But the king was each instant farther, farther, farther! He began to diminish, to melt, and then vanished in the dark belt of pine scrub.
Meanwhile, with shouting and roaring, came on Kovalski’s companions. There were fifteen of them whose horses held out. One brought the king’s purse, another his hat, on which black ostrich feathers were fastened with diamonds. These two began to cry out,—
“These are yours, comrade! they belong to you of right.”
Others asked: “Do you know whom you were chasing? That was Karl himself.”
“As God is true! In his life he has never fled before any man as before you. You have covered yourself with immense glory!”
“And how many men did you put down before you came up with the king?”
“You lacked only little of freeing the Commonwealth in one flash, with your sabre.”
“Take the purse!”
“Take the hat!”
“The horse was good, but you can buy ten such with these treasures.”