Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/584

 146 Matsko was alarmed and moved quickly with Hlava toward the horses, but they found only one attendant; the others had rushed off in search of the fugitive. But that search was a stupid one, through darkness and among thickets; in fact, they returned soon with their heads down. Matsko belabored them with his fists, but without words; then he went back to the fire, for there was nothing else to do.

Zbyshko came soon from his post of sentry at the hut door. Sleepless he had heard the tramping and wished to learn what the trouble was. Matsko told him of the arrangement with Hlava, then of the escape of the servingwoman.

"That is no great misfortune," said he. "She will die of hunger in the forest, or be found by people who will beat her, unless wolves find her earlier. The one pity is that punishment in Spyhov has missed her."

Zbyshko was sorry that punishment had missed her, but otherwise he received the news calmly. He did not oppose the departure of Hlava with Siegfried, for everything which did not touch Danusia directly was to him indifferent. He began at once to speak of her,—

"I will take her to-morrow on the horse, in front of me, and we shall travel on in that way."

"Is she sleeping?" inquired Matsko.

"Sometimes she whines a little, but I cannot tell whether she is awake or asleep. I am afraid to go in, lest I frighten her."

Further conversation was interrupted by Hlava, who, seeing Zbyshko, said,—

"Oh, your Grace is up also? Well, it is time for me to go. The horses are ready, and the old devil is tied to the saddle. It will be dawn soon, for the nights are short at this season. God be with you, your Graces."

"Go with God, and be well!"

But Hlava drew Matsko aside, and said,—

"I wished to make an earnest request of you. If something happens, some misfortune, or—what shall we call it?—hurry a man off directly to Spyhov, and if we have gone from there let him overtake us."

"Very good," said Matsko, "I forgot to tell thee to take Yagenka to Plotsk. Go to the bishop there, tell him who she is, say that she is the goddaughter of the abbot, that he, the bishop, holds a will in her favor, and