Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/334

310 "By the mercy of God! where is my child?" cried Yurand, springing up.

"Listen. An armed escort came for Danusia to the hunting-lodge, bringing a letter from you. In the letter it was written that during a fire beams had crushed you; that you were half blind, and wished to see your daughter. Then they took Danusia and drove away."

"Woe!" cried Yurand. "As God is in heaven, there was no fire in Spyhov, and I did not send for her."

Now the priest returned with a letter, which he gave to Yurand, and asked,—

"Is this the writing of your priest?"

"I do not know."

"But the seal?"

"The seal is mine. What is in the letter?"

Father Vyshonek read the letter; Yurand listened, grasping his own hair.

"The letter is false," said he; "the seal imitated! Woe to my soul! They have seized my child, and will destroy her."

"Who?"

"The Knights of the Cross!"

"God's wounds! We must inform the prince. Let him send messengers to the Grand Master!" cried the lady.

"Merciful Jesus, rescue her, aid her!"

Saying this, she hurried out of the room with a cry. Yurand sprang from his bed, and began feverishly to draw the clothing onto his immense back. Zbyshko sat as if petrified, but after a while his set teeth gritted ominously.

"How do you know that the Knights of the Cross took her?" asked the priest.

"I will swear on the Passion of Christ!"

"Wait! It is possible. They went to the hunting-lodge to complain against you. They wanted vengeance."

"They carried her away!" cried Zbyshko on a sudden.

He rushed out of the room, and running to the stables commanded to make sleighs and saddle horses ready, without knowing clearly himself why he did so. He understood only this, that they must rescue Danusia, and go at once,—even to Prussia,—and there snatch her from enemies' hands or perish.

He returned then to tell Yurand that arms and horses would be ready immediately. He was sure that Yurand also would go with him. In his heart anger was boiling, and