CHAPTER LVI.
The thunder of cannon shook the castles and the town immediately afterthe kindya. The Turks had dug a fosse at the side of the castle, fivehundred yards long; in one place, at the very wall, they were diggingdeeply. From that fosse there went against the walls an unceasing firefrom janissary muskets. The besieged made screens of leather bagsfilled with wool; but as long balls and bombs were hurled continuallyfrom the intrenchments, bodies fell thickly around the cannon. At onegun a bomb killed six men of Volodyovski's infantry at once; at otherguns men were falling continually. Before evening the leaders saw thatthey could hold out no longer, especially as the mines might beexploded any moment. In the night, therefore, the captains led outtheir companies, and before morning they had transferred, amid unbrokenfiring, all the guns, powder, and supplies of provisions to the oldcastle. That, being built on a rock, could hold out longer, and therewas special difficulty in digging under it. Pan Michael, when consultedon this matter at the council, declared that if no one would negotiate,he was ready to defend it a year. His words went to the town, andpoured great consolation into hearts, for people knew that the littleknight would keep his word even at the cost of his life.
At the evacuation of the new castle, strong mines were put under bothbulwarks and the front. These exploded with great noise about noon, butcaused no serious loss to the Turks; for, remembering the lesson of theday before, they had not dared yet to occupy the abandoned place. Butboth bulwarks, the front and the main body of the new castle, formedone gigantic pile of ruins. These ruins rendered difficult, it is true,approach to the old castle; but they gave perfect protection tosharpshooters, and, what is worse, to the miners, who, unterrified atsight of the mighty cliff, began to bore a new mine. Skilful Italianand Hungarian engineers, in the service of the Sultan, were overseersof this work, which advanced rapidly. The besieged could not strike theenemy either from cannon or musket, for they could not see them. PanMichael was thinking of a sortie, but he could not undertake itimmediately; the soldiers were too tired. Blue lumps as large asbiscuits had formed on the right shoulders of the dragoons, frombringing gunstocks against them continually. Some could hardly movetheir arms. It became evident that if boring were continued some timewithout interruption, the chief gate of the castle would be blown intothe air beyond doubt. Foreseeing this, Pan Michael gave command to makea high wall behind the gate, and said, without losing courage,--
"But what do I care? If the gate is blown up, we will defend ourselvesbehind the wall; if the wall is blown up, we'll have a second one madepreviously, and so on, as long as we feel an ell of ground under ourfeet."
"But when the ell is gone, what then?" asked the starosta.
"Then we shall be gone too," said the little knight.
Meanwhile he gave command to hurl hand-grenades at the enemy; thesecaused much damage. Most effective in this work was LieutenantDembinski, who killed Turks without number, until a grenade ignited toosoon, burst in his hand, and tore it off. In this manner perishedCaptain Schmit. Many fell from the Turkish artillery, many frommusket-shots fired by janissaries hidden in the ruins of the newcastle. During that time they fired rarely from the guns of the castle;this troubled the council not a little. "They are not firing; hence itis evident that Volodyovski himself has doubts of the defence." Suchwas the general opinion. Of the officers no man dared to say first thatit remained only to seek the best conditions, but the bishop, free ofmilitary ambition, said this openly; but previously Pan Vasilkovski wassent to the starosta for news from the castle. He answered, "In myopinion the castle cannot hold out till evening, but here they thinkotherwise."
After reading this answer, even the officers began to say, "We havedone what we could. No one has spared himself, but what is impossiblecannot be done; it is necessary to think of conditions."
These words reached the town, and brought together a great crowd ofpeople. This multitude stood before the town-hall, alarmed, silent,rather hostile than inclined to negotiations. Some rich Armenianmerchants were glad in their hearts that the siege would be ended andtrading begin; but other Armenians, long settled in the Commonwealthand greatly inclined to it, as well as Poles and Russians, wished todefend themselves. "Had we wished to surrender, we should havesurrendered at first," was whispered here and there; "we could havereceived much, but now conditions will not be favorable, and it isbetter to bury ourselves under ruins."
The murmur of discontent became ever louder, till all at once it turnedinto shouts of enthusiasm and vivats.
