Ogniem i mieczem. English

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER XIX.

  Two persons rode quietly and slowly through the woody ravine whichskirted the dwelling at Rozlogi. The night had become very dark, forthe moon had gone down long before, and besides clouds covered the sky.In the ravine nothing could be seen three steps ahead of the horses,which stumbled over the roots of the trees sticking across the road.They went for a long time with the greatest care, till at length, whenthey saw the end of the ravine, and the open steppe, lighted a littleby the gray reflection of the clouds, one of the riders whispered,"Spur on!"

  They shot ahead, like two arrows sent from Tartar bows. Nothingfollowed them but the sound of hoofs. The dark steppe seemed to flyfrom under their beasts. Single oak-trees standing here and there bythe roadside swept past like phantoms, and they fled for a long timewithout rest or drawing breath, till finally the horses dropped theirears and began to snort from weariness, their gait grew heavy and slow.

  "There is no help for it, the horses must slacken their pace," said oneof the travellers, a heavy man.

  Just then dawn began to push night from the steppe. Every moment abroader expanse came out from the darkness; the thistles of the steppewere outlined indistinctly, the distant trees, the mounds; every momentmore light was diffused in the air. The whitish gleams lighted up thefaces of the riders too. They were Pan Zagloba and Helena.

  "No help for it, we must let the horses slacken their speed," saidZagloba. "Yesterday they came from Chigirin to Rozlogi without resting.They cannot endure this kind of travelling long. I am afraid they maydrop dead. How do you feel?"

  Here Zagloba looked at his companion, and not waiting for her toanswer, cried out,--

  "Oh, let me look at you in the daylight! Oh, ho! are those yourcousin's clothes? It must be said you are a splendid Cossack. I've nothad in all my life such another waiting-man; but I think Pan Skshetuskiwill take him from me soon. But what is this? Oh, for God's sake, twistup your hair! Unless you do there will be no doubt as to your sex."

  In fact, over Helena's shoulders flowed a torrent of black hair, letloose by the speed of the course and the dampness of the night.

  "Where are we going?" asked she, winding up her hair with both hands,and trying to put it under her cap.

  "Where our eyes take us."

  "Then not to Lubni?"

  Alarm was reflected on Helena's face, and in the quick glance which shethrew at Zagloba reawakened distrust was evident.

  "Do you see," said he, "I have my own reason; and believe me I havereckoned everything carefully, and my reckoning is based on thefollowing wise maxim: Do not escape in the direction in which you willbe pursued. If they are pursuing us at this moment, they are pursuingin the direction of Lubni; for I inquired yesterday in a loud voiceabout the road, and before setting out I told Bogun that we should goin that direction. Therefore we shall go to Cherkasi. If they followus, it will not be quickly, for it will take them two days to discoverthat we are not on the Lubni road. By that time we shall be inCherkasi, where the Polish regiments of Pivnitski and Rudomina arestationed; and in Korsun are all the forces of the hetmans. Do youunderstand now?"

  "I understand, and while life lasts I shall be thankful to you! I donot know who you are or whence you came to Rozlogi; but I think Godsent you to defend and save me, for I should stab myself rather thanfall into the power of that robber."

  "He is a dragon, terribly intent on pursuing you."

  "What in my misfortune have I done to him that he should pursue me? Ihave known him long, and long have I hated him, long since has heroused in me nothing but fear. Am I the only woman in the world, thathe should love me, and shed so much blood on my account,--that heshould kill my cousins? When I remember it my blood grows cold. Whatshall I do? Where shall I hide from him? Do not wonder at mycomplaining, for I am unhappy. I am ashamed of such affection; I shouldprefer death a hundred times."

  Helena's cheeks were flushed; tears were flowing over them, forced outby anger, contempt, and pain.

  "I will not deny," said Zagloba, "that a great misfortune has come uponyour house; but permit me to say that your relatives are partly toblame. They should not have promised your hand to the Cossack, and thenbetrayed him. When this was discovered he became so enraged that nopersuasion of mine could avail. I am sorry for your two dead cousins,and especially for the younger; for he was still a mere youth, but itwas evident at a glance that he would have ripened into a mightywarrior."

  Helena began to cry.

  "Tears are not proper to those garments which you wear; wipe them awaytherefore, and say to yourself that this was the will of God. God willpunish the outlaw too, who is indeed already punished; for he has shedblood in vain, and has lost you, the one chief object of his desires."

