the room, but had barely made a step toward the closet when suddenly there was a noise in the entrance and a shrill voice began to cry outside the door —
"Hei there! For God's mercy! open quickly, quickly!"
The girls were terribly frightened. Volodyovski sprang for his sabre to the closet, but had not been able to get it when Terka opened the door. An unknown man burst into the room and threw himself at the feet of the knight.
"Rescue, serene Colonel! — The lady is carried away!"
"What lady?"
"In Vodokty."
"Kmita!" cried Volodyovski.
"Kmita!" screamed the girls.
"Kmita!" repeated the messenger.
"Who art thou?" asked Volodyovski.
"The manager in Vodokty."
"We know him," said Terka; "he brought herbs for you."
Meanwhile the drowsy old Gashtovt came forth from behind the stove, and in the door appeared two attendants of Pan Volodyovski whom the uproar had drawn to the room.
"Saddle the horses!" cried Volodyovski. "Let one of you hurry to the Butryms, the other give a horse to me!"
"I have been already at the Butryms," said the manager, "for they are nearer to us; they sent me to your grace."
"When was the lady carried away?" asked Volodyovski.
"Just now — the servants are fighting yet — I rushed for a horse."
Old Gashtovt rubbed his eyes. "What's that? The lady carried off?"
"Yes; Kmita carried her off," answered Volodyovski. "Let us go to the rescue!" Then he turned to the messenger: "Hurry to the Domasheviches; let them come with muskets."
"Now, my kids," cried the old man suddenly to his daughters, "hurry to the village, wake up the nobles, let them take their sabres ! Kmita has carried off the lady — is it possible — God forgive him, the murderer, the ruffian! Is it possible?"
"Let us go to rouse them," said Volodyovski; "that will be quicker! Come; the horses are ready, I hear them."
In a moment they mounted, as did also the two attendants, Ogarek and Syruts. All pushed on their way between
