«Which one pleased thee so?»
«Maryska.»
«And so thou wilt remain?»
«If I die, they will carry me out; if not, I will remain.»
«Dost thou think to earn Pakosh›s daughter?»
«I know not.»
«He would give death to such a poor fellow before he would his daughter.»
«I have gold pieces buried in the woods,» said the Cossack,--»two purses.»
«From robbery?»
«From robbery.»
«Even if thou hadst a pot of gold, thou art a peasant and Pakosh is a noble.»
«I am an attendant boyar.»
«If thou art an attendant boyar, thou art worse than a peasant, for thou›rt a traitor. How couldst thou serve the enemy?»
«I did not serve the enemy.»
«And where did Pan Kmita find thee and thy comrades?»
«On the road. I served with the full hetman; but the squadron went to pieces, for we had nothing to eat. I ha
