The soldier galloped with all the breath in his horse, and in quarter of an hour returned at the same pace, with a comrade. They had brought the requisite articles. “Strip this spark naked!” ordered Kuklinovski; “tie his hands and feet behind him with a rope, and then fasten him to a beam.” “Ruffian!” said Kmita. “Good, good! we can talk yet, we have time!” Meanwhile one of the soldiers climbed up on the beam, and the others fell to dragging the clothes from Kmita. When he was naked the three executioners placed Pan Andrei with his face to the ground, bound his hands and feet with a long rope, then passing it still around his waist they threw the other end to the soldier sitting on the beam. “Now raise him, and let the man on the beam pull the rope and tie it!” said Kuklinovski. In a moment the order was obeyed. “Let him go!” The rope squeaked. Pan Andrei was hanging parallel with the earth, a few ells above the threshing-floor. Then Kuklinovski dipped tow in the burning tar-bucket, walked up to him, and said,— “Well, Pan Kmita, did not I say that there are two colonels in the Commonwealth?—only two, I and thou! And thou didst not wish to join company with Kuklinovski, and kicked him! Well, little worm, thou art right! Not for thee is the company of Kuklinovski, for Kuklinovski is better. Hei! a famous colonel is Pan Kmita, and Kuklinovski has him in his hand, and Kuklinovski is roasting his sides!” “Ruffian!” repeated Kmita, for the third time. “This is how he will roast his sides!” finished Kuklinovski, and he touched Kmita’s side with the burning tow; then he said,— “Not too much at first; we have time.” Just then the tramp of horses was heard near the barn-door. “Whom are the devils bringing?” asked Kuklinovski. The door squeaked and a soldier entered. “General Miller wishes to see your grace at once!” “Ah! that is thou, old man?” asked Kuklinovski. “What business? What devil?” “The general asks your grace to come to him straightway.” “Who came from the general?” “There was a Swedish officer; he has ridden off already. He had almost driven the breath out of his horse.” “I’ll go,” said Kuklinovski. Then he turned to Kmita: “It was hot for thee; cool off now, little worm. I’ll come again soon, we’ll have another talk.” “What shall be done with the prisoner?” asked one of the soldiers. “Leave him as he is. I shall return directly. Let one go with me.” The colonel went out, and with him that soldier who had sat on the beam at first. There remained only three, but soon three new ones entered the barn. “You may go to sleep,” said he who had reported Miller’s order to Kuklinovski, “the colonel has left the guard to us.” “We prefer to remain,” replied one of the first three soldiers, “to see the wonder; for such a—” Suddenly he stopped. A certain unearthly sound was wrested from his throat like the call of a strangled cock. He threw out his arms and fell as if struck by lightning.