What had happened? On the square Pan Michael appeared in company withPan Humyetski, for the starosta had sent them of purpose to make areport of what had happened in the castle. Enthusiasm seized the crowd.Some shouted as if the Turks had already broken into the town; tearscame to the eyes of others at sight of the idolized knight, on whomuncommon exertions were evident. His face was black from powder-smoke,and emaciated, his eyes were red and sunken; but he had a joyous look.When he and Humyetski had made their way at last through the crowd, andentered the council, they were greeted joyously. The bishop spoke atonce.
"Beloved brothers," said he, "_Nec Hercules contra plures!_ Thestarosta has written us already that you must surrender."
To this Humyetski, who was very quick to action and of great family,not caring for people, said sharply: "The starosta has lost his head;but he has this virtue, that he exposes it to danger. As to thedefence, let Pan Volodyovski describe it; he is better able to do so."
All eyes were turned to the little knight, who was greatly moved, andsaid,--
"For God's sake, who speaks of surrender? Have we not sworn to theliving God to fall one upon another?"
"We have sworn to do what is in our power, and we have done it,"answered the bishop.
"Let each man answer for what he has promised! Ketling and I have swornnot to surrender the castle till death, and we will not surrender; forif I am bound to keep the word of a cavalier to every man, what must Ido to God, who surpasses all in majesty?"
"But how is it with the castle? We have heard that there is a mineunder the gate. Will you hold out long?" asked numerous voices.
"There is a mine under the gate, or there will be; but there is a goodwall behind the gate, and I have given command to put falconets on it.Dear brothers, fear God's wounds; remember that in surrendering youwill be forced to surrender churches into the hands of Pagans, who willturn them into mosques, to celebrate foulness in them. How can youspeak of surrender with such a light heart? With what conscience do youthink of opening before the enemy a gate to the heart of the country? Iam in the castle and fear no mines; and you here in the town, far away,are afraid! By the dear God! we will not surrender while we are alive.Let the memory of this defence remain among those who come after us,like the memory of Zbaraj."
"The Turks will turn the castle into a pile of ruins," said some voice.
"Let them turn it. We can defend ourselves from a pile of ruins."
Here patience failed the little knight somewhat. "And I will defendmyself from a pile of ruins, so help me God! Finally, I tell you that Iwill not surrender the castle. Do you hear?"
"'But will you destroy the town?" asked the bishop. "If to go againstthe Turks is to destroy it, I prefer to destroy it. I have taken myoath; I will not waste more words; I will go back among cannon, forthey defend the Commonwealth instead of betraying it."
Then he went out, and after him Humyetski, who slammed the door. Bothhastened greatly, for they felt really better among ruins, corpses, andballs than among men of little faith. Pan Makovetski came up with themon the way.
"Michael," said he, "tell the truth, did you speak of resistance onlyto increase courage, or will you be able really to hold out in thecastle?"
The little knight shrugged his shoulders. "As God is dear to me! Letthe town not surrender, and I will defend the castle a year."
"Why do you not fire? People are alarmed on that account, and talk ofsurrender."
"We d
o not fire, because we are busy with hand-grenades, which havecaused considerable harm in the mines."
"Listen, Michael, have you in the castle such defence that you couldstrike at the Russian gate in the rear?--for if, which God prevent, theTurks break through, they will come to the gate. I am watching with allmy force; but with towns-people only, without soldiers, I cannotsucceed."
To which the little knight answered: "Fear not, dear brother; I havefifteen cannon turned to that side. Be at rest too concerning thecastle. Not only shall we defend ourselves, but when necessary we willgive you reinforcement at the gates."
When he heard this, Makovetski was delighted greatly, and wished to goaway, when the little knight detained him, and asked further,--
"Tell me, you are oftener at these councils, do they only wish to tryus, or do they intend really to give Kamenyets into the hands of theSultan?"
Makovetski dropped his head. "Michael," said he, "answer truly now,must it not end in that? We shall resist awhile yet, a week, two weeks,a month, two months, but the end will be the same."
