Pagina 512 van 788

There the confusion was still worse. There the partisans of the

Soplicas vied with each other in setting free the Dobrzynskis by

tearing apart the beams. Seeing this, the yagers seized their

arms and made for them; a sergeant rushed ahead and transfixed

Podhajski with a bayonet; he wounded two others of the gentry and

was shooting at a third; they fled: this was close to the log in

which Baptist was fastened. He already had his arms free and

ready for fight; he rose, lifted his hand with its long fingers

and clenched his fist; and from above he gave the Russian such a

blow on the back that he knocked his face and temples into the

lock of his carbine. The lock clicked, but the powder, moist with

blood, did not catch; the sergeant fell on his arms at the feet

of Baptist.