Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/190

166 Then her lips parted, and she waited for the answer, blushing like the dawn. But clearly he was thinking only of what he would have done in the place of Vilk or Stan, for after a while he shook his golden head, and said,—

"Why should a maiden fight with men, when she has to marry? If a third one does not come, thou must choose one of them, for how—"

"Do not say that to me," answered she, sadly.

"Why not? I have not been here long, hence I know not whether there is any one near by who would please thee more."

"Ah!" exclaimed Yagenka. "Give me peace!"

They went on in silence, pushing forward through the thicket, which was all the denser because the brush and trees were covered with wild hops. Zbyshko went ahead, tearing apart the green ropes, breaking branches here and there. Yagenka pushed after him, with crossbow on her shoulders, resembling some hunting goddess.

"Beyond this thicket," said she, "is a deep stream, but I know a ford."

"I have leggings to the knees, we shall pass over dry," answered Zbyshko.

After a time they reached the water. Yagenka, knowing the Mochydoly forest well, found the ford easily. It turned out, however, that the little stream had risen from rain somewhat, and was rather deep. Then Zbyshko, without a question, caught the girl up in his arms.

"I could go on foot," said Yagenka.

"Hold to my neck!" said Zbyshko.

He went through the swollen water slowly, trying with his foot at every step whether there was not a deep place, she nestled up to him according to command; at last, when they were not far from the other shore, she said,—

"Zbyshko!"

"Well?"

"I will not have either Stan or Vilk."

Meanwhile he carried her over, put her down carefully on the gravel, and said with some agitation,—

"May God give thee the best one! He will not suffer."

It was not far to the lake now. Yagenka, going in advance this time, turned at moments and, putting her finger to her lips, enjoined silence on Zbyshko. They advanced through a clump of gray weeping-willows, over wet and low ground. From the right hand the uproar of birds flew to them.