Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/48

24 "Oh, I should find horse boys who live on horse carrion, people unused to land work! What good would they be in Bogdanets? Besides, I have vowed to get three German peacock-plumes. Where should I find them among Tartars?"

"Thou hast vowed, for thou art stupid, and so are the vows."

"But my noble and knightly honor, how with that?"

"How was it with Ryngalla?"

"Ryngalla poisoned the prince, and the hermit absolved me."

"The abbot in Tynets will absolve thee. An abbot is better than a hermit; that man looked more like a robber than a monk."

"I want no absolution."

Matsko stopped, and asked with evident anger,—

"Well, how will it be?"

"Go yourself to Vitold, for I will not go."

"Thou knecht! But who will bow down before the king? And art thou not sorry for my bones?"

"A tree might fall on your bones and not break them. But even were I sorry for you I am unwilling to go to Vitold."

"What wilt thou do? Wilt thou be a falconer, or a chorister at the Mazovian court?"

"Is a falconer something evil? Since it is your wish to grumble rather than listen, then grumble."

"Where wilt thou go? Is Bogdanets nothing to thee? Wilt thou plow in it with thy nails, without men?"

"Not true! you have argued bravely with your Tartars. Have you heard what the people of Rus say,—'Thou wilt find as many Tartars as there are corpses of them on the field, but no man will seize a captive, for no man can overtake a Tartar in the steppe.' On what could I overtake one! On those heavy stallions which we took from the Frisians? And what booty could I find? Mangy sheepskin coats, nothing else! And only when I return rich to Bogdauets will they call me comes (count)."

Matsko was silent, for there was much justice in Zbyshko's words, and only after a while did he say,—

"But Prince Vitold would reward thee."

"Oh yes! you know; he rewards one man too much and gives another nothing."

"Then tell me, whither art thou going?"

"To Yurand, of Spyhov."