The poor fellow could not endure the tortures of hunger to the last, and had preferred to hasten his end by a voluntary death.
At the sight of such terrible proofs of famine, Andrii could not refrain from saying to the Tatar, "Is there really nothing with which they can prolong life?
If a man is driven to extremities, he must feed on what he has hitherto despised; he can sustain himself with creatures which are forbidden by the law.

Anything can be eaten under such circumstances." "They have eaten everything," said the Tatar, "all the animals.

Not a horse, nor a dog, nor even a mouse is to be found in the whole city.
We never had any store of provisions in the town: they were all brought from the villages." "But how can you, while dying such a fearful death, still dream of defending the city ?" "Possibly the Waiwode might have surrendered; but yesterday morning the commander of the troops at Buzhana sent a hawk into the city with a note saying that it was not to be given up; that he was coming to its rescue with his forces, and was only waiting for another leader, that they might march together.

And now they are expected every moment.

But we have reached the house." Andrii had already noticed from a distance this house, unlike the others, and built apparently by some Italian architect.