“Let it be even so,” said the king. “I do not reject prudent counsel, but I will not go wandering a second time. If we cannot appear by this road, we will by another. But I think that you are alarmed in vain. Since the Swedes looked for us among the dragoons, as the people from Jivyets said, it is clear proof that they know nothing of us, and that there is no treason or conspiracy. Just consider; you are men of experience. The Swedes would not have attacked the dragoons, they would not have fired a gun at them if they know that we were following them. Be calm, gentlemen! Babinich has gone with his men for news, and he will return soon of a certainty.” When he had said this the king turned his horse toward the pass; after him his attendants. They halted on the spot where the first mountaineer had shown them the boundary. A quarter of an hour passed, then a half-hour and an hour. “Have you noticed, gentlemen,” asked the voevoda of Lenchytsk on a sudden, “that the fire is decreasing?” “It is going out, going out; you can almost see it die,” said a number of voices. “That is a good sign,” said the king. “I will go ahead with a few men,” said Tyzenhauz. “We will halt about a furlong from here, and if the Swedes come we will detain them till we die. In every case there will be time to think of the safety of the king’s person.” “Remain with the party; I forbid you to go!” said the king. To which Tyzenhauz answered,— “Gracious Lord, give command later to shoot me for disobedience, but now I will go, for now it is a question of you.” And calling upon a number of soldiers in whom it was possible to trust in every emergency, he moved forward. They halted at the other end of the defile which opened into the valley, and stood in silence, with muskets ready, holding their ears toward every sound. The silence lasted long; finally the sound of snow trampled by horses’ feet came to them. “They are coming!” whispered one of the soldiers. “That is no party; only a few horses are to be heard,” answered the other. “Pan Babinich is returning.” Meanwhile those approaching came in the darkness within a few tens of yards. “Who is there?” cried Tyzenhauz. “Ours! Do not fire there!” sounded the voice of Kmita. At that moment he appeared before Tyzenhauz, and not knowing him in the darkness, inquired,— “But where is the king?” “At the end of the pass.” “Who is speaking, for I cannot see?” “Tyzenhauz. But what is that great bundle which you have before you?” And he pointed to some dark form hanging before Kmita, on the front of the saddle. Pan Andrei made no answer, but rode on. When he had reached the king’s escort, he recognized the person of the king, for it was much clearer beyond the pass, and cried,— “Gracious Lord, the road is open!” “Are there no Swedes in Jivyets?”