"Well. I might go on foot," was the answer, "but I choose the sleigh, the journey will be quicker."
Yatsek sat toward them sidewise, and cried to the driver,--
"To Vyrambki."
"Whither?" asked Stanislav.
"To my house. You will not have much comfort, but it is difficult otherwise. At Pan Gideon's you would frighten the women, and Father Voynovski is at my house. He dresses wounds to perfection and he will care for you. You can send for your horses, and then do what may please you. I will ask the priest also to go to Pan Gideon and tell him with caution what has happened." Here Yatsek fell to thinking and soon after he added,--
"Oho! the trouble has not come yet, but now we shall see it. God knows that you, gentlemen, insisted on this duel."
"True! we insisted," said Stanislav. "I will declare that and these gentlemen also will testify."
"I will testify, though my shoulder pains terribly," said Marek, groaning. "Oi! but you have given us a holiday. May the bullets strike you!"
It was not far to Vyrambki. Soon they entered the enclosure, and met the priest wading in snow, for he, alarmed about what might happen, could not stay in the house any longer, and had set out to meet them.
Yatsek sprang from the sleigh when he saw him. Father Voynovski pushed forward quickly to meet him, and saw his friend sound and uninjured.