Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/513

Rh And he placed his hand on the sword hilt at his side, seeing which Yagenka exclaimed,—

"Ah, but be careful! Since thou art going it is needful to reach the end of thy journey, and not stop in some dungeon of the Order. And in forests have a care for thyself, for there many wicked demons are living whom people honored before they turned to Christ. I remember how the knights Matsko and Zbyshko spoke of those things at my father's house."

"I remember, but I have no fear; for those are poor things without power, they have no influence. I will take care of those demons and the Germans also, should I meet any, if war only breaks out in earnest."

"But has it not broken out? Tell me, what hast thou heard among the Germans of war?"

At this the prudent fellow knitted his brows, was silent a moment, and said,—

"It has, and it has not. We inquired carefully about everything, and especially did the knight Matsko inquire, for he is cunning and can circumvent any German. He asks, as it were, about something else, or pretends friendship, but he never betrays himself in any way; and he hits the quick every time, and from each man draws out news as a fish is drawn out with a hook. Should your grace wish to listen patiently, I will tell. Prince Vitold, some years ago, having plans against the Tartars and wishing peace on the German side, yielded Jmud to the Order. There was great accord and friendship. He permitted the Knights to build castles; he even helped them. He and the Grand Master met on an island, they drank, they ate, they declared mutual friendship. Even hunting in those forests was not forbidden the Knights of the Cross, and when the poor Jmud men rose against the dominion of the Order, Prince Vitold helped the Germans, and sent his forces to aid them, whereupon people murmured throughout all Lithuania because he was attacking his own blood. The under-voyt of Schytno told us all this and praised the rule of the Knights in Jmud, saying that they sent to the people of that region priests who were to baptize them, and in time of hunger sent wheat to feed them also. Perhaps they sent wheat, for the Grand Master, who has more fear of God than others, ordered it, but the Knights carried off the children to Prussia, and insulted the women before the eyes of their brothers and husbands. If any man opposed they