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332 Danusia, and on their part might spare no torture on her. And for a time it seemed to him that his child was stretching her hands to him from a distance and imploring rescue. If even he knew certainly that she was in Schytno, he might move that same night to the boundary, fall upon the Germans who expected no attack, seize the castle, cut down the garrison, and free his child; but she, perhaps, was not in the castle, and surely not in the village of Schytno. Again it flashed through his head like lightning that if he should seize the woman and the pilgrim and take them straight to the Grand Master, perhaps the master would obtain from them a confession, and command the release of Danusia; but that lightning flash was quenched as quickly as it shone. Moreover, these people might say to the Master that they went to Spyhov to ransom De Bergov; that they had no knowledge of any girl. No! that road led to nothing—but what road led to anything? For he thought that if he should go to Schytno, they would put him in chains and thrust him into a dungeon; but Danusia they would not release anyhow, even for this reason, lest it be discovered that they had kidnapped her. Meanwhile death was above his only child; death was above the last life that was dear to him. And, finally, his thoughts grew confused, and his pain became so great that it strained itself and passed into numbness. He sat motionless, because his body had grown dead, as dead as if cut out of stone. Had he wished to stand up at that moment, he would not have been able to do so.

Meanwhile the others had grown tired of long waiting; so the woman rose and said,—

"Dawn is not distant, so, lord, permit us to withdraw; for we need rest."

"And refreshment after the long road," added the pilgrim.

Both bowed then to Yurand, and went out. But he continued sitting motionless, as if seized by sleep, or death. After a while, however, the door opened, and in it appeared Zbyshko, behind him the priest.

"Well, where are the messengers? What do they want?" inquired the young knight, approaching Yurand.

Yurand quivered, but did not answer immediately; he merely blinked greatly, like a man roused from sleep.

"Are you not sick, lord?" asked the priest, who, knowing Yurand more intimately, saw that something unusual was happening within him.

"No," answered Yurand.