Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/539

 "In a fog like this we shall strike before they can see us; God grant that it grow not thin till even mid-day!"

That moment he rushed forward to give commands to captains in advance, but he returned quickly.

"Soon we shall come," said he, "to a road going from the ford opposite the island toward the heart of the country. There we shall place ourselves in the forest and wait for them."

"How didst thou learn of the road?" inquired Matsko.

"From men of the place. I have some tens of them among my people; they lead us everywhere."

"But how far from the castle and the island wilt thou attack?"

"Five miles."

"That is well, for were it nearer soldiers from the castle might hurry up with assistance; as it is, not only will they be unable to do that, but no shouts will be heard."

"You see, I have given thought to this."

"Thou hast thought over one thing, think now of another. If thy men of that place are faithful, send two or three of them to see when the Germans sally forth, and then hurry back and report to us."

"That is done already."

"Then I will tell thee something else: Command a hundred or two hundred men as follows: take no part in the battle, but the moment it commences hurry away and cut off the road to the island."

"That is the first thing to do," answered Zbyshko, "and that order has been given already. The Germans will fall into a swamp, as it were, or a trap."

When Matsko heard this he looked at his nephew with pleased eye, for he was glad that Zbyshko, in spite of his early years, understood warfare so keenly; hence he smiled and muttered,—

"Ours is the right blood! "

But the attendant, Hlava, rejoiced more in soul than even Matsko, for to him there was nothing so delightful as battle.

"I know not," said he, "how our men will fight, but they are advancing quietly, in order, and in them a tremendous willingness is evident. If that Skirvoillo has thought out all his work well, not a living leg should escape that belongs to an enemy."

"God grant that few get away," said Zbyshko. "But I