  Here Zagloba stopped; after a while he spoke again:--

  "Oh, dear Lord, what a dressing he would give me if I should fall intohis hands! He would make a lizard out of my skin. You do not know thatI have already received the crown of martyrdom from the Turks; but Ihave had enough, I do not wish another; therefore I do not go to Lubni,but to Cherkasi. It would be pleasant to take refuge with the prince,but if they should catch us while going there! You heard, as I wasuntying the horse from the post, how one of Bogun's serving-men wokeup. But if he had raised the alarm then? They would have been ready forthe chase at once, and would have caught us in an hour; for they havethe fresh horses of Rozlogi, from which I had no time to select. Oh, Itell you he is a wild beast, that Bogun! I have such a horror of himthat I would rather take a look at the devil than at him."

  "God save us from his hands!"

  "He has ruined himself. He abandoned Chigirin, in spite of the ordersof the hetman; he has come into collision with Vishnyevetski. Nothingnow remains for him but to flee to Hmelnitski. But he will lose hisdaring if Hmelnitski is beaten, and that may happen. Jendzian mettroops beyond Kremenchug, sailing down the river under Barabash andKrechovski, against Hmelnitski; and, besides, young Stephan Pototski ismoving by land with his hussars; but Jendzian waited ten days inKremenchug to repair his boat. Therefore the battle must have takenplace before he reached Chigirin. We were expecting news every moment."

  "Then Jendzian brought letters from Kudak, did he?" asked Helena.

  "Yes, there were letters from Skshetuski to the princess and to you;but Bogun seized them, and from them learned everything. Then he struckdown Jeodzian at once, and set out to take vengeance on theKurtsevichi."

  "Oh, unfortunate youth! He has shed his blood on my account."

  "Do not grieve; he will recover."

  "When did this happen?"

  "Yesterday morning. For Bogun to fell a man is no more than for anotherto toss off a glass of wine. And after the reading of the letters, heroared so that all Chigirin trembled."

  Conversation was interrupted for a moment. Daylight had come. The rosydawn, streaked with opals, bright gold, and purple, was glowing in theeast. The breeze was fresh; the horses, now rested, moved gladly.

  "Let us go on, in God's name, and quickly! Our horses have drawnbreath, and we have no time to lose," said Zagloba.

  They went again at a gallop, and rushed on for two or three mileswithout rest. All at once a dark point appeared ahead of them, whichapproached with amazing rapidity.

  "What can that be?" asked Zagloba. "Let us draw up a little. That's aman on horseback."

  In fact, some horseman was approaching them at full speed. Bent forwardin the saddle, with face hidden in the mane of the horse, he continuedto urge with a nagaika the stallion, which seemed not to touch theground.

  "What kind of devil can he be, and why does he flee so? But he justflies!" said Zagloba, taking out a pistol from the holsters, to beready in every event.

  Meanwhile the courier had come within thirty yards.

  "Stop!" thundered Zagloba, aiming his pistol; "who are you?"

  The horseman reined in his steed, and sat erect in the saddle; but themoment he looked he cried, "Pan Zagloba!"

  "Pleshnyevsk
i, attendant of the starosta of Chigirin! But what are youdoing here? Where are you fleeing to?"

  "Oh, turn back with me! Misfortune! The anger of God, the judgment ofGod!"

  "What has happened? Speak!"

  "Chigirin is taken by the Zaporojians. The peasants are slaughteringthe nobles."

  "In the name of the Father and Son! What do you say? Has Hmelnitskicome?"

  "Pototski is killed, Charnetski in captivity. The Tartars are marchingwith the Cossacks. Tugai Bey--"

  "But Barabash and Krechovski?"

  "Barabash is killed, Krechovski has gone over to Hmelnitski. Krivonosmoved on the hetmans last night, Hmelnitski before daybreak thismorning. He has tremendous forces. The country is on fire, peasantsrising everywhere; blood is flowing. Save yourself!"

  Zagloba's eyes were starting out, his mouth open, and he was soastonished that he could not speak.

  "Save yourself!" repeated Pleshnyevski.

  "Jesus and Mary!" groaned Zagloba.

  "Jesus and Mary!" repeated Helena, and burst into tears.

  "Escape! There is no time to be wasted."

  "Where! To what place?"

  "To Lubni."

  "But are you going there?"

  "Yes; to the prince, the voevoda."

  "Devil take it all!" cried Zagloba. "But where are the hetmans?"

  "At Korsun. But Krivonos is fighting with them already."

  "Krivonos or Prostonos,[10] may the plague consume him! I have noreason to go where he is."

  "You are running to your own destruction, as into a lion's mouth."

  "And who sent you to Lubni? Your lord?"

  "Oh! he escaped with his life; and a friend whom I have among theZaporojians saved my head, and helped me to flee. I am going to Lubniof my own will, for I don't know where else to take refuge."

  "But avoid Rozlogi, for Bogun is there. He also wishes to join therebellion."

  "Oh, for God's sake, save us! In Chigirin they said that the peasantswould rise immediately beyond the Dnieper!"

