Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/502

64 understand each other, for at that moment old Tolima entered, and behind him the garrison of the castle, tried men, the foremost and oldest of the land tillers of Spyhov, foresters, and fishermen; they came because tidings of the return of the master of Spyhov had spread over all the place. They embraced his knees, they kissed his hand, and burst into plaintive weeping at sight of that maimed old man, who in nothing reminded them of the former terrible Yurand, the crusher of the Knights of the Order, the victor in every encounter. But some of them, namely, those who had followed him in expeditions, were swept away by a whirlwind of anger, hence their faces grew pale and became stubborn. After a while they collected in a group and whispered, pushing one another with their elbows, and shoving, until finally one of the garrison of the castle, who at the same time was the blacksmith of Spyhov, stood forth, a certain Suhar; he approached Yurand, seized his feet, and said,—

"As soon as they brought you hither, lord, we wanted to move on Schytno, but that knight who brought you forbade us. Do you, lord, give permission, for we cannot remain as we are without vengeance. Let it be as it was aforetime. They have insulted us, but they will not go unpunished, they will not. We went against them at your command, we will go now under Tolima, or without him. We must capture Schytno and make dog blood flow out of it, so help us God!"

"So help us God!" repeated other voices.

"To Schytno!"

"We must have blood!"

And immediately a flame seized their passionate Mazovian hearts. Foreheads were frowning, eyes flashing, here and there was heard the gritting of teeth. But after a while voices and gritting of teeth ceased, and the eyes of all were intent on Yurand.

His cheeks flushed at once, as if the former resolution had sprung up in him and the former ardor of battle. He rose and began to search along the wall with his hand. It seemed to the men that he was feeling for his sword, but this time his fingers met the cross which Father Kaleb had hung in its old place. He took it from the wall a second time, then his face became pallid, he turned to the men, raised his empty eyepits, and extended the crucifix in front of him.