The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 2 (of 2)

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER XLVII.

  Two weeks later it was boiling in all Taurogi. On a certain eveningdisorderly parties of Boguslav's troops came in,--thirty or fortyhorsemen in a body, reduced, torn, more like spectres than men,--andbrought news of the defeat of Boguslav at Yanov. Everything hadbeen lost,--arms, horses, cannon, the camp. Six thousand choice menwent out on that expedition with the prince; barely four hundredreturned,--these the prince himself led out of the ruin.

  Of the Poles no living soul came back save Sakovich; for all who hadnot fallen in battle, all whom the terrible Babinich had not destroyedin his attacks, went over to Sapyeha. Many foreign officers chose oftheir own will to stand at the chariot of the conqueror. In one word,no Radzivill had ever yet returned from an expedition more crushed,ruined, and beaten.

  And as formerly court adulation knew no bounds in exalting Boguslav asa leader, so now all mouths sounded loudly an unceasing complaintagainst the incompetent management of the war. Among the remainingsoldiers there was endless indignation, which in the last days of theretreat brought complete disorder, and rose to that degree that theprince considered it wiser to remain somewhat in the rear.

  The prince and Sakovich halted in Rossyeni. Kettling, hearing of thisfrom soldiers, went immediately with the news to Olenka.

  "The main thing," said she, when the news came, "is whether Sapyeha andthat Babinich are pursuing the prince, and whether they intend to bringthe war to this region."

  "I could learn nothing from the statements of the soldiers," answeredKettling, "for fear exaggerates every danger. Some say even thatBabinich is here; but since the prince and Sakovich have remainedbehind, I infer that the pursuit cannot be rapid."

  "Still it must come, for it is difficult to think otherwise. Who aftervictory would not pursue the defeated enemy?"

  "That will be shown. I wished to speak of something else. The prince byreason of illness and defeat must be irritated, therefore inclined todeeds of violence. Do not separate now from your aunt and PannaBorzobogati. Do not consent to the journey of your uncle to Tyltsa, asthe last time, before the campaign."

  Olenka said nothing. Her uncle had, in fact, not been sent to Tyltsa;he had merely been ill for some days after the hammer-stroke given byPrince Boguslav. Sakovich, to hide the prince's deed from the people,spread the report that the old man had gone to Tyltsa. Olenka preferredto be silent on this before Kettling, for the proud maiden was ashamedto confess that any man living had struck a Billevich.

  "I thank you for the warning," said she, after a moment's silence.

  "I considered it my duty."

  But her heart swelled with bitterness; for not long before Kettlingmight have enabled her to avoid this new danger. If he had consented tothe flight, she would have been far away, free of Boguslav forever.

  "It is really fortunate for me," said she, "that this warning does nottouch your honor, that the prince has not issued an order for you notto warn me."

  Kettling understood the reproach, and uttered a speech which Olenka didnot expect of him:--

  "As to what touches my military service, to guard which my honorcommands, I will accomplish that or forfeit my life. Other choice Ihave not, and do not wish to have. Outside my service I am free toprovide against lawlessness. Therefore, as a private man, I leave withyou this pistol, and I say, Defend yourself, for danger is near; incase of need, kill! Then my oath will be at an end, and I will hastento save you."

  He bowed and turned toward the door, but Olenka detained him.

  "Cavalier, free yourself from that service! Defend a good cause; defendthe injured, for you are worthy to do so; you are honorable. It is apity that you should be lost on a traitor!"

  "I should have freed myself long since, and resigned," said Kettling,"had I not thought that by remaining I might serve you. Now it is toolate. If the prince had returned victorious, I should not havehesitated a moment; but when he is coming back conquered,--when,perhaps, the enemy is pursuing him,--it would be cowardice to ask fordismissal before the end of the term itself will free me. You will seesufficiently how people of small heart desert in crowds a defeated man.This pistol will send a ball even through armor with ease."

  Kettling went out, leaving on the table the weapon, which Olenkasecreted at once. Fortunately the previsions of the young officer andher own fear proved groundless.

  The prince arrived in the evening with Sakovich and Patterson, but socrushed and ill that he was barely able to hold himself on his feet.Besides, he did not know well whether Sapyeha was advancing or had sentBabinich in pursuit with the light squadrons. Boguslav had overthrown,it is true, the latter in his attack, together with his horse; but hedared not hope that he had killed him, since it seemed to him that thedouble-handed sword had turned in the blow on Babinich's helmet.Besides, he had fired before from a pistol straight into his face, andthat had not taken effect.

  The prince's heart was aching at the thought of what such a Babinichwould do with his estates should he reach them with his Tartars,--andhe had nothing with which to defend them; and not only his estates, buthis own person. Among his hirelings there were not many like Kettling,and it was just to suppose that at the first news of the coming ofSapyeha's troops they would desert him to a man.