  "Maybe I maybe! But go your own way wherever you please, for I haveenough to do to think of my own skin."

  "That is what I'll do," said Pleshnyevski; and lashing his horse withthe nagaika, he rushed on.

  "But avoid Rozlogi!" called Zagloba after him. "Should you meet Bogun,don't tell him that you have seen me. Do you hear?"

  "I hear," answered Pleshnyevski. "God be with you!" And he raced awayas if hunted.

  "Well, devil, here's an overcoat for you! I've got out of many atrouble, but I have never been in anything like this. Hmelnitski infront, Bogun in the rear; and since this is so, I wouldn't give abroken orta for either my front or rear, or my whole skin. I was a foolnot to go to Lubni with you, but it is no time to talk of that now.Pshaw, pshaw! All my wit at the present moment isn't fit to grease apair of boots with. What is to be done? Where am I to go? In the wholeCommonwealth it appears there is not a corner where a man can leave theworld with his own death, and not have death given him. I would ratherbe excused from such presents; let others take them."

  "Most worthy sir," said Helena, "I know that my cousins Yuri and Fedorare in Zolotonosha; maybe they could save us."

  "In Zolotonosha? Wait a moment! In Chigirin I knew Pan Unyejitski, whoowns the estates of Krapivna and Chernobai, near Zolotonosha. But thatplace is far from here, farther than Cherkasi. What is to be done? Ifthere is no other place, why, we will take refuge even there. But wemust leave the highway; it is safer to go by the steppe and woods. Ifwe hide somewhere a week, even in the woods, perhaps by that time thehetmans will finish with Hmelnitski, and it will be more peaceable inthe Ukraine."

  "God did not save us from the hands of Bogun to let us perish. Havecourage!"

  "Wait a moment! Some spirit enters me anew. I have been in many atrouble. In a leisure hour I will tell you what happened to me inGalats, and you will see at once that I was in a terrible place thattime; still I slipped out by my own wit from those dangers and escapedin safety, though as you see my beard has grown gray a little. But wemust leave the highway. Turn, my lady! You ride as well as the bestCossack. The grass is high, and no eye can see us."

  In fact, the grass became higher and higher as they entered the steppe,so that at last they were hidden in it entirely. But it was difficultfor the horses to move through that thicket of stalks, both slender andheavy, and at times sharp and cutting. Soon they became so tired thatthey were completely exhausted.

  "If we want these horses to serve us further, we must dismount,unsaddle them, and let them roll and eat awhile, otherwise they willnot go on. I see that we shall reach the Kagamlik before long. I shouldlike to be there now. There is no place to hide in like reeds; when youare in them the devil himself can't find you. But we must not goastray."

  He dismounted and assisted Helena from the horse, then took off thesaddles and produced a supply of provisions which he had prudentlyprovided in Rozlogi.

  "We must strengthen ourselves," said he, "for the road is long; and doyou make some vow to Saint Raphael for our safe passage. There is anold fortress in Zolotonosha, and perhaps there is some kind of garrisonthere now. Pleshnyevski said that beyond the Dnieper the peasants arerising. H'm! this may be true, for the people are quick at rebellioneverywhere; but the hand of the prince is on the country behind them,and it is a devil of a hand for weight! Bogun has a strong neck; but ifthat hand should fall on it, the neck would bend to the earth,--whichGod grant, amen! But eat something, Princess!"

  Zagloba took a little knife-case out of his boot-leg and gave it toHelena; then he placed before her, on the saddlecloth, roast beef andbread.

  "Eat!" said he. "'When there is nothing in the stomach, we have peasand cabbage for brains.' 'If you want to keep your head right, eatroast beef.' But we have made fools of ourselves once, for apparentlyit would have been better to flee to Lubni; but the chance is gone now.The prince will surely move with his forces to the Dnieper, to assistthe hetmans. We have lived to terrible times, when there is civil war,the worst of all evils. There will not be a corner for peaceablepersons. It would have been better for me if I had joined thepriesthood, for which I had a vocation, being a quiet and sober man;but fortune ordained otherwise. Oh, my God, my God! I should be canonof Cracow now, chanting my prayers, for I have a very beautiful voice.But what is to be done? From my youth up, girls pleased me! Youwouldn't believe what a handsome fellow I was; whenever I looked at awoman, it was as if lightning struck her. If I were twenty yearsyounger now, Pan Skshetuski would have something on his hands. Ah, youare a splendid Cossack! No wonder young men are rushing after you, andbattling to win you. Pan Skshetuski is no common warrior. I saw thepunishment he gave Chaplinski. True, he had something in his head; butwhen he took him by the neck and--pardon me--by the trousers, and whenhe battered the door open with him, I tell you that every bone inChaplinski came out of its pocket. Old Zatsvilikhovski told me too thatyour betrothed is a great knight, the favorite of the prince. I sawmyself in a moment that he was a soldier of uncommon daring and ofexperience beyond his years. He acts quickly. Though your company maybe dear to me, I don't know how much I should give if we were inZolotonosha now. I see that we must stay in the grass during the dayand travel at night. But I don't know whether you will be able toendure such toil."

