Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/508

70 "He did not know exactly, but he heard that they said something about Ragneta, which castle is not far from the Lithuanian, or Jmud boundary."

"But what did Matsko say to this?"

"When he heard this he said to me next morning: 'If this is true maybe we shall find her; but I must go with all my breath to Zbyshko, so that they should not bring him to a hook, as they brought Yurand. If they tell him that they will give her up if he comes himself for her, he will go, and then old Siegfried will wreak on him such vengeance for the sake of Rotgier as human eye has never witnessed.'"

"That is true! that is true!" cried Yagenka with fear. "Since that is why he hurried off he did well."

After a while, turning to Hlava again, she said,—

"But he was mistaken in sending you back. Why guard us here in Spyhov? Old Tolima can guard, and there you would be useful to Zbyshko, for you are strong and clever."

"But in case of need, who will take you, young lady, to Zgorzelitse?"

"In case of need you will come here before them. They must send news through some one; let them send it through you—and you will take us then to Zgorzelitse."

Hlava kissed her hand and asked with emotion,—

"You will stay here meanwhile?"

"God is above the orphan! We will stay here."

"And it will not be dreary for you. What will you do here?"

"Beg the Lord Jesus to return happiness to Zbyshko, and to preserve you all in health."

When she had said this she wept heartily, and he bent to her knees again.

"You are just like an angel in heaven," said he.