CHAPTER XXXI.

WHEN the warriors drew near each other, they reined
in their horses and opened in mutual abuse.

"Come on! come on! We will feed the dogs with your
carrion right away!" cried the prince's soldiers.

"Your carrion is not fit even for dogs!" answered the
Cossacks.

"You will rot here on the dam, you infamous robbers!"

"For whom it is fated, that one will rot; but the fish
will pick your bones soon."

"To the dung-heaps with your forks, you trash! Dung-
forks are fitter for you than sabres."

"If we are trash, our sons will be nobles, for they will be
born of your girls."

Some Cossack, evidently from the Trans-Dnieper, pushed
forward, and placing his palms around his mouth, cried
with a loud voice: "The prince has two nieces; tell him
to send them to Krivonos."

It grew dim in Volodyovski's' eyes when he heard this
blasphemy, and he spurred his horse on to the Zaporojian.
Skshetuski, on the right wing with his hussars, recog-
nized him from a distance, and cried to Zagloba: "Volodyov-
ski is rushing on! Volodyovski! Look there! there!"

"I see!" said Zagloba. "He has already reached him.
They are fighting! One, two! I see perfectly. It is all
over. He is a swordsman, plague take him!"

At the second blow the Cossack fell to the ground as if
struck by lightning, and fell with his head to his com-
rades, as an evil omen to them.

Then a second sprang forward, in a scarlet kontush
stripped from some noble. He fell upon Volodyovski a
little from the flank, but his horse stumbled at the very
moment of the blow. Volodyovski turned, and then could
be seen the master; for he only moved his hand, making a
light, soft motion, -- invisible, so to speak, -- but still the
sabre of the Zaporojian sprang up, flew into the air. Vo-
lodyovski seized him by the shoulder, and pulled him with
his horse toward the Polish side.

"Save me, brothers!" cried the prisoner.