Page:Adama Mickiewicza Konrad Wallenrod i Grazyna.djvu/73

Rh Order, was now nightly burning down villages around it, carrying away their defenceless inhabitants into captivity. Even to the castle did he boldly venture sneeringly boasting that he was going to attend mass in the Chapel of the Grand Master. For the first time did children tremble on the threshold of their parents at the terrible sound of the Samogitian horn. Could there ever be a more favourable season for war? Lithuania, torn by intestine strife, was here threatened by the hardy Russian, there by the restless Pole, while from Crimea the Tartar Khans were pouring in their savage hordes. Witold, driven by Iagello from his throne, came to crave the Order's protection: he promised lands and treasures in return, and, up to that moment, was in vain waiting for help.

Discontent was awakened—the brothers murmured—a council assembled, but the Grand Master was absent.—Halban hastened through halls and chapel, but Conrad could not be found; where was he then? haply at the solitary tower. The brothers had traced his nightly steps: all knew that every evening, when the earth was veiled in thick darkness, he used to wander by the banks of the lake;