He loved her immensely; and she loved him in the same way. They
were happy together, but had no children, though it was the fourth
year of their marriage. Their lands were managed with great
diligence. Pan Michael bought with his own and Basia’s money a
number of villages near Kamenyets; for these he paid a small
price, since timid people in terror of Turkish invasion were glad
to sell land in those regions. On his estates he introduced order
and military discipline; he took the restless population in hand,
rebuilt burned villages, established “fortalices,”--that is,
fortified houses,--in which he placed temporary garrisons; in one
word, as formerly he had defended the country with success, so now
he worked his lands with good profit, never letting the sword out
of his hand.
The glory of his name was the best defence of his property. With
some of the murzas he poured water on his sword and concluded
brotherhood; others he subdued. Bands of disorderly Cossacks,
scattered detachments of the horde, robbers from the steppes,
highwaymen from the plains of Bessarabia, trembled at thought of
the “Little Falcon;” therefore his herds of horses and flocks
of sheep, his buffaloes and camels, lived without danger on the
steppes. The enemy even respected his neighbors. His substance
increased through the aid of his active wife. He was surrounded by
the honor and affection of people. His native land had adorned him
with office; the hetman loved him; the Pasha of Hotin clicked with
his tongue in wonder at him; in the distant Crimea, in Bagchesarai,
his name was repeated with honor. His land, war, and love were the
three elements of his life.
The hot summer of 1671 found Pan Michael in Sokol, in Basia’s
paternal villages. That Sokol was the pearl of their estates. They
entertained there ceremoniously and merrily Pan Zagloba, who,
disregarding the toils of a journey unusual at his age, came to
visit them, fulfilling his solemn promise given at their wedding.
But the noisy feasts and the joy of the hosts at seeing a dear
guest was soon interrupted by an order from the hetman directing
Pan Michael to take command at Hreptyoff, to watch the Moldavian
boundary, to listen to voices from the side of the desert, protect
the place, intercept Tartar parties, and clear the region of
robbers.
The little knight, as a soldier ever willing in the service of the
Commonwealth, gave orders at once to his servants to drive the
herds from the meadows, lade the camels, and be ready themselves
in arms. Still, his heart was rent at thought of parting with his
wife, for he loved her with the love of a husband and a father, and
was hardly able to breathe without her; but he had no wish to take
her to the wild and lonely deserts of Ushytsa and expose her to
various perils. She, however, insisted on going with him.
“Think,” said she, “whether it will be more dangerous for me to
stay here than to live with you under the protection of troops. I
do not wish another roof than your tent, since I married you to
share fatigue, toil, and danger with you. Here alarm would gnaw me
to death; but there, with such a soldier, I shall feel safer than
the queen in Warsaw. Should it be needful to take the field with
you, I shall take it. If you go alone, I shall not know sleep in
this place; I shall not put food to my mouth; and finally, I shall
not hold out, but fly as I am to Hreptyoff; and if you will not let
me in, I will spend the night at the gate, and beg and cry till you
take pity.”
Pan Michael, seeing such affection, seized his wife by the arms
and began to cover her rosy face with kisses, and she gave like
for like. “I should not hesitate,” said he, at last, “were it a
question of standing on guard simply and attacking detachments of
the horde. Really, there will be men enough, because one of the
squadrons of the starosta of Podolia will go with me, and one of
the chamberlain’s squadrons; besides these, Motovidlo will come
with Cossacks and the dragoons of Linkhauz. There will be about six
hundred soldiers, and with camp-followers up to a thousand. But
I fear this, which the braggarts at the Diet in Warsaw will not
believe, but which we on the borders expect every hour,--namely, a
great war with the whole power of Turkey. This Pan Myslishevski has
confirmed, and the Pasha of Hotin repeats it every day; the hetman
believes that the Sultan will not leave Doroshenko without succor,
but will declare war against the Commonwealth; and then what should
I do with you, my dearest flower, my reward from God’s hand?”
“What happens to you will happen to me, I wish no other fate than
the fate which comes to you.”