Volodyovski looked at him gloomily, then raising his hands cried,--
"And thou too, Brutus, against me? Well, in that case swallow yourshame alone; I am not used to such diet."
And they parted with bitterness in their hearts.
The mine under the main gate of the old castle exploded soon after PanMichael's return. Bricks and stones flew; dust and smoke rose. Terrordominated the hearts of the gunners. For a while the Turks rushed intothe breach, as rush sheep through the open gate of a sheepfold, whenthe shepherd and his assistants urge them in with whips. But Ketlingbreathed on that crowd with cartridges from six cannon, preparedpreviously on the wall; he breathed once, a second, a third time, andswept them out of the court. Pan Michael, Humyetski, and Myslishevskihurried up with infantry and dragoons, who covered the walls as quicklyas flies on a hot day cover the carcass of a horse or an ox. A strugglebegan then between muskets and janissary guns. Balls fell on the wallas thickly as falls rain, or kernels of wheat which a strong peasanthurls from his shovel. The Turks were swarming in the ruins of the newcastle; in every depression, behind every fragment, behind every stone,in every opening of the ruin, they sat in twos, threes, fives, andtens, and fired without a moment's intermission. From the direction ofHotin came new reinforcements continually. Regiment followed regiment,and crouching down among the ruins began fire immediately. The newcastle was as if paved with turbans. At times those masses of turbanssprang up suddenly with a terrible outcry, and ran to the breach; butthen Ketling raised his voice, the bass of the cannon drowned therattle of musketry, and a storm of grapeshot with whistling andterrible rattling confused the crowd, laid them on the ground, andclosed up the breach with a quivering mass of human flesh. Four timesthe janissaries rushed forward; four times Ketling hurled them back andscattered them, as a storm scatters a cloud of leaves. Alone amid fire,smoke, showers of earth-clods, and bursting grenades, he was like anangel of war. His eyes were fixed on the breach, and on his sereneforehead not the slightest anxiety was evident. At times he seized thematch from the gunner and touched the priming; at times he covered hiseyes with his hand and observed the effect of the shot; at times heturned with a smile to the Polish officers and said,--
"They will not enter."
Never was rage of attack repulsed with such fury of defence. Officersand soldiers vied with one another. It seemed that the attention ofthose men was turned to everything save death; and death cut downthickly. Pan Humyetski fell, and Pan Mokoshytski, commander of the menof Kieff. At last the white-haired Pan Kalushovski seized his ownbreast with a groan; he was an old friend of Pan Michael, as mild as alamb, but a soldier as terrible as a lion. Pan Michael caught thefalling man, who said, "Give your hand, give your hand quickly!" thenhe added, "Praise be to God!" and his face grew as white as his beard.That was before the fourth attack. A party of janissaries had comeinside the breach, or rather they could not go out by reason of the toothickly flying missiles. Pan Michael sprang on them at the head of hisinfantry, and they were beaten down in a moment with the butts ofmuskets.
Hour followed hour; the fire did not weaken. But meanwhile news of theheroic defence was borne through the town, exciting enthusiasm andwarlike desire. The Polish inhabitants, especially the young men, beganto call on one another, to look at one another, and give mutualencouragement. "Let us go to the castle with assistance! Let us go; letus go! We will not let our brothers perish! Come, boys!" Such voiceswere heard on the square and at the gates; soon a few hundred men,armed in any fashion, but with daring in their hearts, moved toward thebridge. The Turks turned on the young men a terrible fire, whichstretched many dead; but a part passed, and they began to work on thewall against the Turks with great zeal.
This fourth attack was repulsed with fearful loss to the Turks, and itseemed that a moment of rest must come. Vain hope! The rattle ofjanissary musketry did not cease till evening. Only when the eveningkindya was played, did the cannon grow silent, and the Turks leave theruins of the new castle. The remaining officers went then from the wallto the other side. The little knight, without losing a moment, gavecommand to close up the breach with whatever materials they couldfind,--hence with blocks of timber, with fascines, with rubbish, withearth. Infantry, cavalry, dragoons, common soldiers, and officers viedwith one another, regardless of rank. It was thought that Turkish gunsmight renew fire at any moment; but that was a day of great victory forthe besieged over the besiegers. The faces of all the besieged werebright; their souls were flaming with hope and desire of furthervictories.
