CHAPTER XVIII.
Father Vyshonek dressed Zbyshko' s wound. He found only one rib broken, but the first day he could not answer for recovery, since he could not tell "whether the heart in the sick man was wrenched, or his liver torn." Toward evening so great a faintness seized De Lorche that he had to lie down. On the following day he could move neither hand nor foot without great pain in all his bones.
The princess and Danusia, with other damsels, attended the sick men, and prepared for them, according to directions of the priest, various ointments and herbs. Zbyshko was seriously wounded, and from time to time vomited blood, which alarmed the priest greatly. Still, he was conscious, and the next day, though very much weakened, when he learned from Danusia who it was to whom he was indebted for life, he called his Cheh, to thank and reward him. But he had to remember that Hlava had come from Yagenka, and that had it not been for her well-wishing heart he would have perished. This thought was to him even burdensome, for he felt that he never could repay the honest girl with good for good, and that he would be for her only the cause of suffering and terrible sadness. He said to himself, it is true, immediately after, "I cannot indeed hew myself in two," but at the bottom of his soul there remained, as it were, a reproach of conscience. The Cheh inflamed still more this internal disquiet.
"I swore to my lady," said he, "on my honor as a noble, to guard you, and I will do so without any reward. Not to me, but to her, are you indebted for rescue."
Zbyshko gave no answer, but began to breathe heavily. Hlava was silent for a while, then he said,—
"If you command me to hurry to Bogdanets, I will hurry. You might wish to see the old lord, for God knows what will happen you."
"What does the priest say?" inquired Zbyshko.
"The priest says that he will know at the new moon, and there are four days to the new moon."
"Ei! there is no need to go to Bogdanets. Either I shall die before my uncle could come, or I shall recover."
