of dream figures, but the fortress roared and was lighted
with rosy smoke; fiery balls sprang along the steppe, snap-
ping and barking, like infuriated dogs. At this sight such
sadness and sorrow seized Skshetuski that he was ready to die
on the spot, if he could only go even in spirit to his friends.
War! war! and he in the camp of the enemy, disarmed,
sick, unable to rise from the wagon! The Commonwealth
in danger, and he not flying to save it! There in Lubni the
troops are surely moving. The prince, with lightning in
his eyes, is flying before the ranks; and on whatever side he
turns his baton, three hundred lances strike like three hun-
dred thunderbolts. Here a number of well-known faces
begin to appear before the eyes of the lieutenant. Little
Volodyovski, at the head of his dragoons, with his thin
sabre in hand, - the king of swordsmen; whoever crosses
weapons with him is as if in the tomb. There Pan Pod-
bipienta raises his executioner's snatch-cowl! Will he
cut off the three heads, or will he not? The priest Ya-
skolski waves the banners, and prays with his hands lifted
to heaven. But he is an old soldier; therefore, unable to
restrain himself, he thunders out at times, "Strike! kill!"
Mailed riders incline half-way to the horse's ear. The
regiments rush on, open their ranks, and close. Battle and
tumult are there!

Suddenly the vision changes. Before the lieutenant
stands Helena, pale, with dishevelled hair; and she cries:
"Save me, for Bogun pursues!"

Skshetuski tears himself from the wagon, till a voice -
but a real one - calls to him: "Lie down, child, or I will
bind you."

That was the essaul of the tabor, Zakhar, whom Hmel-
nitski had commanded to guard the lieutenant as the eye in
his head. He puts him back in the wagon, covers him
with a horse-skin, and asks: "What's the matter with
you?"

Now Skshetuski has perfect presence of mind. The vis-
ions vanish. The wagons move along the very bank. of the
Dnieper. A cool breeze is blowing from the river, and
the night is growing pale. Water-birds have begun their
morning noise.

"Listen, Zakhar I have we passed Kudak already?"
asked Skshetuski.

"We have," answered the Zaporojian.
"And where are you going?"