Ketling and Pan Michael, taking each other by the hands after theirlabor, went around the square and the walls, bent out through thebattlements, to look at the courtyard of the new castle and rejoice atthe bountiful harvest.
"Body lies there near body," said the little knight, pointing to theruins; "and at the breach there are such piles that you would need aladder to cross them. That is the work of your cannon, Ketling."
"The best thing," answered Ketling, "is that we have repaired thatbreach; the approach is closed to the Turks, and they must make a newmine. Their power is boundless as the sea, but such a siege for a monthor two must become bitter to them."
"By that time the hetman will help us. But come what may, you and I arebound by oath," said the little knight.
At that moment they looked into each other's eyes, and Pan Michaelasked in a lower voice, "And have you done what I told you?"
"All is ready," whispered Ketling, in answer; "but I think it will notcome to that, for we may hold out very long here, and have many suchdays as the present."
"God grant us such a morrow!"
"Amen!" answered Ketling, raising his eyes to heaven.
The thunder of cannon interrupted further conversation. Bombs began tofly against the castle again. Many of them burst in the air, however,and went out like summer lightning.
Ketling looked with the eye of a judge. "At that trench over there fromwhich they are firing," said he, "the matches have too much sulphur."
"It is beginning to smoke on other trenches," said Volodyovski.
And, in fact, it was. As, when one dog barks in the middle of a stillnight, others begin to accompany, and at last the whole village isfilled with barking, so one cannon in the Turkish trenches roused allthe neighboring guns, and a crown of bombs encircled the besiegedplace. This time, however, the enemy fired at the town, not the castle;but from three sides was heard the piercing of mines. Though the mightyrock had almost baffled the efforts of miners, it was clear that theTurks had determined at all cost to blow that rocky nest into the air.
At the command of Ketling and Pan Michael, the defenders began to hurlhand-grenades again, guided by the noise of the hammers. But at nightit was impossible to know whether that means of defence caused anydamage. Besides, all turned their eyes and attention to the town,against which were flying whole flocks of flaming birds. Some missilesburst in the air; but others, describing a fiery circle
in the sky,fell on the roofs of houses. At once a reddish conflagration broke thedarkness in a number of places. The Church of St. Catherine wasburning, also the Church of St. George in the Russian quarter, and soonthe Armenian Cathedral was burning; this, however, had been set on fireduring the day; it was merely ignited again by the bombs. The fireincreased every moment and lighted up all the neighborhood. The outcryfrom the town reached the old castle. One might suppose that the wholetown was burning.
"That is bad," said Ketling, "for courage will fail in theinhabitants."
"Let everything burn," said the little knight; "if only the rock is notcrushed from which we may defend ourselves."
Now the outcry increased. From the cathedral the fire spread to theArmenian storehouses of costly merchandise. These were built on thesquare belonging to that nationality; great wealth was burning there ingold, silver, divans, furs, and rich stuffs. After a while, tongues offire appeared here and there over the houses.
Pan Michael was disturbed greatly. "Ketling," said he, "look to thehurling of grenades, and injure work in the mines as much as possible.I will hurry to the town, for my heart is suffering for the Dominicannuns. Praise be to God that the Turks leave the castle in quiet, andthat I can be absent!"
In the castle there was not, in truth, at that moment much to do; hencethe little knight sat on his horse and rode away. He returned onlyafter two hours in company with Pan Mushalski, who after that injurysustained at the hands of Hamdi Bey, recovered, and came now to thefortress, thinking that during storms he might cause notable loss tothe Pagans, and gain glory immeasurable.
"Be welcome!" said Ketling. "I was alarmed. How is it with the nuns?"
"All is well," answered the little knight. "Not one bomb has burstthere. The place is very quiet and safe."
"Thank God for that! But Krysia is not alarmed?"
"She is as quiet as if at home. She and Basia are in one cell, and PanZagloba is with them. Pan Adam, to whom consciousness has returned, ishere too. He begged to come with me to the castle; but he is not ableto stand long on his feet yet. Ketling, go there now, and I will takeyour place here."
