"My horse quickly! Be alive, be alive!"
The attendant brought the black steed, and sprang down to hold the stirrup; but when he had readied the ground he said, —
"Your grace, some strange men are approaching from Troüpi with Pan Soroka, and they are coming at a trot."
"I do not care for them!" answered Pan Andrei.
Now both horsemen approached to within some yards; then one of them with Soroka pushed forward on a gallop, arrived, and removing his panther-skin cap, uncovered a head red as fire.
"I see that I am standing before Pan Babinich!" said he; "I am glad that I have found you."
"With whom have I the honor to speak?" asked Kmita, impatiently.
"I am Vyershul, once captain of the Tartar squadron with Prince Yeremi Vishnyevetski. I come to my native place to make levies for a new war; and besides I bring you a letter from the grand hetman, Sapyeha."
"For a new war?" asked Kmita, frowning. "What do you say?"
"This letter will explain better than I," replied Vyershul, giving the letter of the hetman.
Kmita opened the letter feverishly. It read as follows: —
My very dear Pan Babinich, — A new delage is on the coan- try. A league of Sweden with Rtikotsy has been concluded, and a division of the Commonwealth agreed upon. Eighty thousand Hungarians, Transylvanians, Wallachians, and Cossacks may cross the southern boundary at any moment. And since in these last straits it is necessary for us to exert all our forces so as to leave even a glorious name after our people for coming ages, I send to your grace this order, according to which vou are to turn straight to the south without losing a moment of time, and come to us by forced marches. You will find us in Brest, whence we will send you farther without delay. This time periculum in mora (there is danger in delay). Prince Boguslav is freed from captivity; but Pan Gosyevski is to have an eye on Prussia and Jmud. Enjoining haste on you once more, I trust that love for the perishing country will be your best spur.
When Kmita had finished reading, he dropped the letter to the earth, and began to pass his hands over his moistened face; at last he looked wanderingly on Vyershul, and inquired in a low, stifled voice, —
