Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/503

Rh Silence followed. It was evening in the world outside. Through the windows came the twittering of birds, which were settling for rest at the gables of the castle and in the linden-trees growing in the courtyard. The last ruddy sunrays fell as they penetrated the chamber on the upraised cross and on the white hair of Yurand. Suhar, the blacksmith, looked at Yurand, he looked around at his comrades, he looked at Yurand a second time, then he made the sign of the cross and left the room on tiptoe. After him went the others in like silence, and only when they had stopped in the courtyard did they begin to whisper to one another.

"Well, and what?"

"Shall we not go, or how?"

"He did not permit."

"He leaves vengeance to God. It is clear that the soul has changed in him."

And so it had in reality.

Meanwhile in the chamber with Yurand remained only Father Kaleb, old Tolima, and with them Yagenka and Anulka, who, having seen a group of armed men passing through the court, came to see what was happening.

Yageuka, bolder and more certain of herself than was Anulka, approached Yurand now.

"God give you His aid, Knight Yurand," said she. "It is we who brought you hither from Prussia."

His face brightened at the sound of that youthful voice. Evidently he recalled in more detail everything that had happened on the Schytno road, for he began to give thanks, nodding his head, and placing his hand on his heart repeatedly. She told him how they had met him, how Hlava had recognized him, Hlava, Zbyshko's attendant, and finally how they had brought him to Spyhov. She said also of herself that she with her comrade carried the sword, the helmet, and the shield for the knight Matsko of Bogdanets, the uncle of Zbyshko, who had set out from Bogdanets to seek his nephew and had gone to Schytno, but in three or four days would return again to Spyhov.

At mention of Schytno Yurand did not fall, it is true, into such excitement as on the road the first time, but great alarm was expressed on his face. Yagenka assured him, however, that Matsko was as cunning as he was resolute, that be would let no man trick him; moreover he had letters from Lichtenstein; with these he could go everywhere

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