Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/112

88 the bronze hearts of those bells were striking directly into the hearts of all present.

Suddenly there appeared on the tower a black flag with a great skull in the middle, under which in white were two human shank-bones placed crosswise. Every doubt vanished that moment. The queen had given her soul to God.

Roars burst forth at the foot of the castle, the wails of a hundred thousand persons, and they mingled with the dismal sound of the bells. Some threw themselves on the ground; others rent the clothing on their bodies, or tore their faces; others looked at the walls in dumb bewilderment; some groaned with deep and dull sound; some, stretching their hands to the church and the chamber of the queen, called for a miracle and the mercy of God. There were heard also angry voices which in frenzy and despair went to blasphemy. "Why was our beloved one taken from us? To what profit were our processions, our prayers, and our imploring? The gold and the silver offerings were dear, but is there nothing in return for them? To take, they were taken; but as to giving, nothing was given back!" Others, however, repeated, with floods of tears and with groaning, "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!"

Throngs wished to enter the castle, to look once again on the beloved face of the lady. They were not admitted, but the promise was given that the body would be exposed in the church; then every one would be able to look at it, and to pray near it.

Later, toward evening, gloomy crowds began to return to the city, telling one another of the last moments of the queen, and of the coming burial, as well as of the miracles which would be performed near her body and around her tomb; of the miracles, all were perfectly convinced. It was said also that the queen would be canonized immediately after her death; when some doubted whether this could be done, others grew impatient and threatened with Avignon.

Gloomy sadness fell on the city and on the whole country; it seemed, not merely to common people, but to all, that with the queen the lucky star of the kingdom was quenched.

Even among the lords of Cracow there were some who saw the future in darkness. They began to ask themselves and others: "What will come now? Will Yagello, after the death of the queen, have the right to reign in the kingdom; or will he return to his own Lithuania, and be satisfied there with the throne of Grand Prince?" Some foresaw, and not