CHAPTER XXVI.

HMELNITSKI remained awhile at Korsun, and then pushed
on to Belaya Tserkoff, where he established his capital.
The horde was disposed in camp on the other side of the
river, sending out parties through the whole province of
Kieff. Pan Longin Podbipienta therefore had been griev-
ing in vain over the dearth of Tartar heads. Skshetuski
foresaw correctly that the Zaporojians seized by Ponyatov-
ski at Kanyeff gave false information. Tugai Bey not only
had not departed, but had not gone even to Chigirin. What
is more, new Tartar reinforcements came from every side.
The petty sovereigns of Azoff and Astrakhan, who had never
been in Poland before, came with four thousand warriors.
Twelve thousand of the Nogai horde came, and twenty thou-
sand of the Belgorod and Budjak hordes, -- all sworn enemies
hitherto of the Zaporojians and the Cossacks, now brothers
and sworn allies against Christian blood. Finally the Khan
Islam Girei himself came with twelve thousand from Pere-
kop. The whole Ukraine suffered from these friends; not
only the nobles suffered, but the Russian people, whose vil-
lages were burned, cattle driven away, and whose wives and
children were hurried into captivity. In those times of
murder, burning, and bloodshed there was only one rescue
for the peasant, and that was to flee to Hmelnitski, -- where
from being a victim he became a destroyer, and ravaged his
own country; but at least his life was safe. Unhappy coun-
try! When rebellion broke out in it Pan Nikolai Pototski
punished and wasted it to begin with; then the Zaporojians
and the Tartars, who came as if for its liberation; and now
Yeremi Vishnyevetski hovered over it.

Therefore all who were able fled to Hmelnitski's camp;
even nobles fled, for other means of safety were not to be
found. Thanks to this, Hmelnitski increased in power; and
if he remained long in Belaya Tserkoff and did not move at
once to the heart of the Commonwealth, it was above all to
give order to these lawless and wild elements.
In his iron hands they changed quickly into military
strength. Skeleton regiments of trained Zaporojians were
at hand; the mob was divided among these. Colonels were