Meanwhile the snowstorm constantly increased, the keen, freezing wind carried immense snowclouds; it dragged at the trees, it howled, maddened, it tore whole snowdrifts, carrying them upward, it shifted, heaved up, and almost covered the sleighs and horses and struck the faces of the occupants like sharp gravel; it stifled their breath and speech. The sound of the bells fastened to the poles of the sleighs could not be heard at all, but instead of it there were audible, in the midst of the howling and whistling of the whirlwind, plaintive voices like the howling of wolves, like distant neighing of horses, and at times like human voices in great distress, calling for help. The exhausted horses began to pant, and gradually slacken their pace.
"Hej! what a blizzard! what a blizzard!" said the Bohemian in a choking voice. "It is fortunate, sir, that we are already near the town, and that yonder fires are burning; if it were not for that we should fare badly."
"There is death for those who are in the field," answered Zbyszko, "but even the fire I don't see there any more. The gloom is so thick that even the fire is invisible; perhaps the wood and coal were swept away by the wind."
The merchants and knights in the other wagons were saying: that should the snowstorm carry off anybody from the seat, that one would never hear the morning bell. But Zbyszko became suddenly alarmed and said: "God forbid that Jurand should be anywhere on the road!"
The Bohemian, although entirely occupied in looking toward the fire, on hearing the words of Zbyszko, turned his head and asked: "Is the knight of Spychow expected?"
"Yes."
"With the young lady?"
"And the fire is really gone," answered Zbyszko.
And indeed the fire was extinguished, but, instead, several horsemen appeared immediately in front of the horses and sleighs.
"Why dost thou follow?" cried the watchful Bohemian, grasping his crossbow; "Who are you?"
"The prince's people, sent to assist the travelers."
"Jesus Christ be praised!"
"Forever and ever."
"Lead us to town," said Zbyszko.
"Is there nobody left behind?"
"Nobody."
"Whence do you come?"
"From Przasnysz."
"Did you not meet other travelers on the road?"
"We met nobody, but they may be on other roads."
"People are searching on all roads, come with us, you lost your route! To the right."