uards had dispersed, had mounted his followers, and
hearing shots, was leading his cavalry into the firing line, himself at
their head, with his steel raised aloft. At once Rykov cried, "Platoon
fire!" A fiery thread flew along over the locks, and from the black
levelled barrels three hundred bullets whistled. Three riders fell
wounded, and one lay dead. The Count's steed fell, and the Count with it;
with a cry the Warden ran to the rescue, for he saw that the yagers had
aimed at the last of the Horeszkos--though in the female line. Robak was
nearer, and covered the Count with his body; he received the bullets in
his stead, drew him from under his horse, and led him away; but the gentry
he bade disperse, take better aim, spare vain shots, and hide behind the
fences, the well, and the walls of the stable. The Count and his cavalry
had to wait a more fitting season.

Thaddeus comprehended Robak's plans and carried them out splendidly,
seeking cover behind the wooden well; and, since he was sober and was a
fine shot with his fowling piece (for he could hit a gold coin thrown in
the air), he did terrible execution on the Muscovites, picking out their
chiefs; with his first shot he at once killed the sergeant-major. Then
with his two barrels, one after the other, he mowed down two sergeants,
aiming now at the gold lace, now at the middle of the triangle, where
stood the staff. Thereupon Rykov grew angry and chafed, he stamped his
feet and bit the hilt of his sword.

"Major Plut," he cried, "what will come of this? Soon not one of us will
be left here to give orders!"

So Plut shouted at Thaddeus in great wrath:--

"Shame on you, you Pole, for hiding behind a plank shelter; don't be a
coward, come out into the open and fight honourably, as a soldier should."

To this Thaddeus replied:--

"Major, if you are so bold a knight, why do you hide behind a company of
yagers? I am not afraid of you--come out from behind the fence; you have
had your face slapped, but still I am ready to fight with you! Why all
this bloodshed? The quarrel was between us two; so let the pistol or the
sword settle it. I give you your choice of weapons, from a cannon to a
pin. Otherwise, I will shoot you and your men like wolves in a cave."

So saying, he shot, and aimed so well that he hit the lieutenant by
Rykov's side.

"Major," whispered Rykov, "go out and fight a duel with him, and take
vengeance on him for what he did some time ago. If anybod