of the streltsi hung from the bars of
Sophia's prison, clutching the secret proclamation. Peter's divorced
wife had joined Sophia's party; the two ladies had their head shaved
and were confined in convents. The streltsi were dissolved and
replaced by regular troops.

Peter then turned upon the Cossacks of the Don, who had shown greater
independence than pleased him. Prince Dolgorouki to whom the task was
confided of bringing them to order, wrote to the czar after he had
destroyed the Cossack camp: "The chief rebels and traitors have been
hung; of the others, one out of every ten; and all these dead
malefactors have been laid on rafts, and turned into the river, to (p. 158)
strike terror into the hearts of the Don people and to cause them to
repent."

Mazeppa, as we have seen, was at this time hetman of the Cossacks of
Little Russia. In his youth he had been a page of John Casimir, king
of Poland; it was then that he had that terrible adventure which is
connected indelibly with his name. After he was cut loose from the
back of the unbroken horse that had carried him in the steppes, he
entered among the Cossacks, and rose from the ranks by betraying every
chief who helped him. Although it was Sophia who made him hetman, he
was among the first to declare for Peter. His enemies, of whom he had
many, accused him before the czar, but Peter admired him, and
delivered his accusers up to him; they did not live long after Mazeppa
had them in his power.

It was Mazeppa's scheme to establish an independent kingdom, he had
the support of the Cossacks who did not care to work but preferred to
be supported by the people. The industrious classes longed to get rid
of this burden, and looked toward the czar to set them free. The
tribute which Little Russia paid to Moscow was quite heavy, and when
it was rumored that Peter was going to war with Sweden, Mazeppa
thought this was an opportunity to carry out his scheme. He entered
into negotiations with Stanislas Lecszinski whom Swedish influence had
placed upon the throne of Poland. Peter was informed of this in
detail, but he did not credit it, beheaded one of his informants, and
the others, were tortured and sent to Siberia.

The war broke out, Charles XII, the romantic king of Sweden (p. 159)
arrived in the neighborhood of Little Russia, and Peter called on
Mazeppa to join the Russian army with his Cossacks. He pretended to be
dying, but when the two hostile armies were drawin