Ketling embraced Pan Michael, for his heart drew him greatly to Krysia,and gave command to bring his horse at once. But before they broughtthe horse, he inquired of the little knight what was to be heard in thetown.
"The inhabitants are quenching the fire very bravely," answered thelittle knight; "but when the wealthier Armenian merchants saw theirgoods burning, they sent deputations to the bishop and insisted onsurrender. Hearing of this, I went to the council, though I hadpromised myself not to go there again. I struck in the face the man whoinsisted most on surrender: for this the bishop rose in anger againstme. The situation is bad, brother; cowardice is seizing people more andmore, and our readiness for defence is for them cheaper and cheaper.They give blame and not praise, for they say that we are exposing theplace in vain. I heard too that they attacked Makovetski because heopposed negotiations. The bishop himself said to him, 'We are notdeserting faith or king; but what can further resistance effect? See,'said he, 'what will be after it,--desecrated shrines, honorable ladiesinsulted, and innocent children dragged captive. With a treaty,' saidhe, 'we can assure their fate and obtain free escape.' So spoke thebishop. The starosta nodded and said, 'I would rather perish, but thisis true.'"
"The will of God be done!" said Ketling.
But Pan Michael wrung his hands. "And if that were even true," criedhe, "but God is witness that we can defend ourselves yet."
Now they brought Ketling's horse. He mounted quickly.
"Carefully through the bridge," said Pan Michael at parting, "for thebombs fall there thickly."
"I will return in an hour," said Ketling; and he rode away.
Pan Michael started to go around the walls with Mushalski. Inthree places hammering was heard; hence the besieged were throwinghand-grenades from three places. On the left side of the castle Lusniawas directing that work.
"Well, how is it going with you?" inquired Volodyovski.
"Badly, Pan Commandant," said the sergeant: "the pig-bloods are sittingin the cliff, and only sometimes at the entrance does a piece of shellhurt a man. We haven't done much."
In other places the case was still worse, especially as the sky hadgrown gloomy and rain was falling, from which the wicks in the grenadeswere growing damp. Darkness too hindered the work.
Pan Michael drew Mushalski aside somewhat, and halting, said on asudden, "But listen! If we should try to smother those moles in theirburrows?"
"That seems to me certain death, for whole regiments of janissaries areguarding them. But let us try!"
"Regiments are guarding them, it is true; but the night is very dark,and confusion seizes them quickly. Just think, they are talking ofsurrender in the town. Why? Because, they say to us, 'There are minesunder you; you are not defending yourselves.' We should close theirlips if to-night we could send the news, 'There is no longer a mine!'For such a cause is it worth while to lay down one's head or not?"
Pan Mushalski thought a moment, and cried, "It is worth while! As Godlives, it is!"
"In one place they began to hammer not long ago," said Pan Michael; "wewill leave those undisturbed, but here and on that side they have dugin very deeply. Take fifty dragoons; I will take the same number; andwe will try to smother them. Have you the wish?"
"I have, and it is increasing. I will take spikes in my belt to spikecannon; perhaps on the road I may find some."
"As to finding, I doubt that, though there are some falconets standingnear; but take the spikes. We will only wait for Ketling; he knowsbetter than others how to succor in a sudden emergency."
Ketling came as he had promised; he was not behind time one moment.Half an hour later two detachments of dragoons, of fifty men each, wentto the breach, slipped out quickly, and vanished in the darkness.Ketling gave command to throw grenades for a short time yet; then heceased work and waited. His heart was beating unquietly, for heunderstood well how desperate the undertaking was. A quarter of an hourpassed, half an hour, an hour: it seemed that they ought to be therealready and to begin; meanwhile, putting his ear to the ground, heheard the quiet hammering perfectly.