Here Zagloba broke his silence, and turning to Basia, said, “If
the Turks capture you, whether you wish it or not, your fate will
be different from Michael’s. Ha! After the Cossacks, the Swedes,
the Northerners, and the Brandenburg kennel--the Turk! I said
to Olshovski, the vice-chancellor, ‘Do not bring Doroshenko to
despair, for only from necessity did he turn to the Turk.’ Well,
and what? They would not listen to me. They sent Hanenko against
Doroshenko, and now Doroshenko, willing or unwilling, must crawl
into the throat of the Turk, and, besides, lead him against us. You
remember, Michael, that I forewarned Olshovski in your presence.”
“You must have forewarned him some other time, for I do not
remember that it was in my presence,” said the little knight, “But
what you say of Doroshenko is holy truth, for the hetman holds
the same views; they say even that he has letters from Doroshenko
written in that sense precisely. But as matters are, so they are;
it is enough that it is too late now to negotiate. You have quick
wit, however, and I should like to hear your opinion. Am I to take
Basia to Hreptyoff, or is it better to leave her here? I must add
too that the place is a terrible desert. It was always a wretched
spot, but during twenty years so many Cossack parties and so many
chambuls have passed through it, that I know not whether I shall
find two beams fastened together. There is a world of ravines
there, grown over with thickets, hiding-places, deep caves, and
every kind of secret den in which robbers hide themselves by
hundreds, not to mention those who come from Wallachia.”
“Robbers, in view of such a force, are a trifle,” said Zagloba.
“Chambuls too are a trifle; for if strong ones march up, there will
be a noise about them; and if they are small, you will rub them
out.”
“Well, now!” cried Basia; “is not the whole matter a trifle?
Robbers are a trifle; chambuls are a trifle. With such a force
Michael will defend me from all the power of the Crimea.”
“Do not interrupt me in deliberation,” said Zagloba; “if you do,
I’ll decide against you.”
Basia put both palms on her mouth quickly, and dropped her head
on her shoulder, feigning to fear Zagloba terribly, and though he
knew that the dear woman was jesting, still her action pleased him;
therefore he put his old hand on her bright head and said, “Have no
fear; I will comfort you in this matter.”
Basia kissed his hand straightway, for in truth much depended on
his advice, which was so infallible that no one was ever led astray
by it; he thrust both hands behind his belt, and glancing quickly
with his seeing eye now on one, now on the other, said suddenly,
“But there is no posterity here, none at all; how is that?” Here he
thrust out his under-lip.
“The will of God, nothing more,” said Pan Michael, dropping his
eyes.
“The will of God, nothing more,” said Basia, dropping her eyes.
“And do you wish for posterity?”
To this the little knight answered: “I will tell you sincerely, I
do not know what I would give for children, but sometimes I think
the wish vain. As it is, the Lord Jesus has sent happiness, giving
me this kitten,--or as you call her, this haiduk,--and besides has
blessed me with fame and with substance. I do not dare to trouble
Him for greater blessings. You see it has come to my head more than
once that if all people had their wishes accomplished, there would
be no difference between this earthly Commonwealth and the heavenly
one, which alone can give perfect happiness. So I think to myself
that if I do not wait here for one or two sons, they will not miss
me up there, and will serve and win glory in the old fashion under
the heavenly hetman, the holy archangel Michael, in expeditions
against the foulness of hell, and will attain to high office.”
Here, moved at his own words and at that thought, the pious
Christian knight raised his eyes to heaven; but Zagloba listened to
him with indifference, and did not cease to mutter sternly. At last
he said,--
“See that you do not blaspheme. Your boast that you divine the
intentions of Providence so well may be a sin for which you will
hop around as peas do on a hot pan. The Lord God has a wider sleeve
than the bishop of Cracow, but He does not like to have any one
look in to see what He has prepared there for small people, and
He does what He likes; but do you see to that which concerns you,
and if you wish for posterity, keep your wife with you, instead of
leaving her.”
When Basia heard this, she sprang with delight to the middle of the
room, and clapping her hands, began to repeat, “Well, now! we’ll
keep together. I guessed at once that your grace would come to my
side; I guessed it at once. We’ll go to Hreptyoff, Michael. Even
once you’ll take me against the Tartars,--one little time, my dear,
my golden!”
