in a sheepskin; she thrusts at that. Then she strikes tothe right, to the left, straight ahead; and whenever she cuts, a manflies to the ground, tearing the bridle from his horse. Basia wondersthat it is so easy; but it is easy because on one side rides, stirrupto her stirrup, the little knight, and on the other Pan Motovidlo. Thefirst looks carefully after her, and quenches a man as he would acandle; then with his keen blade he cuts off an arm together with itsweapon; at times he thrusts his sword between Basia and the enemy, andthe hostile sabre flies upward as suddenly as would a winged bird.
Pan Motovidlo, a phlegmatic soldier, guarded the other side of themettlesome lady; and as an industrious gardener, going among trees,trims or breaks off dry branches, so he time after time brings down mento the bloody earth, fighting as coolly and calmly as if his mind werein another place. Both knew when to let Basia go forward alone, andwhen to anticipate or intercept her. There was watching over her from adistance still a third man,--the incomparable archer, who, standingpurposely at a distance, put every little while the butt of an arrow onthe string, and sent an unerring messenger of death to the densestthrong.
But the pressure became so savage that Pan Michael commanded Basia towithdraw from the whirl with some men, especially as the half-wildhorses of the horde began to bite and kick. Basia obeyed quickly; foralthough eagerness was bearing her away, and her valiant heart urgedher to continue the struggle, her woman's nature was gaining the upperhand of her ardor; and in presence of that slaughter and blood, in themidst of howls, groans, and the agonies of the dying, in an atmospherefilled with the odor of flesh and sweat, she began to shudder.Withdrawing her horse slowly, she soon found herself behind the circleof combatants; hence Pan Michael and Pan Motovidlo, relieved fromguarding her, were able to give perfect freedom at last to theirsoldierly wishes.
Pan Mushalski, standing hitherto at a distance, approached Basia. "Yourladyship, my benefactress, fought really like a cavalier," said he. "Aman not knowing that you were there might have thought that theArchangel Michael had come down to help our Cossacks, and was smitingthe dog brothers. What an honor for them to perish under such a hand,which on this occasion let it not be forbidden me to kiss." So saying,Pan Mushalski seized Basia's hand and pressed it to his mustache.
"Did you see? Did I do well, really?" inquired Basia, catching the airin her distended nostrils and her mouth.
"A cat could not do better against rats. The heart rose in me at sightof you, as I love the Lord God. But you did well to withdraw from thefight, for toward the end there is more chance for an accident."
"My husband commanded me; and when leaving home, I promised to obey himat once."
"May my bow remain? No! it is of no use now; besides, I will rushforward with the sabre. I see three men riding up; of course thecolonel has sent them to guard your worthy person. Otherwise I wouldsend; but I will go to the foot of the cliff, for the end will comesoon, and I must hurry."
Three dragoons really came to guard Basia; seeing this, Pan Mushalskispurred his horse and galloped away. For a while Basia hesitatedwhether to remain in that place or ride around the steep cliff, and goto the eminence from which they had looked on the plain before thebattle. But feeling great weariness, she resolved to remain.
The feminine nature rose in her more and more powerfully. About twohundred yards distant they were cutting down the remnant of theravagers without mercy, and a black mass of strugglers was whirlingwith growing violence on the bloody place of conflict. Despairing criesrent the air; and Basia, so full of eagerness shortly before, had grownweak now in some way. Great fear seized her, so that she came nearfainting, and only shame in presence of the dragoons kept her in thesaddle; she turned her face from them to hide her pallor. The fresh airbrought back her strength slowly and her courage, but not to thatdegree that she had the wish to spring in anew among the combatants.She would have done so to implore mercy for the rest of the horde. Butknowing that that would be useless, she waited anxiously for the end ofthe struggle. And there they were cutting and cutting. The sound of thehacking and the cries did not cease for a moment. Half an hour perhapshad passed; the squadrons were closing in with greater force. All atonce a party of ravagers, numbering about twenty, tore themselves freeof the murderous circle, and rushed like a whirlwind toward theeminence.
