"'Pon my word," said Zagloba, who listened to this conversation with great attention, "he is a resolute fellow." "Yes, but with him resolution consists in stupidity alone. When he has time, and is not eating, he is sleeping. It is an astonishing thing, which you will not believe; but once he slept forty-eight hours in the barracks, and yawned when they dragged him from the plank bed." "This officer pleases me greatly," said Zagloba, "for I always like to know with whom I have to do." When he had said this he turned to Kovalski. "But come this way, please!" cried he, in a patronizing tone. "What is it?" asked Kovalski, turning his horse. "Have you gorailka?" "I have." "Give it!" "How give it?" "You know, gracious Kovalski, if it were not permitted you would have had an order not to give it; but since you have not an order, give it." "Ah," said Kovalski, astonished, "as I live! but that is like forcing." "Forcing or not forcing, it is permitted you; and it is proper to assist a blood relative and an older man, who, if he had married your mother, might have been your father as easily as wink." "What relative are you of mine?" "I am, for there are two stocks of Kovalskis,--they who use the seal of Vyerush and have a goat painted on their shield, with upraised hind leg; and they who have on their shield the ship in which their ancestor Kovalski sailed from England across the sea to Poland; and these are my relatives, through my grandmother, and this is why I, too, have the ship on my shield." "As God lives! you are my relative." "Are you a Korab (ship)?" "A Korab." "My own blood, as God is dear to me!" cried Zagloba. "It is lucky that we have met, for in very truth I have come here to Lithuania to see the Kovalskis; and though I am in bonds while you are on horseback and in freedom I would gladly embrace you, for what is one's own is one's own." "How can I help you? They commanded me to take you to Birji; I will take you. Blood is blood, but service is service." "Call me Uncle," said Zagloba. "Here is gorailka for you, Uncle," said Kovalski; "I can do that much." Zagloba took the flask gladly, and drank to his liking. Soon a pleasant warmth spread through his members. It began to grow clear in his brain, and his mind became bright. "Come down from the horse," said he to Kovalski, "and sit here a short time in the wagon; let us talk, for I should like to have you say something about our family. I respect service, but this too is permitted." Kovalski did not answer for a while. "This was not forbidden," said he, at last. Soon after he was sitting at the side of Zagloba, and stretched himself gladly on the straw with which the wagon was filled. Zagloba embraced him heartily. "How is the health of thy old father?--God help me,--I've forgotten his name." "Roh, also."