Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/349

Rh would go to Spyhov at night except messengers from the Order?

Zbyshko directed the driver to go with more speed, and soon they approached so considerably that the people heard them, and the two horsemen, who were watching evidently over the safety of the sleigh, turned toward them, and raising crossbows from their shoulders, cried,—

"Wer da (who is there)?"

"Germans," whispered Yurand to Zbyshko.

"Then he raised his voice, and said,—

"It is my right to inquire, thine to answer. Who are ye?"

"Wayfarers."

"What kind of wayfarers?"

"Pilgrims."

"Whence?"

"From Schytno."

"They are the persons!" whispered Yurand again.

The sleighs were now near each other, and at the same time in front of both appeared six horsemen. These were guards from Spyhov, who night and day watched the dam leading to the castle. In front of the horses ran dogs, dangerous and large, quite like wolves.

The guards, on recognizing Yuraud, called out in his honor, but in the calls was heard wonder that the heir was returning so soon and unexpectedly; but he, occupied entirely with the messengers, turned to them a second time.

"Whither are ye going?" asked he.

"To Spyhov."

"What do ye wish?"

"We can only tell that to the master himself."

The words, "I am the master of Spyhov," were on Yurand's lips, but he restrained himself, understanding that the conversation could not take place before people. He gave command to go almost as fast as the horses could gallop.

Zbyshko was so impatient also for news from Danusia that he could turn attention to no other thing. He was all impatience when the guards stopped his way twice on the dam, impatient when they let down the bridge beyond which was an enormous palisade on the wall, and though formerly a desire had seized him often to see what sort of a look that castle of ominous repute had, at sight of which Germans made the sign of the cross on themselves, he saw nothing now save those messengers of the Order, from whom he might