Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/624

 186 "All the more should Tolima have gone to Plotsk."

"He wanted to do so, but they seized him near the boundary on this side in the night-time. They would have killed him if he had not said that he was taking money to Lubav for the comtur. In this way he saved himself, but now the comtur will produce witnesses to show that Tolima made that declaration."

"But Uncle Matsko, is he well? Are they threatening his life there?" inquired Zbyshko.

"He is well," answered De Lorche. "Hatred against 'King' Vitold, and against those who helped the Jmud men, is great, and surely they would have slain the old knight were it not that they do not wish to lose the ransom. The brothers von Baden defended him for the same cause, and finally the Chapter are concerned about my head; were they to sacrifice that, they would rouse the knighthood of Guelders, Burgundy, and Flanders. Ye know that I am kin to the Count of Guelders."

"But why are they concerned about thy head?" interrupted Zbyshko, in wonder.

"Because I was captured by thee. I said the following in Malborg: If ye take the life of the old knight of Bogdanets, his nephew will take my head."

"I will not take it! so help me God!"

"I know that thou wilt not, but they are afraid that thou wilt, and Matsko will be safe therefore. They answered me that thou wert in captivity also, for the Von Baden s let thee go on thy word of a knight, therefore that I had no need to go to thee. But I answered, that thou wert free when I was captured.—And I have come to thee! While I am in thy hands, they will do nothing to thee or Matsko. Do thou pay the Von Badens thy ransom, and for me demand twice or thrice as much. They must pay. I do not say this because I think that I am of more value than thou art, but to punish their greed, which is despicable. Once I had quite a different opinion, but now they and life among them have disgusted me completely. I will go to the Holy Land to seek adventures there, for I will not serve among the Knights of the Cross any longer."

"Oh, stay with us, lord," said Father Kaleb. "And I think that thou wilt, for it does not seem to me that they will ransom thee."

"If they will not pay, I will pay myself. I am here with a considerable escort. I have laden wagons, and that which is in them will suffice."