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Meanwhile more and more of the gentry were arriving; almost all

the Dobrzynskis, and no few of the neighbours from the hamlets

near by, armed and unarmed, in carts and in carriages, on foot

and on horseback. They halted their vehicles, tied their nags to

the birches, and, curious as to the outcome of the deliberations,

they formed a circle about the house: they soon filled the room

and thronged the vestibule; others listened with their heads

crowded into the windows.

BOOK VII.-THE CONSULTATION

ARGUMENT

Salutary counsels of Bartek, called the Prussian-Martial argument

of Maciek the Sprinkler-Political argument of Pan

Buchmann-Jankiel advises harmony, which is cut off abruptly by

the penknife-Speech of Gerwazy, which makes apparent the great

potency of parliamentary eloquence-Protest of old Maciek-The

sudden arrival of reinforcements interrupts the consultation-Down

with the Soplica!