Roh gazed at his comrades with dazed eyes; at last he sprang up and shouted,— “I am Kovalski, and this is Pani Kovalski! Go to all the devils!” “His mind is disturbed!” cried they. “Give me a horse! I’ll catch him yet,” shouted Roh. But they took him by the arms, and though he struggled they brought him back to Rudnik, pacifying and comforting him along the road. “You gave him Peter!” cried they. “See what has come to this victor, this conqueror of so many towns and villages!” “Ha, ha! He has found out Polish cavaliers!” “He will grow tired of the Commonwealth. He has come to close quarters.” “Vivat, Roh Kovalski!” “Vivat, vivat, the most manful cavalier, the pride of the whole army!” And they fell to drinking out of their canteens. They gave Roh one, and he emptied the bottle at a draught. During the pursuit of the king along the Boyanovka road the Swedes defended themselves in front of the priest’s house with bravery worthy of their renowned regiment. Though attacked suddenly and scattered very quickly, they rallied as quickly around their blue standard, for the reason that they were surrounded by a dense crowd. Not one of them asked for quarter, but standing horse to horse, shoulder to shoulder, they thrust so fiercely with their rapiers that for a time victory seemed to incline to their side. It was necessary either to break them again, which became impossible since a line of Polish horsemen surrounded them completely, or to cut them to pieces. Shandarovski recognized the second plan as the better; therefore encircling the Swedes with a still closer ring, he sprang on them like a wounded falcon on a flock of long-billed cranes. A savage slaughter and press began. Sabres rattled against rapiers, rapiers were broken on the hilts of sabres. Sometimes a horse rose, like a dolphin above the sea waves, and in a moment fell in the whirl of men and horses. Shouts ceased; there were heard only the cry of horses, the sharp clash of steel, gasping from the panting breasts of the knights; uncommon fury had mastered the hearts of Poles and Swedes. They fought with fragments of sabres and rapiers; they closed with one another like hawks, caught one another by the hair, by mustaches, gnawed with their teeth; those who had fallen from their horses and were yet able to stand stabbed with their knives horses in the belly and men in the legs; in the smoke, in the steam from horses, in the terrible frenzy of battle, men were turned into giants and gave the blows of giants; arms became clubs, sabres lightning. Steel helmets were broken at a blow, like earthen pots; heads were cleft; arms holding sabres were swept away. They hewed without rest; they hewed without mercy, without pity. From under the whirl of men and horses blood began to flow along the yard in streams.