Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/583

 "Give me also that Schytno bitch. If she does not resist on the road, I will take her also to Spyhov; should she resist I will hang her on a limb."

"Terror might leave Danusia sooner, and she might come to her mind more quickly were she freed from the sight of those two. But if thou take her what are we to do without the help of a woman?"

"You will surely meet people in the forest, or find fugitives with women. Take the first woman you come upon; any will be better than that wretch. Meanwhile Pan Zbyshko's care will suffice."

"To-day thou art speaking with more wit than common. That too is true. She may come to herself more quickly when she sees Zbyshko always near her. He can be to her a father and a mother. Let it be so. When wilt thou start?"

"I shall not wait for the dawn, but lie down now. It is not midnight yet, I think."

"The Great Bear is still shining, but the triangle has not appeared."

"Praise be to God that we have settled on something, for I was cruelly saddened."

Hlava stretched then before the dying fire, covered himself with a shaggy skin, and was asleep in a moment. But the sky had not whitened in the least, and it was deep night when he woke, crawled forth from under the skin, looked at the stars, stretched his limbs, which were somewhat stiffened, and roused Matsko.

"For me it is time to be off," said he.

"But whither?" asked Matsko, half asleep, rubbing his eyes with his fists.

"To Spyhov."

"Oh, true? Who is this snoring beside us? He would wake a dead man."

"Knight Arnold. I will throw limbs on the fire and go to the attendants."

He went, but returned with a hurried step and called in a low voice from some distance,—

"I have news, lord,—and bad news!"

"What has happened?" cried Matsko, springing up.

"The serving-woman has fled. The attendants took her to their place among the horses—may the thunderbolts split them!—when they fell asleep she slipped out, like a snake, from among them, and fled. Come, lord."

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