"Tell us what happened to you."

"I will tell you some time," said Skshetuski, with a weak
voice. "They wounded me, and I was sick."

"They wounded him!" cried Pan Dzik.

"They wounded him, though an envoy!" added Pan
Sleshinski. The officers, astounded at Cossack insolence,
looked at one another, and then began to press forward to
Pan Yan with great friendliness.

"And did you see Hmelnitski?"

"I did."

"Well, give him here!" said Migurski; "we will make
mince-meat of him in a minute."

The night passed in such conversation. Toward morn-
ing it was announced that the second party, despatched on
the more distant road to Cherkasi, had returned. It was
evident the men of this party had not come up with Bogun;
they had brought wonderful news, however. They brought
many people whom they had found on the road, and who
had seen Bogun two days before. These people said that
the chief was evidently pursuing some one, for he inquired
everywhere if a fat noble had not been seen fleeing with a
young Cossack. Besides, he was in a terrible hurry, and
flew at breakneck speed. The people also affirmed that
they had not seen Bogun taking away a young woman, and
they would have seen her without fail if she bad been with
him, for only a few Cossacks were following the chief.

New consolation, but also new anxiety, entered the heart
of Pan Yan, for these stories were simply beyond his
comprehension. He did not understand why Bogun, pur-
suing first in the direction of Lubni, threw himself on the
garrison at Vassilyevka, and then returned suddenly in the
direction of Cherkasi. That he had not carried off Helena
appeared to be certain, for Pan Kushel had met Anton's
party, and she was not with them. The people now brought
from the direction of Cherkasi had not seen her with Bogun.
Where could she be then? Where was she hiding? Had
she escaped? If so, in what direction? Why should she
not escape to Lubni, instead of Cherkasi or Zolotonosha?
Still Bogun's parties were pursuing and hunting somebody
around Cherkasi and Prohorovka. But why were they
inquiring about a noble with a young Cossack? To all
these questions the lieutenant found no answer.

"Put your heads together, talk the matter over, explain
what this means." said he to the officers, "for my head is
unequal to the task."