  The prince did not purpose to remain in Taurogi longer than two orthree days, for he had to hasten to Royal Prussia to the elector andSteinbock, who might furnish him with new forces, and employ him eitherin capturing Prussian towns, or send him to aid the king himself, whointended an expedition to the heart of the Commonwealth.

  In Taurogi he had to leave some one of the officers to bring order intothe remnant of the army, ward off patriot peasants and nobles, defendthe property of the two Radzivills, and continue the understanding withLoewenhaupt, commander-in-chief of the Swedes in Jmud.

  With this object, after he had come to Taurogi, and after a night'srest, the prince summoned to council Sakovich, the only man whom hecould trust, and to whom alone he could open his heart.

  That first "good day" in Taurogi was wonderful, when the two friendssaw each other after the ill-starred campaign. For some time they gazedon each other without a word. The prince broke the silence first,--

  "Well, the devils! they carried the day."

  "They carried the day!" repeated Sakovich.

  "It must have been so with such weather. If I had had more lightsquadrons, or if some devil had not brought that Babinich,--twice thesame man! The gallow's bird changed his name. Do not tell any one ofhim, so as not to increase his glory."

  "I will not tell. But will not the officers trumpet it, for youpresented him before your boots as Banneret of Orsha?"

  "The German officers know nothing of Polish names. It is all one tothem,--Kmita or Babinich. But by the horns of Lucifer, if I could gethim! I had him; and the scoundrel brought my men into rebellion,besides leading off Glovbich's troops. He must be some bastard of ourblood; it cannot be otherwise! I had him, and he escaped,--that gnawsme more than the whole lost campaign."

  "You had him, Prince, but at the price of my head."

  "I tell you sincerely that I would let them flay you, if I might make adrum out of Kmita's skin!"

  "Thank you, Bogus; I could not expect less from your friendship."

  The prince laughed: "But you would have squirmed on Sapyeha's gridiron.All your scoundrelism would have been fried out of you. I should havebeen glad to see that!"

  "I should be glad to see you in the hands of Kmita, your dear relative.You have a different face, but in form you are like each other, and youhave feet of the same size; you are sighing for the same maiden, onlyshe without experience divines that he is stronger, and that he is abetter soldier."

  "I could manage two such as you, and I rode over his breast. If I hadhad two minutes' time, I should be able to give you my word now that mycousin is not living. You have always been rather dull, hence I took afancy to you; but in these recent days your wit has left youcompletely."

  "You
have always had your wit in your heels, and therefore you sweptaway in such fashion before Sapyeha that I have lost all fancy for you,and am ready myself to go to Sapyeha."

  "On a rope?"

  "On that with which they will bind Radzivill."

  "Enough!"

  "At the service of your highness!"

  "It would be well to shoot some of the noisiest of those horsemen, andintroduce order."

  "I commanded this morning to hang six of them. They are cold now, andare dancing stubbornly on the ropes, for the wind is fierce."

  "You have done well. But listen! Do you wish to remain in the garrisonat Taurogi, for I must leave some one here?"

  "I do, and I ask for that office. No one can manage better. Thesoldiers fear me more than others, for they know that with me there isno trifling. With respect to Loewenhaupt, it is necessary that some onebe here more important than Patterson."

  "Can you manage the rebels?"

  "I assure your highness that the pine-trees of Jmud will bear weightierfruit than the cones of last year. I will form about two regiments ofinfantry out of the peasants, and train them in my fashion. I will havemy eyes on the estates; and if the rebels attack one of them, I willthrow suspicion immediately on some rich noble and squeeze him likecheese in a bag. At first I shall need merely money to pay wages andequip the infantry."

  "I will leave what I can."

  "From the dowry money?"

  "How is that?"

  "That means from the Billevich money which you took out of the dowryfor yourself in advance."

  "If you could only twist the neck of old Billevich in some polite way,it would be well; for it could be done easily, and he has my letter."

  "I will try. But the point is in this,--has he not sent the notesomewhere, or has the maiden not sewed it into her shift? Would you notlike to discover?"

  "It will come to that; but now I must go, and besides that cursed feverhas taken all my strength."

  "Your highness, envy me for staying in Taurogi."

  "You have a strange kind of wish; but if you meanwhile-- I should haveyou torn apart with hooks. Why do you insist on this office?"

  "For I want to marry."

  "Whom?" asked the prince, sitting up in bed. "Panna Borzobogati."

  "That is a good idea, an excellent idea!" said Boguslav. "I have heardof some will."

  "There is a will from Pan Longin Podbipienta. Your highness knows whata powerful family that is, and the estates of Pan Longin are in anumber of districts. It is true that the Moscow troops have occupiedsome; there will be lawsuits, fights, disputes, and attacks withoutnumber; but I will help myself, and will not yield one point to anyman. Besides, the girl has pleased me greatly; she is pretty andenticing. I noticed in a moment when we captured her that she feignedterror, and shot at me with her eyes at the same time. Only let me stayhere as commandant, and from idleness alone the love-making willbegin."

