, 1859-06-03
LoDoIsKA,
The Daughter Of Pulaski.


made frequent ncursions into Volhynia, where
then was Four Of these brigandS attacked US
at the end Of forest near 0strOpol. l had very
imprudcntly neglected to load my pistols, but l
used nv sabre with such address and good fortune
that soon two Of the robbers fell severely wound
cd. BOleslas occupied the third; the fourth
fought me with vigor; he gave me slight wound
on the thigh, and at the same time received q
terrible blow which struck him from his horse.
Boleslas, at the same time, found himself freed
from his enemy, who, at the noise Of the fall Of
his comrade, took to fight. He whom had over
thrown last, said to me in bad Polish:
Z" As brave man as thou ought to be gener-
Gus; I ask Of thee my life. Friend, instead Of
dispatching me, spccor me; assist me to rise;
bind up my wounds"
He asked quarter in tones so noble and so
uncommon, that did not hesitate. descended
from my horse; BoleSlas and myself raised him
and bandaged his wounds.
"ThOu doest well, brave man, . said the Tartar
to me, "thou doest we'll"
While he yet spoke, we saw cloud Of dust
rise around us; more than three hundred Tar
tars were rushing towards US.
Fear nothing" said the man whom had
spared; 81 am the chief Of that troop"
By a signal he stopped the soldiers, who were
prepared to massacre me. He spoke some words
in their language which did not understand,
when they opened their ranks to allow BoleSlas
and myself to pass.
"Brave man." again said the captain to me,
"was ! not right in saying to thee that thou
did'st wells Thou gavest me my life; have
saved thine; il Is sometimes well to spare an
enemy, even a rubber. Listen, my friend. In
attacking thee have followed my trade; thou
hast done thy duty in wounding me. | for
give thee, and thou wit forgive me; let US en-
brace"
He then added: "The day is departing and
advise thee not to travel in these cantOns to-
night; for these people are about to return, each
to his post, and cannot answer for them Thou
seest that castle upon the hill It belongs TO q
certain count Dourlinski who is very rich Go
AID ask an asylum Of him, tell him thou hast
wounded Titsikan, that Titsikan pursues thee;
he knows my name; | have already caused him
to pass some unhappy days As for the rest,
count that whilst thou remainest there, his house
Iall be respected; but beware Of leaving II with
in thrse days, or Of remaining there more than
eight. Adieu." ,.ls ...,.
1t was with great pleasure that we left Titsikan
and bis company. The advice Of the Tartar was
Of course . command.
/ said to Boleslas: st
Let US gain quickly the castle which he has
showed to us for know this Dourlinski by
name, Pulaski having occasionally spoken to me
Of him. Perhaps he knows where Pulaski has
retired, and il is possible that with little address,
We may learn il Of him. will say at all haz-
ards, that Pulaski sent US to him, for that recon-
mendation will certainly be better than Titsikan's
But forget not, Boleslas, that am your brother,
and do not betray me-"
We arrived at the Josses Of the castle, and the
people Of Dournski demanded our names. ]
answered that We were messengers Of Pulaski,
and wished to speak TO their master; that We
had 81 anI al knsn ,Au
The drawbridge was lowered and We entered.
We were informed that we could not have an
immediate interview with Dourlinski, but that
he would give US an audience the next day at
ten o'clock. They demanded our arms, which
we gave up without question. Bolcslas dressed
my wound, which was not at all severe They
soon gave us a frugal repast in the Kitchen after
which we were conducted into lower room
where two poor beds were made ready for us,
and where we were LEFT without light, and were
lo' ked in
was not able to close my eyes during the
whole night Tilsikan had given me but slight
wound, but that Of my heart was so deep! At
the break Of day, became inpatient in my pri-
son, and tried to open the window shutters, but
they were 10 'kcd shook them until they gave
way, and looked out upon q most beautiful
park. The window was low, and lcaped out,
and was il. the gardens Of Dourlinski After
walking about few minutes ] seated myself
upon stone bench at the foot Of a tower, and
occupied myself for some time in observing its
ancient architecture. While was absorbed in
thought, tile dropped at my feet; supposed
Il had dropped from the roof Of the old building,
and to avoid similar accident, removed to the
opposite end Of the bench. A few minutes ailer-
wards, a second tile fell beside me. The accident
seemed to me surprisin rose alarmed; ex.
amined the top OF the tower attentively, and per-
ceived at the distance Of twenty-five or thirty feet
from the top, an opening picked up the tiles
which had been cast down, and on the first i
deciphered these words, written with plaster:
"Lovzinski. II is thoul thou yet livcstl
On the second was written:
"Deliver me I save LodoiskaI"
Il is impossible for you to imagine what diverse
sentiments agitaied me at that moment Nv as
tonishment, my joy, my grief my embarrassment,
were inexprcssble. ! examined the prison Of
Lodoiska, and sought how ! should BE- able TO
rescue her from it.
She sent me another tile on which read:
AT midnight, bring me paper, ink and pens
Tomorrow, an hour after the sun rises, come and
look for q letter. Depart now"
Ireturned to my room. Icallcd Boeslas, who
helped me to enter by the window, and we re-
fastened the blinds ] Informed my faithful SER
want Of the unexpected meeting, which had put
an end TO my wanderings and rcdonblcd my in
quietude. How could We penetrate into the tow
err How could we procure arms? How release
Lodoiska from the prison? BY what means
should We carry her OF, under the eyes of Dour.
linski in the midst Of his people, and from for
tilted castlee And supposing all these obstacles
not to be insurmountable how could perform
such an enterprise in the short delay that Titskan
had allowed inc? Had he not warned me to
remain at Dourlinski's not less than three days,
and not more than eight? If we went orth
from the castle before the third day. or after the
ei0hth should We not eXnnSe nIlrselYes 10 the at