"The Butryms too have vowed that even if they have to fall one on the other, he will not leave there alive. They are the most bitter against him." "But if we kill him, from whom will they recover their losses? Better take him alive and give him to justice." "What is the use in thinking of courts now when all have lost their heads? Do you know that people say war may come from the Swedes?" "May God preserve us from that! The Moscow power and Hmelnitski at present; only the Swedes are wanting, and then the last day of the Commonwealth." At this moment Volodyovski riding in advance turned and said, "Quiet there, gentlemen!" The nobles grew silent, for Lyubich was in sight. In a quarter of an hour they had come within less than forty rods of the building. All the windows were illuminated; the light shone into the yard, which was full of armed men and horses. Nowhere sentries, no precautions,--it was evident that Kmita trusted too much in his strength. When he had drawn still nearer, Pan Volodyovski with one glance recognized the Cossacks against whom he had warred so much during the life of the great Yeremi, and later under Radzivill. "If those are strange Cossacks, then that ruffian has passed the limit." He looked farther; brought his whole party to a halt. There was a terrible bustle in the court. Some Cossacks were giving light with torches; others were running in every direction, coming out of the house and going in again, bringing out things, packing bags into the wagons; others were leading horses from the stable, driving cattle from the stalls. Cries, shouts, commands, crossed one another in every direction. The gleam of torches lighted as it were the moving of a tenant to a new estate on St. John's Eve. Kryshtof, the oldest among the Domasheviches, pushed up to Volodyovski and said, "They want to pack all Lyubich into wagons." "They will take away," answered Volodyovski, "neither Lyubich nor their own skins. I do not recognize Kmita, who is an experienced soldier. There is not a single sentry." "Because he has great force,--it seems to me more than three hundred strong. If we had not returned he might have passed with the wagons through all the villages." "Is this the only road to the house?" asked Volodyovski. "The only one, for in the rear are ponds and swamps." "That is well. Dismount!" Obedient to this command, the nobles sprang from their saddles. The rear ranks of infantry deployed in a long line, and began to surround the house and the buildings. Volodyovski with the main division advanced directly on the gate. "Wait the command!" said he, in a low voice. "Fire not before the order." A few tens of steps only separated the nobles from the gate when they were seen at last from the yard. Men sprang at once to the fence, bent forward, and peering carefully into the darkness, called threateningly, "Hei! Who are there?" "Halt!" cried Volodyovski; "fire!"