Pagina 679 de 788

The General, half laughing, and half touched with emotion,

replied:-

"Comrade, if you give up to me your wife and child, you will be

left for the rest of your life very solitary and old, a widower

and without children! Tell me how I may recompense you for this

precious gift, and with what I may sweeten your childless

widowhood!"

"Am I Cybulski,"215 answered the Warden mournfully, "who gambled

away his wife, playing marriage with the Muscovites, as the song

relates?-I am quite content that my penknife will still gleam

before the world in such a hand. Only remember, General, to give

it a long strap, well let out, for the blade is long; and always

hew from the left ear with both hands-then you will cut through

from head to belly."

The General took the penknife, but since it was very long and he

could not wear it, the servants put it away in an ammunition

waggon. As to what became of it there are various tales, but no

one knew with certainty, either then or later.

Dombrowski turned to Maciek:-