“There she is for you! Now she wants to go to an attack!” cried the
little knight.
“For with you I should not fear the whole horde.”
“_Silentium!_” said Zagloba, turning his delighted eyes, or rather
his delighted eye, on Basia, whom he loved immensely. “I hope too
that Hreptyoff, which, by the way, is not so far from here, is not
the last stanitsa before the Wilderness.”
“No; there will be commands farther on, in Mohiloff and Yampol; and
the last is to be in Rashkoff,” answered Pan Michael.
“In Rashkoff? We know Rashkoff. It was from that place that we
brought Helena, Pan Yan’s wife; and you remember that ravine in
Valadynka, Michael. You remember how I cut down that monster, or
devil, Cheremis, who was guarding her. But since the last garrison
will be in Rashkoff, if the Crimea moves, or the whole Turkish
power, they will know quickly in Rashkoff, and will give timely
notice to Hreptyoff; there is no great danger then, for the place
cannot be surprised. I say this seriously; and you know, besides,
that I would rather lay down my old head than expose her to any
risk. Take her. It will be better for you both. But Basia must
promise that in case of a great war she will let herself be taken
even to Warsaw, for there would be terrible campaigns and fierce
battles, besieging of camps, perhaps hunger, as at Zbaraj; in such
straits it is hard for a man to save his life, but what could a
woman do?”
“I should be glad to fall at Michael’s side,” said Basia; “but
still I have reason, and know that when a thing is not possible, it
is not possible. Finally, it is Michael’s will, and not mine. This
year he went on an expedition under Pan Sobieski. Did I insist on
going with him? No. Well, if I am not prevented now from going to
Hreptyoff with Michael, in case a great war comes, send me wherever
you like.”
“His grace, Pan Zagloba, will take you to Podlyasye to Pan Yan’s
wife,” said the little knight; “there indeed the Turk will not
reach you.”
“Pan Zagloba! Pan Zagloba!” answered the old noble, mocking him.
“Am I a captain of home guards? Do not intrust your wives to Pan
Zagloba, thinking that he is old, for he may turn out altogether
different. Secondly, do you think that in case of war with the
Turk, I shall go behind the stove in Podlyasye, and watch the roast
meat lest it burn? I may be good for something else. I mount my
horse from a bench, I confess; but when once in the saddle, I will
gallop on the enemy as well as any young man. Neither sand nor
sawdust is sprinkling out of me yet, glory be to God! I shall not
go on a raid against Tartars, nor watch in the Wilderness, for I am
not a scout; but in a general attack keep near me, if you can, and
you will see splendid things.”
“Do you wish to take the field again?”
“Do you not think that I wish to seal a famous life with a glorious
death, after so many years of service? And what better could happen
to me? Did you know Pan Dzevyantkevich? He, it is true, did not
seem more than a hundred and forty years old, but he was a hundred
and forty-two, and was still in service.”
“He was not so old.”
“He was. May I never move from this bench if he wasn’t! I am going
to a great war, and that’s the end of it! But now I am going with
you to Hreptyoff, for I love Basia.”
Basia sprang up with radiant face and began to hug Zagloba, and he
raised his head higher and higher, repeating, “Tighter, tighter!”
Pan Michael pondered over everything for a time yet and said at
last: “It is impossible for us all to go together, since the place
is a pure wilderness, and we should not find a bit of roof over our
heads. I will go first, choose a place for a square, build a good
enclosure with houses for the soldiers, and sheds for the officers’
horses, which, being of finer stock, might suffer from change of
climate; I will dig wells, open the roads, and clear the ravines
from robber ruffians. That done, I’ll send you a proper escort, and
you will come. You will wait, perhaps, three weeks here.”
Basia wished to protest; but Zagloba, seeing the justice of Pan
Michael’s words, said, “What is wise, is wise! Basia, we will stay
here together and keep house, and our affair will not be a bad one.
We must also make ready good supplies in some fashion, for, of
course, you do not know that meads and wines never keep so well as
in caves.”