Escaping along the cliff, they might in fact reach a place where theeminence was lost by degrees in the plain, and find on the high steppetheir salvation; but in their way stood Basia with the dragoons. Thesight of danger gave strength to Basia's heart at this moment, andself-control to her mind. She understood that to stay where she was wasdestruction; for the robbers with impetus alone could overturn andtrample her and her guards, not to mention that they would bear themapart on sabres. The old sergeant of dragoons was clearly of this view,for he seized the bridle of Basia's pony, turned the beast, and criedwith voice almost despairing,--
"On, on! serene lady!"
Basia shot away like the wind; but the three faithful soldiers stoodlike a wall on the spot, to hold back the enemy even one moment, andgive the beloved lady time to put herself at a distance. Meanwhilesoldiers galloped after that band in immediate pursuit; but the circlehitherto enclosing the ravagers hermetically was thereby broken; theybegan to escape in twos, in threes, and then more numerously. Theenormous majority were lying on the field, but some tens of them,together with Azba Bey, were able to flee. All these rushed on in abody as fast as their horses could gallop toward the eminence.
Three dragoons could not detain all the fugitives,--in fact, after ashort struggle they fell from their saddles; but the cloud, running onbehind Basia, turned to the slope of the eminence and reached the highsteppe. The Polish squadrons in the front ranks and the nearerLithuanian Tartars rushed with all speed some tens of steps behindthem. On the high steppe, which was cut across thickly by treacherousclefts and ravines, was formed a gigantic serpent of those onhorseback, the head of which was Basia, the neck the ravagers, and thecontinuation of the body Mellehovich with the Lithuanian Tartars anddragoons, at the head of which rushed Volodyovski, with his spurs inthe side of his horse, and terror in his soul.
At the moment when the handful of robbers had torn themselves free ofthe ring, Volodyovski was engaged on the opposite side of it; thereforeMellehovich preceded him in the pursuit. The hair was standing on hishead at the thought that Basia might be seized by the fugitives; thatshe might lose presence of mind, and rush straight toward the Dniester;that any one of the robbers might reach her with a sabre, a dagger, ora sling-shot,--and the heart was sinking in him from fear for her life.Lying almost on the neck of the horse, he was pale, with set teeth, awhirlwind of ghastly thoughts in his head; he pricked his steed witharmed heels, struck him with the side of his sword, and flew like abust
ard before he rises to soar.
"God grant Mellehovich to come up! He is on a good horse. God granthim!" repeated he, in despair.
But his fears were ill founded, and the danger was not so great as itseemed to the loving knight. The question of their own skins was toonear to the robbers; they felt the Lithuanian Tartars too close totheir shoulders to pursue a single rider, even were that rider the mostbeautiful houri in the Mohammedan paradise, escaping in a robe set withjewels. Basia needed only to turn toward Hreptyoff to escape frompursuit; for surely the fugitives would not return to the jaws of thelion for her, while they had before them a river, with its reeds inwhich they could hide. The Lithuanian Tartars had better horses, andBasia was sitting on a pony incomparably swifter than the ordinaryshaggy beasts of the horde, which were enduring in flight, but not soswift as horses of high blood. Besides, she not only did not losepresence of mind, but her daring nature asserted itself with all force,and knightly blood played again in her veins. The pony stretched outlike a deer; the wind whistled in Basia's ears, and instead of fear, acertain feeling of delight seized her.
"They might hunt a whole year, and not catch me," thought she. "I'llrush on yet, and then turn, and either let them pass, or if they havenot stopped pursuing, I will put them under the sabre."
It came to her mind that if the ravagers behind her were scatteredgreatly over the steppe, she might, on turning, meet one of them andhave a hand-to-hand combat.