Suddenly at the foot of the castle, on the left side, there was apistol-shot, which in the damp air, in view of the firing from thetrenches, did not make a loud report, and might have passed withoutrousing the attention of the garrison had not a terrible uproarsucceeded it. "They are there," thought Ketling; "but will theyreturn?" And then sounded the shouts of men, the roar of drums, thewhistle of pipes,--finally the rattle of musketry, hurried and veryirregular. The Turks fired from all sides and in throngs; evidentlywhole divisions had run up to succor the miners. As Pan Michael hadforeseen, confusion seized the janissaries, who, fearing to strike oneanother, shouted loudly, fired at random, and often in the air. Theuproar and firing increased every moment. When martens, eager forblood, break into a sleeping hen-house at night, a mighty uproar andcackling rise in the quiet building: confusion like that set in all atonce round the castle. The Turks began to hurl bombs at the walls, soas to clear up the darkness. Ketling pointed guns in the direction ofthe Turkish troops on guard, and answered with grape-shot. The Turkishapproaches blazed; the walls blazed. In the town the alarm was beaten,for the people believed universally that the Turks had burst into thefortress. In the trenches the Turks thought that a powerful sortie wasattacking all their works simultaneously; and a general alarm spreadamong them. Night favored the desperate enterprise of Pan Michael andMushalski, for it had grown very dark. Discharges of cannon andgrenades rent only for instants the darkness, which was afterwardblacker. Finally, the sluices of heaven opened suddenly, and downrushed torrents of rain. Thunder outsounded the firing, rolled,grumbled, howled, and roused terrible echoes in the cliffs. Ketlingsprang from the wall, ran at the head of fifteen or twenty men to thebreach, and waited. But he did not wait long. Soon dark figures swarmedin between the timbers with which the opening was barred.
"Who goes there?" cried Ketling.
"Volodyovski," was the answer. And the two knights fell into eachother's embrace.
"What! How is it there?" asked the officers, rushing out to the breach.
"Praise be to God! the miners are cut down to the last man; their toolsare broken and scattered. Their work is for nothing."
"Praise be to God! Praise be to God!"
"But is Mushalski with his men?"
"He is not here yet."
"We might go to help him. Gracious gentlemen, who is willing?"
But that moment the breach was filled again. Mushalski's men werereturning in haste, and decreased in number considerably, for many ofthem had fallen from bullets. But they returned joyously, for with anequally favorable result. Some of the soldiers had brought backhammers, drills, and pickaxes as a proof that they had been in the mineitself.
"But where is Mushalski?" asked Pan Michael.
"True; where is Pan Mushalski?" repeated a number of voices.
The men under command of the celebrated bowman stared at one another;then a dragoon, who was wounded severely, said, with a weak voice,--
"Pan Mushalski has fallen. I saw him when he fell. I fell at his side;but I rose, and he remained."
The knights were grieved greatly on hearing of the bowman's death, forhe was one of the first cavaliers in the armies of the Commonwealth.They asked the dragoon again how it had happened; but he was unable toanswer, for blood was flowing from him in a stream, and he fell to theground like a grain-sheaf.
The knights began to lament for Pan Mushalski.
"His memory will remain in the army," said Pan Kvasibrotski, "andwhoever survives the siege will celebrate his name."
"There will not be born another such bowman," said a voice.
"He was stronger in the arm than any man in Hreptyoff," said the littleknight. "He could push a thaler with his fingers into a new board. PanPodbipienta, a Lithuanian, alone surpassed him in strength; butPodbipienta was killed in Zbaraj, and of living men none was so strongin the hands, unless perhaps Pan Adam."
"A great, great loss," said others. "Only in old times were suchcavaliers born."
Thus honoring the memory of the bowman, they mounted the wall. PanMichael sent a courier at once with news to the starosta and the bishopthat the mines were destroyed, and the miners cut down by a sortie.This news was received with great astonishment in the town, but--whocould expect it?--with secret dislike. The starosta and the bishop wereof opinion that those passing triumphs would not save Kamenyets, butonly rouse the savage lion still more. They could be useful only incase surrender were agreed on in spite of them; therefore the twoleaders determined to continue further negotiations.
But neither Pan Michael nor Ketling admitted even for a moment that thehappy news could have such an effect. Nay, they felt certain now thatcourage would enter the weakest hearts, and that all would be inflamedwith desire for a passionate resistance. It was impossible to take thetown without taking the castle first; therefore if the castle notmerely resisted, but conquered, the besieged had not the least need tonegotiate. There was plenty of provisions, also of powder; in view ofthis it was only needful to watch the gates and quench fires in thetown.
