CHAPTER XV.

SKSHETUSKI, hearing the battle, waited with trembling
for the conclusion of it. He thought at first that Hmel-
nitski was meeting all the forces of the hetmans. But
toward evening old Zakhar led him out of his error. The
news of the treason of the Cossacks under Krechovski
and the destruction of the Germans agitated Pan Yan
to the bottom of his soul; for it was prophetic of future
desertions, and the lieutenant knew perfectly that no
small part of the armies of the hetmans was made up
of Cossacks.

The anguish of the lieutenant increased, and triumph
in the Zaporojian camp added bitterness to his sorrow.
Everything foreshadowed the worst. There were no tidings
of Prince Yeremi, and evidently the hetmans had made a
terrible mistake; for instead of moving with all their forces
to Kudak or waiting for the enemy in fortified camps in the
Ukraine, they had divided their forces, weakened them-
selves of their own accord, and opened a wide field to
breach of faith and treason. It is true that mention had
been made previously in the Zaporojian camp of Krechovski,
and of the special despatch of troops under the leadership
of Stephen Pototski; but the lieutenant had given no faith
to those reports. He supposed that these troops were strong
advance guards which would be withdrawn in time. But it
turned out otherwise. Hmelnitski was strengthened sev-
eral thousand men by the treason of Krechovski, and terrible
danger hung over young Pototski. Deprived of assistance
and lost in the Wilderness, Hmelnitski might easily sur-
round and crush him completely.

In pain from his wounds, in disquiet, during sleepless
nights, Skshetuski had consoled himself with the single
thought of the prince. The star of Hmelnitski must pale
when that of the prince rises in Lubni. And who knows
whether he has not joined the hetmans already? Though
the forces of Hmelnitski were considerable, though the
beginning of the campaign was favorable, though Tugai
Bey marched with him, and in case of failure the "Tsar of
the Crimea" had promised to move with reinforcements in