"Do you see anything?" whispered Zbyszko.
"No. Keep quiet!"
After a while, the wind ceased and complete silence followed. Then on the surface of the lake appeared one head, then another; finally near them a big beaver entered the water from the shore, carrying in his mouth a newly cut branch, and began to swim amidst the duck-weed and marigold holding his mouth out of the water and pushing the branch before him. Zbyszko lying on the trunk beneath Jagienka, noticed that her elbow moved quietly and that her head was bent forward; evidently she had aimed at the animal which, not suspecting any danger, was swimming close by, toward the clear water.
Finally the string of the crossbow twanged and at the same moment
Jagienka cried:
"I hit him! I hit him!"
Zbyszko instantly climbed higher and looked through the thicket toward the water; the beaver plunged into the water, then reappeared on the surface, turning somersets.
"I hit him hard! He will soon be quiet!" said Jagienka.
The movements of the animal grew slower, and then before one had time sufficient to recite one "Ave Maria," he was floating on his back on the surface of the water.
"I will go and get him," said Zbyszko.
"No, do not go. Here, near the shore, there is, deep slime. Anyone who does not know how to manage, will surely drown."