Part 82 (1/2)

”While they confine themselves to firing we shall hold out,” answered the little knight; ”but they will blow us out of here with mines, for they are making them.”

”Are they really mining?” asked the starosta, in alarm.

”Seventy cannon are playing, and their thunder is almost unceasing; still, there are moments of quiet. When such a moment comes, put down your ear carefully and listen.”

At that time it was not needful to wait long, especially as an accident came to their aid. One of the Turkish siege-guns burst; that caused a certain disorder. They sent from other intrenchments to inquire what had happened, and there was a lull in cannonading.

Pan Michael and the starosta approached the very end of one of the projections of the castle, and began to listen. After a certain time their ears caught clearly enough the resonant sound of hammers in the cliff.

”They are pounding,” said the starosta.

”They are pounding,” said the little knight.

Then they were silent. Great alarm appeared on the face of the starosta; he raised his hands and pressed his temples. Seeing this, Pan Michael said,--

”This is a usual thing in all sieges. At Zbaraj they were digging under us night and day.”

The starosta raised his hand: ”What did Prince Yeremi do?”

”He withdrew from intrenchments of wide circuit into narrower ones.”

”But what should we do?”

”We should take the guns, and with them all that is movable, and transfer them to the old castle; for the old one is founded on rocks that the Turks cannot blow up with mines. I have thought always that the new castle would serve merely for the first resistance; after that we must blow it up with powder, and the real defence will begin in the old one.”

A moment of silence followed; and the starosta bent his anxious head again.

”But if we heave to withdraw from the old castle, where shall we go?”

asked he, with a broken voice.

At that, the little knight straightened himself, and pointed with his finger to the earth: ”I shall go there.”

At that moment the guns roared again, and a whole flock of bombs began to fly to the castle; but as darkness was in the world, they could be seen perfectly. Pan Michael took leave of the general, and went along the walls. Going from one battery to another, he encouraged men everywhere, gave advice; at last, meeting with Ketling, he said,--

”Well, how is it?”

Ketling smiled pleasantly.

”It is clear as day from the bombs,” said he, pressing the little knight's hand. ”They do not spare fire on us.”

”A good gun of theirs burst. Did you burst it?”

”I did.”

”I am terribly sleepy.”

”And I too, but there is no time.”

”Ai,” said Pan Michael; ”and the little wives must be frightened; at thought of that, sleep goes away.”

”They are praying for us,” said Ketling, raising his eyes toward the flying bombs.