  "Oh, I am in good health. I will endure every hardship. We could starteven this moment."

  "You have courage beyond women! The horses have rolled; I will saddlethem at once, so as to be ready in every event. I shall not feel atease till I see the reeds and rushes of the Kagamlik. If we hadn't leftthe road, we should have come upon the river nearer Chigirin, but hereit is about five miles to it from the road. That is my estimate, atleast. We shall cross to the other bank at once. I must tell you that Ihave a great desire to sleep. The entire night before last I wentaround in Chigirin, yesterday we drove with the Cossacks at a terriblepace to Rozlogi, and last night you and I rode away from Rozlogi. Iwant to sleep so much that I have lost all wish to talk; and though Ihave no
t the habit of being silent,--for philosophers say that a catshould be a hunter, and a man a talker,--still I find my tongue hasgrown lazy. Pardon me, then, if I doze."

  "Oh, there is nothing to make excuse for," said Helena.

  Pan Zagloba had really no need to accuse his tongue of sloth, for ithad been going unceasingly since daylight; but in truth he wished tosleep. When he sat on the horse again, he began to doze at once, andsoon he was sleeping soundly. He fell asleep from weariness and fromthe sound of the grass bent apart by the breasts of the horses.

  Meanwhile Helena gave herself up to the thoughts which were whirling inher head like a flock of birds in the air. Up to that moment events hadfollowed one another so quickly that she was unable to render accountof all that had happened to her. The attack, the frightful scenes ofdeath, terror, unexpected rescue, and flight,--all came like a storm inthe course of a single night. And besides, so many unintelligiblethings! Who was this who had saved her? He had told her his name, it istrue, but that name explained in no way the motives of his action.Whence did he come to Rozlogi? He said that he had come with Bogun; hehad evidently kept company with him, was his acquaintance and friend.But in such a case why did he save her, and expose himself to thegreatest danger and the terrible revenge of the Cossack? To understandthis it was necessary to know Zagloba well, with his unruly head andhis kindly heart. Helena had known him only six hours. And that unknownman with his impudent face, a swaggerer, a drunkard, is her savior. Ifshe had met him three days before, he would have roused in her aversionand distrust; but now she looks on him as a good angel, and flees withhim--whither? To Zolotonosha or anywhere else,--she herself knows notyet clearly. What a change of fate! Yesterday she lay down to restunder the quiet roof where she was born; to-day she is in the steppe,on horseback, in male attire, without home, without refuge. Behind heris the terrible chief, with designs on her honor; before herconflagration, peasant rebellion, civil war with all its ambushes,alarms, and horrors. And all her hope is in that man? No! it is stillin some one more powerful than violence, war, murder, andconflagration. Here she raised her eyes to heaven and said,--

  "Oh, do thou save me, great and merciful God! Rescue the orphan, theunhappy, the wanderer! Let thy will be done, but let thy mercy bemanifest."

  Indeed the mercy had been made manifest, for she had been caught awayfrom the most terrible hands, and saved by an incomprehensible miracleof God. Danger had not passed yet, but perhaps rescue was not distant.Who knows where he is whom she has chosen with her heart? He must havereturned already from the Saitch; perhaps he is somewhere in that samesteppe. He will seek her and find her, and then joy will take the placeof tears, and rejoicing of grief; alarm and terror will disappearforever, peace and pleasure will come. The brave simple heart of thegirl was filled with trust, and the steppe rustled sweetly around her;the breeze which moved the grass blew at the same time pleasantthoughts to her brain. She is not an orphan, then, in this world, sinceshe has here at her side one strange, unknown guardian, and stillanother, known and beloved, who is caring for her. He will not deserther, he will take her for good; and he is a man of iron, stronger andmightier than those rising against her in that hour.

  The steppe rustled sweetly; from the flowers came odors strong andintoxicating; the ruddy tops of the thistle spread out their purplebunches; the white pearls of the mikalief and the feathers of thesteppe grass bent toward her, as if recognizing a maiden sister in thatCossack, with long tresses, milk-white face, and red lips. They benttoward her as if wishing to say: "Cry not, beautiful maiden! we too arein the care of the Lord," A calm, increasing every moment, came to herfrom the steppe. Pictures of death and pursuit were blotted from hermind, and straightway a sort of weakness seized her, but a sweet one;slumber began to close her eyelids; the horses went slowly, themovement lulled her. She dropped asleep.