The Deluge

Besieged by Swedish arms, the defenders of Yasna Gora and Zamost answer cannon fire with faith, wit, and unbending patriotism. At Yasna Gora, Prior Kordetski meets General Miller's demands with calm legal precision, while prayer, procession, and grim labor turn the monastery into a stronghold of spiritual and military resistance. As bombardment intensifies, smoke, flame, and darkness engulf the cloister, yet the monks and soldiers keep extinguishing fires, repairing damage, and singing from the tower in defiance of the attackers. Miller's frustration grows as artillery fails, mining proves impossible against the rock beneath the earth, and the Swedes begin to fear enchantment or divine protection. Through the night, the monastery's guns strike back with unexpected force, and at dawn Kordetski strengthens his weary defenders with words of gratitude and care. A lull in the siege gives Kmita the chance to urge a night sortie. After prayer, Kordetski blesses the daring plan, and Charnyetski leads the hidden advance that ends in a savage surprise attack, panic in the trenches, and bloody victory. At Zamost, meanwhile, Zamoyski humiliates Swedish envoys with sharp humor and steadfast refusal, rejecting flattery, threats, and territorial bribes alike. Across both fortresses, the novel celebrates courage, discipline, and the stubborn endurance of a nation under siege. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.