that you may not be ashamed to give your relative to a
Cossack, Pan Zagloba has agreed to this, and we shall seek
the permission of the Diet, and when the war is over will
go to the Grand Hetman, who is kind to me. He can
assist. He too acquired nobility for Krechovski."

"God give you aid!"said the princess.

"You are sincere people, and I thank you. But before
the war I should like to hear once more from your lips that
you give me the maiden, and that you will keep your word.
The word of a noble is not smoke, and you are a princess."

Bogun spoke with a slow and solemn voice, but at the
same time in his speech there vibrated, as it were, a threat
declaring that there must be consent to what he demanded.

The old princess looked at her sons; they looked at her,
and for a moment silence continued. Suddenly the falcon,
sitting on her perch by the wall, began to make a noise,
though it was long before daylight; others followed her.
The great eagle woke, shook his wings, and began to scream.
The pitch-pine burned low; it was growing gloomy and
dark in the room.

"Nikolai, put wood on the fire!" said the old princess.
The young prince threw on more wood.

"Well, do you consent?" inquired Bogun.

"We must ask Helena."

"Let her speak for herself; you speak for yourselves.
Do you promise?"

"We promise," said the mother.

"We promise," said the sons.

Bogun stood up suddenly, and turning to Zagloba, said
with a clear voice,--

"My friend Zagloba, ask for the maiden too; maybe
they will give her to you."

"What do you mean, Cossack? Are you drunk?" cried
the princess.

Bogun, in place of an answer, took out Skshetuski's let-
ter, and turning to Zagloba, said: "Read!"

Zagloba took the letter, and began to read it in the midst
of deep silence. When he had finished, Bogun crossed his
arms on his breast.

"To whom then do you give the girl?" asked he.

"Bogun!"

The voice of the Cossack became like the hiss of a ser-
pent: "Traitors, murderers, faith-breakers, Judases!"

"Sons, to your sabres!" screamed the princess.