With the belt on the Cossack he bound his hands; then
with his own belt he tied his feet. Bogun felt nothing now;
he had fainted.

"A sick man should lie quietly," said Zagloba, "so that
humor may not fly to his head; from this comes delirium.
Well, good health to you! I might rip you with a knife,
which would probably be the best use for you, but I am
ashamed to kill a man in peasant fashion. Quite another
affair if you choke before morning, for that has happened
to more than one pig. Good health, and return my love!
Maybe we shall have another meeting; but if I try to hasten
it, then let some one flay me and make horse-cruppers of
my skin."

When he had finished this speech Zagloba went to the
anteroom, quenched the fire in the chimney, and knocked at
Vassily's door. A slender figure emerged, from it at once.

"Is that you?" asked Zagloba.

"It is."

"Come on! If we only reach the horses----but then the
Cossacks are all drunk, the night is dark; before they wake
we shall be far away. Be careful! the princes are lying
here."

"In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!" whis-
pered Helena.