"If you would only--"
"Well, I don't know," said the Cossack, in a low voice, for shame and pity seized him at the same time by the throat. "I cannot now, I cannot. The Tartars are in the Wilderness, their parties are going everywhere. The Dobrudja Tartars are moving from Rashkoff. I cannot, for it is terrible; but when I come back--I am a child in your presence, you can do what you like with me--I don't know, I don't know--"
"May God inspire you! May the Holy Most Pure inspire you! God go with you!" And she stretched out her hand to him.
Bogun sprang forward and fastened his lips on it. Suddenly he raised his head, met her look of dignity, and dropped her hand. Then retreating toward the door, he bowed to his girdle in Cossack fashion, bowed again at the door, and disappeared behind the curtain.
Soon there came through the window animated conversation, a clatter of arms, and later the words of a song in several voices:--
"Glorious fame will rise
Among the Cossacks,
Among the heroes,
For many a year,
Till the end of time."
The voices and clatter retreated, and grew fainter each moment.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
"The Lord has wrought an evident miracle in her favor already," said Zagloba to Volodyovski and Podbipienta, while sitting in Skshetuski's quarters,--"an evident miracle, I say, in permitting me to wrest her from the grasp of those dogs and to guard her the whole way. Let us hope that he will be merciful to her and to us once more. If she is only living! Something whispers to me that Bogun has carried her away; for just think, the informants tell us that after Pulyan he has become the second in command,--may the devils command him!--therefore he must have been present at the taking of Bar."
"He might not have found her in that crowd of unfortunates, for twelve thousand people were cut to pieces there," said Volodyovski.