Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/525

Rh "And who said that she was not living, unless thee?" inquired Matsko with anger. "Thou shouldst have held thy tongue behind thy teeth. I brought her away, for she was afraid of Stan and Vilk."

"That was a mere excuse," answered Hlava. "She might have remained at home without danger, for they would have hindered each other. But you were afraid, lord, that in case of the death of Yurand's daughter my lady might be lost to Pan Zbyshko, and that is why you brought her."

"How hast thou grown so insolent? Art thou a belted knight, or a servant?"

"A servant, but her servant; for I am watching that no harm should come to my lady."

Matsko grew gloomily thoughtful, for he was not rejoiced at his own course. More than once he had blamed himself for taking Yagenka from home, for he felt that in taking the maiden to Zbyshko some kind of injury had been done her, and, in case Danusia were found, much more than injury. He felt also that there was truth in the bold speech of Hlava, and that he had taken the girl mainly to keep her, if need be, for Zbyshko.

"That had not come to my head!" but he said this to befog both himself and Hlava; "she herself insisted on coming."

"She insisted, for we persuaded her that the other was no longer in this world, and that her brothers would be safer without her than with her. That is why she left home."

"Thou didst tell her!" cried Matsko.

"I—and it was my fault. But now we must show her how things are. We must do something, lord. If not, better we perished."

"What wilt thou do here?" asked Matsko, impatiently, "in a war with such an army? If anything better comes it will be in July, for here there are two seasons of war for Germans,—the winter, and a dry summer. But seest thou, there is no fire yet, there is only smouldering. Very likely Prince Vitold has gone to Cracow to inform the king, and gain from him permission and assistance."

"But there are castles of the Order near by. If we could take about two of them, perhaps we might find Yurand's daughter, or learn of her death."

"Or that she is not dead."