"Well, what is that?" said she to her valiant soul. "Michael has taughtme so that I may venture boldly; if I do not, they will think that I amfleeing through fear, and will not take me on another expedition; andbesides, Pan Zagloba will make sport of me."
Saying this to herself, she looked around at the robbers, but they werefleeing in a crowd. There was no possibility of single combat; butBasia wished to give proof before the eyes of the whole army that shewas not fleeing at random and in frenzy. Remembering that she had inthe holsters two excellent pistols carefully loaded by Michael himselfbefore they set out, she began to rein in her pony, or rather to turnhim toward Hreptyoff, while slacking his speed. But, oh, wonder! atsight of this the whole party of ravagers changed the direction oftheir flight somewhat, going more to the left, toward the edge of theeminence. Basia, letting them come within a few tens of steps, firedtwice at the nearest horses; then, turning, urged on at full galloptoward Hreptyoff.
But the pony had run barely some yards with the speed of a sparrow,when suddenly there darkened in front a cleft in the steppe. Basiapressed the pony with her spurs without hesitation, and the noble beastdid not refuse, but sprang forward; only his fore feet caught somewhatthe bank opposite. For a moment he strove violently to find support onthe steep wall with his hind feet; but the earth, not sufficientlyfrozen yet, fell away, and the horse went down through the opening,with Basia. Fortunately the horse did not fall on her; she succeeded infreeing her feet from the stirrups, and, leaning to one side with allforce, struck on a thick layer of moss, which covered the bottom of thechasm as if with a lining; but the shock was so violent that shefainted.
Pan Michael did not see the fall, for the horizon was concealed by theLithuanian Tartars; but Mellehovich shouted with a terrible voice athis men to pursue the ravagers without stopping, and running himself tothe cleft, disappeared in it. In a twinkle he was down from the saddle,and seized Basia in his arms. His falcon eyes saw her all in onemoment, looking to see if there was blood anywhere; then they fell onthe moss, and he understood that this had saved her and the pony fromdeath. A stifled cry of joy was rent from the mouth of the youngTartar. But Basia was hanging in his arms; he pressed her with all hisstrength to his breast; then with pale lips he kissed her eyes timeafter time, as if wishing to drink them out of her head. The wholeworld whirled with him in a mad vortex; the passion concealed hithertoin the bottom of his breast, as a dragon lies concealed in a cave,carried him away like a storm.
But at that moment the tramp of many horses was heard in an echo fromthe lofty steppe, and approached more and more swiftly. Numerous voiceswere crying, "Here! in this cleft! Here!" Mellehovich placed Basia onthe moss, and called to those riding up,--
"This way, this way!"
A moment later, Pan Michael was at the bottom of the cleft; after himPan Zagloba, Mushalski, and a number of other officers.
"Nothing is the matter," cried the Tartar. "The moss saved her."
Pan Michael grasped his insensible wife by the hands; others ran forwater, which was not near. Zagloba, seizing the temples of theunconscious woman, began to cry,--
"Basia, Basia, dearest! Basia!"
"Nothing is the matter with her," said Mellehovich, pale as a corpse.
Meanwhile Zagloba clapped his side, took a flask, poured gorailka onhis palm, and began to rub her temples. Then he put the flask to herlips; this acted evidently, for before the men returned with water, shehad opened her eyes and began to catch for air, coughing meanwhile, forthe gorailka had burned the roof of her mouth and her throat. In a fewmoments she had recovered completely.
Pan Michael, not regarding the presence of officers and soldiers,pressed her to his bosom, and covered her hands with kisses, saying,"Oh, my love, the soul came near leaving me! Has nothing hurt? Doesnothing pain you?"
"Nothing is the matter," said Basia. "Aha! I remember now that it grewdark in my eyes, for my horse slipped. But is the battle over?"
"It is. Azba Bey is killed. We will go home at once, for I am afraidthat fatigue may overcome you."
