Kordetski had tears in his eyes, and Charnyetski said,—
“They write of smaller men in the chronicles. If God gives me life, and any one asks me hereafter, who was there among us the equal of ancient heroes, I shall say Babinich.”
“Babinich was not his name,” said Kordetski.
“How not Babinich?”
“I long knew his real name under the seal of confession; but when going out against that cannon, he said to me: ‘If I perish, let men know who I am, so that honorable repute may rest with my name, and destroy my former misdeeds.’ He went, he perished; now I can tell you that he was Kmita!”
“That renowned Lithuanian Kmita?” cried Charnyetski, seizing his forelock.
“The same. How the grace of God changes hearts!”
“For God’s sake. Now I understand why he undertook that work; now I understand wher
