“Well, what have you to say?” asked the lieutenant, approaching him. “The Swedes are with us at the priest’s house; they say that the king himself is among them!” said the youth, with sparkling eyes. “Many of them?” “Not more than two hundred horses.” Shandarovski’s eyes now flashed in their turn; but he was afraid of an ambush, therefore he looked threateningly at the boy and asked,— “Who sent you?” “Who was to send me? I jumped myself on the colt, I came near falling, and lost my cap. It is well that the Swedish carrion did not see me!” Truth was beating out of the sunburned face of the youth; he had evidently a great animosity against the Swedes,—he was panting, his cheeks were burning, he stood before the officers holding the mane of the colt with one hand, his hair disordered, the shirt open on his bosom. “Where is the rest of the Swedish army?” asked the lieutenant. “At daybreak so many passed that we could not count them; those went farther, only cavalry remained. But there is one sleeping at the priest’s, and they say that he is the king.” “Boy,” answered Shandarovski, “if you are lying, your head will fall; but if you speak the truth, ask what you please.” “As true as I live! I want nothing unless the great mighty lord officer would command to give me a sabre.” “Give him some blade,” cried Shandarovski to his attendants, completely convinced now. The other officers fell to inquiring of the boy where the house was, where the village, what the Swedes were doing. “The dogs! they are watching. If you go straight they will see you; but I will take you behind the alder grove.” Orders were given at once, and the squadron moved on, first at a trot and then at a gallop. The youth rode before the first rank bareback on his colt without a bridle. He urged the colt with his heels, and every little while looked with sparkling eyes on the naked sabre. When the village was in sight, he turned out of the willows and led by a somewhat muddy road to the alder grove, in which it was still muddier; therefore they slackened the speed of the horses. “Watch!” said the boy; “they are about ten rods on the right from the end of the alder grove.” They advanced now very slowly, for the road was difficult and heavy; the cavalry horses sank frequently to their knees. At last the alder grove began to grow thinner, and they came to the edge of the open space. Not more than three hundred yards distant, they saw a broad square rising somewhat, and in it the priest’s house surrounded by poplars, among which were to be seen the tops of straw beehives. On the square were two hundred horsemen in rimmed helmets and breastplates. The great horsemen sat on enormous lean horses, and were in readiness,—some with rapiers at their shoulders, others with muskets on their thighs; but they were looking in another direction toward the main road, from which alone they expected the enemy. A splendid blue standard with a golden lion was waving above their heads.