Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/577

 Rh fail to break her on the wheel, they will offend God's justice. Till we find another woman to attend Danusia, she will be needed; after that she may be tied to the tail of a horse. Now we must go hence to the Mazovian wilderness at the quickest."

"Not this moment, of course, for it is night. Perhaps also God will give more memory to Danusia to-morrow. Let the horses rest well. We will move at daybreak." Further conversation was interrupted by Arnold von Baden, who, lying on his back at some distance, and bound with his own sword behind his knees, had begun to cry out something in German. Old Matsko rose and went to him, but unable to understand his speech well he looked around for Hlava.

Hlava was unable to come at once, for he was occupied. When the two men had begun their talk at the fire, he went to the serving-woman of the Order, put his hand on her neck, and shaking her like a pear-tree, said,—

"Listen! Thou wilt go to the hut and spread a bed of skins for the lady; but first thou wilt put on her thy own good clothing, and take for thyself the rags in which ye have forced her to travel. Thy mother is in hell!"

And he, also unable to restrain his sudden anger, shook her with such force that the eyes were creeping out of her head. He might have broken her neck, perhaps, but as she seemed to him of use yet, he let her go at last, saying,—

"We will choose out a limb later on for thee."

She seized his knee in terror, but when in answer he kicked her, she ran into the hut, and threw herself at Danusia's feet.

"Defend me!" screamed she. "Do not give me up!" Danusia merely closed her eyes, and from her lips came the usual panting whisper,—

"I'm afraid! I'm afraid! I'm afraid!"

And then she grew rigid altogether, for every approach of that woman had caused this result always. She let herself be unclothed and dressed in the new garments. The serving-woman spread the bed, and laid Danusia on it as she might a figure of wax or wood; then she sat by the fire, not daring to leave the hut.

But Hlava came in after a while and, turning to Danusia, said,—

"You are among friends, my lady; sleep quietly, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit." He made