LITMIR.BIZ

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break my head over that, since I was not in it?"

      Anger flashed for an instant on the face of Pan Yatsek, but to restrain himself he began to blow on the sabre and rub the blade with still greater industry. At last he returned it to the scabbard, and added, -

      "God sends adventures and accidents."

      And his eyes, which one moment earlier had been gleaming, were covered again with the usual sadness, for just then he remembered his one friend, the horse, which those wolves had torn to pieces.

      Meanwhile the door opened and the four Bukoyemskis walked into the chamber.

      "The frost has weakened, and the snow sends up steam," said Mateush.

      "There will be fog," added Yan.

      And then they took note of Yatsek, whom they had not seen the first moment.

      "Oh art thou in such company?" asked Lukash, as he turned to Stanislav.

      All four brothers put their hands on their hips and cast challenging glances at Yatsek.

      Yatsek seized a chair and, pushing it to the middle of the chamber, turned to the Bukoyemskis with a sudden movement; then he sat astride of the chair, as on horseback, rested his elbows on the back of it, raised his head, and answered with equally challenging glances. Thus were they opposed then; he, with feet stretching widely apart in his Swedish boots, they, shoulder to shoulder, quarrelsome, threatening, enormous.

      Stanislav saw that it was coming to a quarrel, but he wished to laugh at the same time. Thinking that he could hinder a collision at any instant he let them gaze at one another.

      "Eh, what a bold fellow," thought he of Yatsek, "nothing confuses him."

      The silence continued, at once unendurable and ridiculous. Yatsek himself felt this, also, for he was the first man to break it.

      "Sit down, young sirs," said he, "not only do I invite, but I beg you."

      The Bukoyemskis looked at one another with astonishment, this new turn confused them.

      "How is this? What is it? Of what is he thinking?"

      "I beg you, I beg you," repeated Yatsek, and he pointed to benches.

      "We stay as we are, for it pleases us, dost understand?"

      "Too much ceremony."

      "What ceremony?" cried Lukash. "Dost thou claim to be a senator, or a bishop, thou-thou Pompeius!"

      Yatsek did not move from the chair, but his back began to quiver as if from sudden laughter.

      "But why call me Pompeius?" inquired he.

      "Because the name fits thee."

      "But it may be because thou art a fool," replied Yatsek.

      "Strike, whoso believes in God!" shouted Yan.

      Evidently Yatsek had had talk enough also, for something seemed to snatch him from the chair on a sudden, and he sprang like a cat toward the brothers.

      "Listen, ye road-blockers," said he with a voice cold as steel, "what do ye want of me?"

      "Blood!" cried Mateush.

      "Thou wilt not squirm away from us this time!" shouted Marek. "Come out at once," said he, grasping toward his side for a sabre.

      But Stanislav pushed in quickly between them.

      "I will not permit," cried he. "This is another man's dwelling."

      "True," added Yatsek, "this is another man's dwelling, and I will not injure Pan Gideon. I will not cut you up under his roof, but I will find you to-morrow."

      "We will find thee to-morrow!" roared Mateush.

      "Ye have sought conflicts and raised pretexts all day, why, I cannot tell, for I have not known you, nor have ye known me, but ye must answer for this, and because ye have insulted me I would meet not four men but ten like you."

      "Oho! oho! One will suffice thee. It is clear," cried out Yan, "that thou hast not heard of the Bukoyemskis."

      "I have spoken of four," said Yatsek, turning on a sudden to Stanislav, "but perhaps you will join with these cavaliers?"

      Stanislav bowed politely.

      "Since you make the inquiry-"

      "But we first, and according to seniority," said the Bukoyemskis. "We will not withdraw from that. We have settled it, and will cut down any man who interferes with us."

      Yatsek looked quickly at the brothers, and in one moment divined, as he thought, the arrangement, and he paled somewhat.

      "So that is it!" said he again to Stanislav; "thou hast hirelings, and art standing behind them. By my faith the method seems certain, and very safe, but whether it is noble and knightly is another point. In what a company do I find myself?"

      On hearing this opinion which disgraced him, Stanislav, though he had a mild spirit by nature, felt the blood rush to his visage. The veins swelled on his forehead, lightning flashed from his eyes, his teeth were gritting terribly, and he grasped the hilt of his sabre.

      "Come out! Come out this instant!" cried he in a voice choked with anger.

      Sabres flashed; it was bright in the chamber, for light fell on the steel blades from a torch in the chimney. But three of the Bukoyemskis sprang between the opponents and stood in a line there, the fourth caught Stanislav by the shoulders.

      "By the dear God, restrain thyself, Stashko! We are ahead of thee!"

      "We are ahead of thee!" cried the three others.

      "Unhand me!" screamed Stanislav, hoarsely.

      "We are ahead!"

      "Unhand me!"

      "Hold Stashko, ye, and I will settle with this man while ye are holding him," shouted Mateush; and seizing Yatsek he dragged him aside to begin at him straightway, but Yatsek with presence of mind pulled himself free of Mateush, and sheathed his sword, saying, -

      "I choose the man who is to fight first and the time. So I tell you to-morrow, and in Vyrambki, not here."

      "Oh thou wilt not sneak away from us! Now! now!"

      But Yatsek crossed his arms on his breast. "Ha, if ye wish without fighting to kill me under the roof of our host, let me know it."

      At this rage seized the brothers; they stamped the floor with their boot-heels, pulled their mustaches, and panted like wild bears. But since they feared infamy no man of them had the daring to rush at Tachevski.

      "To-morrow, I tell you! Say to Pan Gideon that ye are going to visit me, and inquire for the road to Vyrambki. Beyond the brook stands a crucifix since the time of the pestilence. There I will wait for you at midday to-morrow, and there, with God's help I will finish you!"

      He uttered the last words as if with sorrow, then he opened the door and walked out of the chamber. In the yard the dogs ran around Yatsek, and knowing him well, fondled up to him. He turned without thinking toward the posts near the windows, as if looking for his horse there; then, remembering that that horse was no longer alive, he sighed, and, feeling the cool breath of air, repeated in spirit, -

      "The wind is blowing always in the eyes of the poor man. I will walk home."

      Meanwhile, Stanislav was wringing his hands from fierce pain and anger, while saying to the Bukoyemskis, with terrible bitterness, -

      "Who asked you to do this? My worst enemy could not have hurt me more than have you with your service."

      They pitied him immensely, and fell to embracing him, one after the other.

      "Stashko," said Mateush. "They sent us a decanter for the night; give thyself comfort for God's sake."

      CHAPTER III

      The world was still gray when Father Voynovski was clattering along through deep snow with a lantern to the doves, partridges, and rabbits which he kept in his granary in a special enclosure. A tame fox with bells on her neck followed his footsteps; at his side went a Spitz dog and a porcupine. Winter sleep did not deaden the

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