

282 THE FREE CHASSEURS OF POLAND. 



fend it, so much did his daring mind delight in exploits that appeared 

 impossible. However, the enemy having on the following day again 

 shown himself, the young hero once more resumed his desperate ser- 

 vice of covering the retreat. Occupying the defiles with his chas- 

 seurs and scythe bearers, he maintained his ground from nine in the 

 morning until five in the evening, and strewed the field of battle with 

 the Russian slain. This heroic resistance gave Sierawski time to 

 effect the passage of the Vistula in safety, and to carry off his artil- 

 lery and baggage. Throughout this memorable day, Malachowski 

 was constantly seen in the front ranks, firing himself with his double 

 barrelled rifle, and never missing a shot ; but when the cartridges of 

 his brave riflemen were exhausted, and the Russians, always gaming 

 ground, were within a few paces of him, then blazed up the soul of 

 the hero. With a convulsive emotion, he seized the scythe of a sol- 

 dier just fallen by his side, and rushing upon the barbarous foe, 

 " Comrades," he exclaimed, " follow me ; it was with this arm that 

 Koscuiszko fought and conquered !" Faithful to the voice of their 

 commander, they, to a man, rushed forward, and closing, fought 

 hand to hand with the enemy. The Russians astonished at such 

 daring intrepedity, began to give ground. Malachowski erect in the 

 thickest of their ranks wielding his murderous scythe, now red with 

 gore, looked like the angel of death mowing down all around him ! 

 Success had already manifested itself, for this deperate onslaught of 

 the Free Chasseurs, when two balls struck their noble leader at the 

 same moment ; one in the mouth and the other in the breast. He 

 found the end that he had covetted upon the field of battle against 

 the enslavers of his country ! 



At the age of nine and twenty, thus perished the hero. With one 

 of those countenances beautiful as the creations of Grecian art, dark 

 lustrous eyes, sparkling with the love of glory, with a tall and grace- 

 ful figure, Malachowski was one of those types of men that do honour 

 to the creation. His character, like his form, was cast in an antique 

 mould ; a hero of modern times he would have been equally so, in 

 the most splendid periods of Greece and Rome Noble Malachowski ! 

 when he perished in the defiles of Kasimiers. Poland was yet free. 

 Ere he resigned himself to his glorious rest, he was at least enabled to 

 cherish some sweet, but alas ! vain illusions. 



Malachowski' s death was the subject of a general mourning ; the 

 public papers at Warsaw long dwelt upon it. The barbarians them- 

 selves, unable to refuse homage to his undaunted nature, rendered 

 funeral honours to the Polish martyr. 





