"God grant!" answered Podbipienta; "this is why I am going to beg a favor of the prince."
Further conversation was interrupted by an unusual sound of wings. As has been stated, birds of passage did not go beyond the sea that winter; the rivers did not freeze over, therefore the whole country was full of water-fowl, especially over the marshes. Just as the lieutenant and Pan Longin were approaching the bank of the Kagamlik there was a sudden rushing noise above their heads of a whole flock of storks, which flew so near the ground that it was almost possible to strike them with a stick. The flock flew with a tremendous outcry, and instead of settling in the reeds rose unexpectedly through the air.
"They rush as if hunted," said Skshetuski.
"Ah, see!" said Pan Longin, pointing to a white bird which, cutting the air in sidelong flight, tried to overtake the flock.
"A falcon stops them from alighting," said the lieutenant. "The envoy has a falcon; it must be that he has let her out."
At that moment Pan Rozvan Ursu rode up at full speed on a black Anatolian steed, and after him a number of his service.
"I beg you to come to the sport, Lieutenant," said he.
"This falcon is yours, then?"
"Yes, and a very noble bird, as you will see."
All three rushed forward, followed by the Wallachian falconer with a hoop, who, fixing his eyes on the bird, shouted with all his might, urging her to the struggle.