  "One thing I tell you. I will not forbid you to marry; but listenwell,--no excesses, you understand? That maiden is from theVishnyevetskis; she is a confidant of Princess Griselda herself; andbecause of my esteem for the princess, I do not wish to offend her, nordo I wish to offend Pan Zamoyski."

  "There is no need of warning," answered Sakovich; "for since I wish tomarry regularly, I must make regular approaches."

  "I wish you might get a refusal."

  "-I know a man who got a refusal, though he is a prince; but I thinkthat that will not come to me. That eye-cutting gives me greatconsolation."

  "Don't tell that man who got a refusal not to give you horns! I willgive an addition to your shield, or you will receive a surname,Sakovich Rogaty.[9] She is Borzobogaty, and he is Bardzorogaty. Youwill be a chosen pair. But marry, yes, marry, and let me know of thewedding. I will be your best man."

  Fierce anger appeared on Sakovich's face, terrible without that. Hiseyes were covered for a moment as if by smoke; but he soon recovered,and turning the prince's words into a jest, he said,--

  "Poor man! you are not able to go downstairs alone, and you makethreats. You have your Panna Billevich here; go your way, skeleton! goyour way! You'll nurse Babinich's children yet!"

  "God break your tongue, such a son! You are making sport of thesickness which came within a hair of killing me. I would you wereenchanted as I was."

  "What enchantments are there here? At times, when I see how everythinggoes in the natural world, I think enchantment is stupid."

  "You are stupid yourself! Be silent! do not summon the Devil. Youdisgust me more and more."

  "Would that I were not the last Pole who has remained faithful to yourhighness! For my loyalty you feed me with ingratitude. I will return tomy dens at home, and sit quietly awaiting the end of the war."

  "Oh, give us peace! You know that I love you."

  "It is grievous for me to see that. The Devil thrust this love for yourhighness on me. If there is enchantment in anything, it is in that."

  The starosta told the truth; for he loved Boguslav really. The princeknew this, and therefore paid him, if not with strong attachment, withgratitude, which vain people ever have for those who do them homage.Therefore Boguslav agreed willingly to Sakovich's plans touchingAnusia, and determined to aid him in person. In view of this, aboutmidday, when he felt better, he had himself dressed and went to Anusia.

  "I have come because of old acquaintance," said he, "to inquire afteryour health and ask if the visit to Taurogi has pleased you."

  "In captivity one must be pleased with all things," answered Anusia,sighing.

  The prince laughed. "You are not in captivity. You were taken togetherwith Sapyeha's soldiers, that is true; and I gave orders to send youhere, but only for safety. Not a hair will fall from your head. Beconvinced that there are few people whom I respect as I do PrincessGriselda, to whose heart you are near; and the Vishnyevetskis andZamoyskis are connections of mine. You will find here every freedom andevery care. I come to you as a well-wishing friend, and I say if youwish to go I will give you an escort, though I have few soldiersmyself. I advise you to stay. You, as I have heard, were sent here toseek property willed to you. Be assured that this is not the time tothink of such business; and even in time of peace the aid of Sapyehawould not avail in these regions, for he could act only in Vityebsk;here he can do nothing. I shall not touch that affair personally, butthrough an agent. You need a friendly man, and adroit, esteemed, andfeared. If such a man were to take up this matter, surely he would notlet people thrust straw instead of grain into his hand."

  "Where shall I, an orphan, find such a protector?" asked Anusia.

  "Precisely in Taurogi."

  "Your highness would be pleased yourself--"

  Here Anusia put her hands together, and looked so prettily intoBoguslav's eyes that if the prince had not been wearied and broken, hewould surely have begun to think less sincerely of Sakovich's cause;but since he had no gallantry in his head at that moment, he saidquickly,--

  "Could I do it myself, I should not intrust such a pleasant office toany man; but I am going away, for I must go. I leave in my place, ascommandant of Taurogi, the starosta of Oshmiana, Pan Sakovich, a greatcavalier, a famous soldier, and a man so adroit that there is notanother such in all Lithuania. So I repeat: Stay in Taurogi, for youhave no place to go to, since every point is full of ravagers andruffians, while rebels infest all the roads. Sakovich will protect youhere; Sakovich will defend you. Sakovich will see what can be done toobtain those estates; and once he undertakes the affair, I guaranteethat no man on earth could bring it to a favorable issue sooner. He ismy friend, therefore I know him, and I will say only this: if I hadtaken those estates from you, and afterward learned that Sakovich wascoming to oppose me, I would give them up of my own will, for it isdangerous to struggle with him."

  "If Pan Sakovich would be ready to come to the aid of an orphan--"

  "Only be not unjust to him, and he will do anything for you, for yourbeauty has touched his heart deeply. He is going around sighing now--"
/>
  "How could I touch the heart of any man?"

  "She is a rascal, the maiden!" thought the prince. But he added aloud:"Let Sakovich explain how that happened. Only do him no wrong; for heis a worthy man and of a noted family, therefore I do not wish thatdisdain should be shown such a person."