Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/283

Rh "We shall get rid of them, and the message. Who will say that we sent them? Finally if the girl is not carried away, there will be no outcry, and if a few gallows'-birds of Mazovia are quartered, no harm will happen from that to the Order."

"I understand neither your politeness nor your fear lest it be known that the girl was carried away by our command," said Brother Gottfried, the youngest among the Knights. "Having her once in hand we must, of course, send some person to Yurand to say to him: 'Thy daughter is with us; dost thou wish that she should receive freedom, give for her Bregov and thyself.' How else is it to be? But then it will be known that we seized the girl."

"True," said De Fourcy, whom the whole affair did not please overmuch. "Why hide that which must be discovered?"

But Danveld laughed, and turning to Brother Gottfried asked,—

"How long do you wear the white mantle?"

"The sixth year will be finished the first week after Trinity Sunday."

"When you have worn it another six years you will understand the Order more intimately. Yurand knows us better than you do at present. This will be told him: 'Brother Schaumberg has charge of thy daughter, and if thou squeak a word, remember the children of Vitold.'"

"But later?"

"Later Bregov will be free, and the Order will be rid of Yurand."

"Well!" exclaimed Brother Rotgier, "everything is so wisely thought out that God must bless our undertaking."

"God will bless all undertakings that have for object the good of the Order," replied the gloomy Siegfried.

They went on in silence, and before them, two or three arrow-shots distant, went their escort to clear the road, which was drifted, for abundant snow had fallen in the night. On the trees was deposited much frost; the day was cloudy, but warm, so that steam rose from the horses. From the forest, toward human dwellings, flew flocks of crows, filling the air with foreboding caws.

De Fourcy fell back behind the knights a little, and rode on in deep thought. He had been for some years a guest of the Order; he had taken part in expeditions to Lithuania, where he had shown great valor and had been received