Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/362

338 that a poor man mast chew unskinned grain, like a beast; for if they find a mill in the house they punish the man, take away his cattle, and, more than that, do not spare even women or children. They fear neither God nor priest, as they did not when they carried off the parish priest of Velbor in chains because he blamed them. Oh, it is hard to live under the Germans! Whatever grain a man grinds between two stones he keeps the handful of flour from it for Easter week, and even on Friday people eat grain as birds do. But glory to God even for grain, because two months before harvest we have no grain. It is not permitted to fish or to kill wild beasts—not as in Mazovia."

Thus did the peasant subject of the knights complain, speaking partly to himself, partly to Yurand; meanwhile they had passed the open space, which was covered with fragments of limestone sheltered under the snow, and entered the forest, which in the early light seemed gray, and from which came a damp, severe cold. It had dawned completely, otherwise it would have been difficult for Yurand to pass along the forest road, which was rather steep, and so narrow that in places his immense war-horse was barely able to push past between the tree-trunks. But the wood ended soon, and a few "Our Fathers" later they found themselves on the summit of White Hill, through the middle of which passed a beaten highway.

"This is the road," said the peasant; "you will be able to go on alone now."

"I shall be able," answered Yurand. "Go back to thy house, man."

And reaching to a leather bag which was fastened to the front of his saddle, he drew out a silver coin and gave it to the guide.

The man, more accustomed to blows than to gifts from Knights of the Cross in that district, was almost unwilling to believe his own eyes, and, seizing the money, he dropped his head toward Yurand's stirrup, and embraced it.

"O Jesus and Mary!" cried he; "God reward your great mightiness."

"Be with God."

"May the might of God conduct you. Schytno is before you."

He inclined once more toward the stirrup and vanished. Yurand remained alone on the hill, and looked in the