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CHAPTER XIV.

THE thunder of the guns of Kudak was heard also by the
forces descending in boats under the command of old Bara-
bash and Krechovski. These forces were composed of six
thousand registered Cossacks, and one of picked German
infantry led by Colonel Hans Flick.

Pan Nikolai Pototski, the hetman, hesitated long before
he sent the Cossacks against Hmelnitski; but since Krechov-
ski had an immease influence over them, and Pototski trusted
Krechovski absolutely, he merely commanded the Cossacks
to take the oath of allegiance, and sent them off in the
name of God.

Krechovski was a soldier full of experience and of great
reputation in previous wars. He was a client of the Po-
totskis, to whom he was indebted for everything, - his
rank of colonel, his nobility, which they obtained for him
in the Diet, and finally for broad lands situated near the
confluence of the Dniester and Lada, which he held for life.
He was connected, therefore, by so many bonds with the
Commonwealth and the Pototskis, that a shadow of a sus-
picion could not rise in the mind of the hetman. Krechov-
ski was, besides, a man in his best days, for he was scarcely
fifty years old, and a great future was opening before him
in the service of the country. Some were ready to see in
him the successor of Stephen Hmeletski, who, beginning
his career as a simple knight of the steppe, ended it as
voevoda of Kieff and senator of the Commonwealth. It was
for Krechovski to advance by the same road, along which
he was impelled by bravery, a wild energy, and unbridled
ambition, equally eager for wealth and distinction. Through
this ambition he had struggled a short time before for the
starostaship of Lita, and when at last Pan Korbut received
it, Krechovski buried the disappointment deep in his heart,
but almost fell ill of envy and mortification. This time
fortune seemed to smile on him again; for having received
from the hetman such an important military office, he could
consider that his name would reach the ears of the king;
and that was important, for afterward he had only to bow
to receive the reward, with the words dear to the heart of a

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