Pagina 399 di 788

Here he patted his club; after him the whole crowd of gentry

yelled, "Sprinkle, sprinkle!"

The side of Sprinkler was supported by Bartek, called Razor from

his thin sabre; and likewise by Maciej, known as Bucket, from a

blunderbuss that he carried, with a muzzle so broad that from it

as from a pail a thousand bullets poured in a stream. Both cried,

"Long live Sprinkler and his brush." The Prussian tried to speak,

but he was drowned by uproar and laughter. "Away, away with the

Prussian cowards," they shouted; "let cowards go and hide in

Bernardine cowls!"

Then once more old Maciej slowly raised his head, and the tumult

began somewhat to subside.