During the whole siege this was the night of most joy for Pan Michaeland Ketling. Never had they had such great hope that they would comeout alive from those Turkish toils, and also bring out those dearestheads in safety.
"A couple of storms more," said the little knight, "and as God is inheaven the Turks will be sick of them, and will prefer to force us withfamine. And we have supplies enough here. September is at hand; in twomonths rains and cold will begin. Those troops are not over-enduring;let them get well chilled once, and they will withdraw."
"Many of them are from Ethiopian countries," said Ketling, "or fromvarious places where pepper grows; and any frost will nip them. We canhold out two months in the worst case, even with storms. It isimpossible too to suppose that no succor will come to us. TheCommonwealth will return to its senses at last; and even if the hetmanshould not collect a great force, he will annoy the Turk with attacks."
"Ketling! as it seems to me, our hour has not struck yet."
"It is in the power of God, but it seems to me also that it will notcome to that."
"Even if some one has fallen, such as Pan Mushalski. Well, there is nohelp for it! I am terribly sorry for Mushalski, though he died a hero'sdeath."
"May God grant us no worse one, if only not soon! for I confess to you,Michael, I should be sorry for--Krysia."
"Yes, and I too for Basia; we will work earnestly, and maybe there ismercy above us. I am very glad in soul for some reason. We must do anotable deed to-morrow as well."
"The Turks have made protections of plank. I have thought of a methodused in burning ships; the rags are now steeping in tar, so thatto-morrow before noon we will burn all those works."
"Ah!" said the little knight, "then I will lead a sortie. During thefire there will be confusion in every case, and it will not enter theirheads that there can be a sortie in daylight. To-morrow may be betterthan to-day, Ketling."
Thus did they converse with swelling hearts, and then went to rest, forthey were greatly wearied. But the little knight had not slept threehours when Lusnia roused him.
"Pan Commandant," said the sergeant, "we have news."
"What is it?" cried the watchful soldier, springing up in one moment.
"Pan Mushalski is here."
"For God's sake! what do you tell me?"
"He is here. I was standing at the breach, and heard some one callingfrom the other side in Polish, 'Do not fire; it is I.' I looked; therewas Pan Mushalski coming back dressed as a janissary."
"Praise be to God!" said the little knight; and he sprang up to greetthe bowman.
It was dawning already. Pan Mushalski was standing outside the wall ina white cap and armor, so much like a real janissary that one's eyeswere slow in belief. Seeing the little knight, he hurried to him, andbegan to greet him joyously.
"We have mourned over you already!" cried Volodyovski.
With that a number of other officers ran up, among them Ketling. Allwere amazed beyond description, and interrupted one another asking howhe came to be in Turkish disguise.
"I stumbled," said he, "over the body of a janissary when I wasreturning, and struck my head against a cannon-ball; though I had a capbound with wire, I lost consciousness at once. My head was tender afterthat blow which I got from Hamdi Bey. When I came to myself I was lyingon a dead janissary, as on a bed. I felt my head; it was a trifle sore,but there was not even a lump on it. I took off my cap; the rain cooledmy head, and I thought: 'This is well for us. It would be a good planto take that janissary's uniform, and stroll among the Turks. I speaktheir tongue as well as Polish, and no one could discover me by myspeech; my face is not different from that of a janissary. I will goand listen to their talk.' Fear seized me at times, for I remembered myformer captivity; but I went. The night was dark; there was barely alight here and there. I tell you, gentlemen, I went among them as ifthey had been my own people. Many of them were lying in trenches undercover; I went to them. This and that one asked, 'Why are you strollingabout?' 'Because I cannot sleep,' answered I. Others were talking incrowds about the siege. There is great consternation. I heard with myown ears how they complained of our Hreptyoff commandant here present,"at this Pan Mushalski bowed to Volodyovski. "I repeat their _ipsissimaverba_" (very words), "because an enemy's blame is the highest praise.'While that little dog,' said they, thus did the dog brothers call yourgrace,--'while that little dog defends the castle, we shall not captureit.' Others said, 'Bullets and iron do not harm him; but death blowsfrom him as from a pestilence.' Then all in the crowd began tocomplain: 'We alone fight,' said they, 'and other troops are doingnothing; the volunteers are lying with their bellies to the sky. TheTartars are plundering; the spahis are strolling about the bazaars. ThePadishah says to us, "My dear lambs;" but it is clear that we are
notover-dear to him, since he sends us here to the shambles. We will holdout,' said they, 'but not long; then we will go back to Hotin, and ifthey do not let us go, some lofty heads may fall.'"
