Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/436

412 Silence followed. Then a dark figure pushed from out the tower and moved stealthily toward the stable which stood next to the arsenal on the left side of the courtyard. Diedrich's mastiff rushed after it in silence. The second dog sprang after that one and vanished in the shadow of the wall, but soon appeared with head toward the earth, coming back slowly and as it were sniffing the tracks of the man. In this manner it approached Siegfried, who was lying motionless; sniffed him carefully, then sat near his head, raised its jaws, and began to howl.

The howling was heard for a long time, filling that doleful night as it were with new sadness and terror. At last a door hidden in the niche of the great gate squeaked and the gatekeeper stood in the court with a halberd.

"A plague on the dog! I will teach thee to howl at night," said he.

And thrusting out the halberd point he wished to pierce the beast with it, but that moment he saw some one lying near the open door of the tower.

"Herr Jesus! what is this? "

Bending forward he looked into the face of the prostrate person and cried,—

"Hither! Hither! Rescue!"

Then he sprang to the gate and pulled the bell-rope with all his might.