"I feel no fatigue whatever." Then, looking quickly at those present,she distended her nostrils, and said, "But do not think, gentlemen,that I fled through fear. Oho! I did not even dream of it. As I loveMichael, I galloped ahead of them only for sport, and then I fired mypistols."
"A horse was struck by those shots, and we took one robber alive," putin Mellehovich.
"And what?" asked Basia. "Such an accident may happen any one ingalloping, is it not true? No experience will save one from that, for ahorse will slip sometimes. Ha! it is well that you watched me,gentlemen, for I might have lain here a long time."
"Pan Mellehovich saw you first, and first saved you; for we weregalloping behind him," said Volodyovski.
Basia, hearing this, turned to Mellehovich and reached her hand to him."I thank you for good offices."
He made no answer, only pressed the hand to his mouth, and thenembraced with submission her feet, like a peasant.
Meanwhile more of the squadron assembled at the edge of the cleft; PanMichael simply gave orders to Mellehovich to form a circle around thefew robbers who had hidden from pursuit, and then started forHreptyoff. On the road Basia saw the field of battle once more from theheight. The bodies of men and horses lay in places in piles, in placessingly. Through the blue sky flocks of ravens were approaching more andmore numerously, with great cawing, and coming down at a distance,waited till the soldiers, still going about on the plain, shoulddepart.
"Here are the soldiers' gravediggers!" said Zagloba, pointing at thebirds with his sabre; "let us only go away, and wolves will come too,with their orchestra, and will ring with their teeth over these deadmen. This is a notable victory, though gained over such a vile enemy;for that Azba has ravaged here and there for a number of years.Commandants have hunted him like a wolf, always in vain, till at lasthe met Michael, and the black hour came on him."
"Is Azba Bey killed?"
"Mellehovich overtook him first; and I tell you if he did not cut himover the ear! The sabre went to his teeth."
"Mellehovich is a good soldier," said Basia. Here she turned toZagloba, "And have you done much?"
"I did not chirp like a cricket, nor jump like a flea, for I leave suchamusement to insects. But if I did not, men did not look for me amongmoss, like mushrooms; no one pulled my nose, and no one touched myface."
"I do not like you!" said Basia, pouting, and reaching involuntarily toher nose, which was red.
And he looked at her, smiled, and muttered, without ceasing to joke,"Yo
u fought valiantly, you fled valiantly, you went valiantly heelsover head; and now, from pain in your bones, you will put away kasha sovaliantly that we shall be forced to take care of you, lest thesparrows eat you up with your valor, for they are very fond of kasha."
"You are talking in that way so that Michael may not take me on anotherexpedition. I know you perfectly!"
"But, but I will ask him to take you nutting always, for you areskilful, and do not break branches under you. My God, that is gratitudeto me! And who persuaded Michael to let you go? I. I reproach myselfnow severely, especially since you pay me so for my devotion. Wait! youwill cut stalks now on the square at Hreptyoff with a wooden sword!Here is an expedition for you! Another woman would hug the old man; butthis scolding Satan frightens me first, and threatens me afterward."
Basia, without hesitating long, embraced Zagloba. He was greatlydelighted, and said, "Well, well! I must confess that you helpedsomewhat to the victory of to-day; for the soldiers, since each wishedto exhibit himself, fought with terrible fury."
"As true as I live," cried Pan Mushalski, "a man is not sorry to diewhen such eyes are upon him."
"Vivat our lady!" cried Pan Nyenashinyets.
"Vivat!" cried a hundred voices.
"God give her health!"
Here Zagloba inclined toward her and muttered, "After faintness!"
And they rode forward joyously, shouting, certain of a feast in theevening. The weather became wonderful. The trumpeters played in thesquadrons, the drummers beat their drums, and all entered Hreptyoffwith an uproar.
Pan Michael: An Historical Novel of Poland, the Ukraine, and Turkey Page 28