"Do you hear, gracious gentlemen?" cried Volodyovski. "When thejanissaries mutiny, the Sultan will be frightened, and raise thesiege."
"As God is dear to me, I tell the pure truth," said Mushalski."Rebellion is easy among the janissaries, and they are very muchdissatisfied. I think that they will try one or two storms more, andthen will gnash their teeth at their aga, the kaimakan, or even theSultan himself."
"So it will be," cried the officers.
"Let them try twelve storms; we are ready," said others.
They rattled their sabres and looked with bloodshot eyes at thetrenches, while drawing deep breaths; hearing this, the little knightwhispered with enthusiasm to Ketling, "A new Zbaraj! a new Zbaraj!"
But Pan Mushalski began again: "I have told you what I heard. I wassorry to leave them, for I might have heard more; but I was afraid thatdaylight might catch me. I went then to those trenches from which theywere not firing; I did this so as to slip by in the dark. I look; I seeno regular sentries, only groups of janissaries strolling, aseverywhere. I go to a frowning gun; no one says anything. You know thatI took spikes for the cannon. I push a spike into the priming quickly;it won't go in,--it needs a blow from a hammer. But since the Lord Godgave some strength to my hand (you have seen my experiments more thanonce), I pressed the spike; it squeaked a little, but went in to thehead. I was terribly glad."
"As God lives! did you do that? Did you spike the great cannon?" askedmen on every side.
"I spiked that and another, for the work went so easily that I wassorry to leave it; and I went to another gun. My hand is a little sore,but the spike went in."
"Gracious gentlemen," cried Pan Michael, "no one here has done greaterthings; no one has covered himself with such glory. Vivat PanMushalski!"
"Vivat! vivat!" repeated the officers.
After the officers the soldiers began to shout. The Turks in theirtrenches heard those shouts, and were alarmed; their courage fell themore. But the bowman, full of joy, bowed to the officers, and showedhis mighty palm, which was like a shovel; on it were two blue spots."True, as God lives! you have the witness here," said he.
"We believe!" cried all. "Praise be to God that you came back insafety!"
"I passed through the planking," continued the bowman. "I wanted toburn that work; but I had nothing to do it with."
"Do you know, Michael," cried Ketling, "my rags are ready. I ambeginning to think of that planking. Let them know that we attackfirst."
"Begin! begin!" cried Pan Michael.
He rushed himself to the arsenal, and sent fresh news to the town: "PanMushalski was not killed in the sortie, for he has returned, afterspiking two heavy guns. He was among the janissaries, who think ofrebelling. In an hour we shall burn their woodworks; and if it bepossible to make at the same time a sortie, I will make it."
The messenger had not crossed the bridge when the walls were tremblingfrom the roar of cannon. This time the castle began the thunderingdialogue. In the pale light of the morning the flaming rags flew likeblazing banners, and fell on the woodwork. The moisture with which thenight rain had covered the wood helped nothing. Soon the timbers caughtfire, and were burning. After the rags Ketling hurled bombs. Thewearied crowds of janissaries left the trenches in the first moments.They did not play the kindya. The vizir himself appeared at the head ofnew legions; but evidently doubt had crept even into his heart, for thepashas heard how he muttered,--
"Battle is sweeter to those men than sleep. What kind of people live inthat castle?"
In the army were heard on all sides alarmed voices repeating, "Thelittle dog is beginning to bite! The little dog is beginning to bite!"
Pan Michael: An Historical Novel of Poland, the Ukraine, and Turkey Page 57
