"Alive, well," answered Zagloba, like an echo.

"And she sent you out?".

"Yes."

"And you have got a letter?"

"I have."

"Give it to me."

"It is sewed into my clothes; besides, it is night now.
Restrain yourself."

"I cannot. You see yourself."

"I see."

Zagloba's answers became more and more laconic; at last
he nodded a couple of times and fell asleep.

Skshetuski saw there was no help; therefore he gave
himself up again to meditation, which was interrupted after
a while by the tramp of a considerable body of cavalry ap-
proaching quickly. It was Ponyatovski with Cossacks of
the guard, whom the prince had sent out to meet Skshe-
tuski, fearing lest some harm might have met him.