Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/329

Rh "People declare," answered the attendant, "that the Germans feared him as death." Then after a moment he asked:

"Shall we return to the castle now?"

"By way of Nedzborz," answered Zbyshko.

So they went to Nedzborz, and stopped before a residence in which an old noble, named Jeleh, received them. Yurand they did not find, but the old man gave good news.

"We rubbed him with snow to the bones almost," said he, "and poured wine into his mouth; then we steamed him in a bath, where he regained breathing."

"Is he alive?" inquired Zbyshko, with delight; for at this news he forgot his own affairs.

"He is alive, but God knows if he will recover; for the soul is not glad to turn back when it has made half the journey."

"Why was he taken from here?"

"He was taken because men from the prince came. We covered him with all the feather beds in the house, and they took him."

"Did he not mention his daughter?"

"He had barely begun to breathe; he had not recovered speech."

"But the others?"

"Are now behind God's stove. Poor people; they will not be at mass unless at that one which the Lord Jesus Himself will celebrate in heaven."

"Did none revive?"

"None. Enter, instead of talking at the porch. If you wish to see them, they are lying near the fire in the servants' hall. Come in."

But they did not go, though the old man pressed them; for he was glad to detain people and "chat" with them. They had a long piece of road yet from Nedzborz to Tsehanov; besides, Zbyshko was burning to see Yurand at the earliest, and learn something.

They rode, therefore, as rapidly as possible along the drifted highway. When they arrived it was past midnight, and the mass was just finishing in the castle chapel. To Zbyshko's ears came the lowing of cattle and the bleating of goats, which pious voices imitated according to ancient custom, in memory of the Lord's birth in a stable. After mass the princess came to Zbyshko with a face full of fear and anxiety.

"But where is Danusia?" asked she.

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