Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/160

136 only the sound of kisses and the two words: "Tatulo! (Papa dear!) Yagula! (Aggie dear!)" "Tatulo! Yagula!" repeated with delight.

Both escorts came up; Matsko came also in his wagon, and they were still repeating, "Tatulo! Yagula!" and still had their arms around each other's necks. When at last they had had sufficient exclamations and greetings, Yagenka inquired,—

"Then are you coming from the war? Are you well?"

"From the war. Why should I not be well? And thou? And the younger people? I think they are well are they not? Otherwise thou wouldst not be flying through the forest. But what is the best that thou art doing here, girl?"

"Thou seest that I am hunting," replied Yagenka, laughing.

"In other people's forests?"

"The abbot gave permission. Besides, he sent me trained men and dogs."

Here she turned to her servants.

"Take off the dogs for me; they will tear the beast's hide!"

Then she addressed Zyh,—

"Oh, but I am glad, glad to be looking at you! All is well at home."

"But am I not glad?" replied Zyh. "Give thy face again, girl!"

And again they began to kiss, and when they had finished Yagenka said,—

"There is a long piece of road from here to the house—so far did we chase after that beast. As many as ten miles, so that the horses are tired. But he is a strong bison—have you seen? He has three of my arrows in him; he must have fallen from the last one."

"He fell from the last one, but not from thine; this young knight here shot him."

Yagenka gathered back her hair, which had dropped to her eyes, and looked quickly at Zbyshko, though not with excess of good-will.

"Dost thou know who he is?" inquired Zyh.

"I do not."

"No wonder that thou dost not know him, for he has grown. But perhaps thou knowest old Matsko of Bogdanets?"

"For God's sake! is that Matsko of Bogdanets?" cried Yagenka.