Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/536

98 "I know now," said the old knight. "It is clear that thou wilt effect nothing; thou hast chosen to come here, where at least revenge may succeed with thee."

"True. I thought also that I might take captives and seize some castles, but these men cannot take castles."

"Hei! wait till Prince Vitold himself comes; then it will be otherwise."

"God grant him to us."

"He will come. I heard at the Mazovian court that he will come, and perhaps the king will come too, and bring all the strength that is in Poland."

Further speech between them was interrupted by Skirvoillo, who came out of the shade unexpectedly and said,—

"We are marching to the conflict!"

When they heard this the knights stood up quickly. Skirvoillo approached his immense head to their faces and said in a low voice,—

"We have news: reinforcements are marching to New Kovno. Two Knights of the Cross are leading on soldiers with cattle and provisions. Let us stop them!"

"Then shall we cross the Niemen?" inquired Zbyshko.

"Yes. We know the ford."

"And do they know in the castle of those reinforcements?"

"They know, and will go out to meet them; on those who go out you will strike."

Then he explained where they were to lie in ambush, and in such wise as to hit unexpectedly on those who sallied forth from the castle. His plan was that two battles should take place at the same time, to avenge the defeats suffered recently; this might be carried out with the greater ease, since the enemy felt entirely safe after victory. Hence he designated the time of action and the places to which they must hurry; the rest he left to their bravery and foresight. They were delighted in heart, for they saw at once that he spoke to them as an accurate and experienced warrior. When he had finished he commanded to follow him and returned to his cabin, in which princes and boyar captains were waiting. There he repeated his orders, issued new ones, and raising to his lips a tube of carved wolf-bone, gave a shrill and far-sounding whistle, which was heard from one end of the camp to the other.

At that moment something boiled up along the dying fire places; here and there sparks glittered, then small flames