"There's a village nineteen versts from Sohaczev," Ian put in. "Vulki, it's called."
"We rest a bit. Then we make a great effort, and if we are lucky, by noon we are ten versts from Sohaczev."
"We'll never catch the Grand Duke," said Vanda, who was with the two men.
"Who knows? But at ten versts from Sohaczev there is a large camp. Or there was. If we are lucky we shall find some of the men there, or a place in a train, for there is the railway, unless we have already destroyed it. But we shouldn't do that till the last minute, for we are retreating with as little loss to ourselves as can be. Then we are safe for either headquarters at Sohaczev, or Warsaw. And Warsaw leads to anywhere in Russia. I shall join my troop, and you can rest till the war is over. It must be over sometime, even the Prussians can't help that. And then your mother, who is a brave woman, and a really great lady, can come back and rebuild your house. And you can marry your sisters in the meantime."
"They are not my sisters."
"Then the young lady is your bespoken wife."
"My husband is a volunteer in the Cossack army," said Vanda.
Ostap gave a little shout of pleasure. "Oh--good! Which troop?"
"The Kuban troop."
"And the other young lady by your mother?"