"I don't know. There will be a battle, they say ; but I
don't know."

At these words Skshetuski's heart beat joyfully. He
had supposed that Hmelnitski would besiege Kudak, and
with that the war would begin. Meanwhile the haste with
which the Cossacks pushed on permitted the inference
that the armies of the Crown were already near, and that
Hmelnitski was passing the fortress so as not to be forced
to give battle under its cannon.

"I may be free to-day," thought the lieutenant, and raised
his eyes to heaven in thanks.