Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/669

 Rh him on the bed, strengthened him with wine, which the comtur of the castle had sent, and watched over him till the old knight dropped asleep.

They woke late next morning fresher and rested.

"Well," said Matsko, "it must be that my time has not come yet; and I think that if the breeze of the field were blowing about me I could ride to the end of my journey."

"The envoys will remain here some days yet," answered Zbyshko, "for people are coming with requests about captives caught in Mazovia or Great Poland while robbing; but we may go whenever you wish, and when you feel strong enough."

At this moment Hlava came in.

"Dost know what the envoys are doing?" asked the old knight of him.

"They are visiting the church and the High Castle,—the comtur of the castle acts himself as their guide; afterward they will go to the chief refectory to a dinner to which the Grand Master is to invite your Graces."

"But what hast thou been doing since early morning?"

"Looking at German mercenaries, infantry, which captains are drilling, and I compared them with our Cheh men."

"Dost thou remember Cheh infantry?"

"I was a stripling when the knight Zyh captured me, but I remember well, for I was curious about such things from boyhood."

"Well, and what?"

"Oh, nothing! The infantry of the Order is strong and well trained, but the men are bullocks, while our Chehs are wolves. Should it come to action—but then your Graces know that bullocks do not eat wolves, and wolves like beef tremendously."

"That is true," said Matsko, who evidently knew something of this; "the man who rubs against your people jumps back from them as from a porcupine."

"In battle a mounted knight is as good as ten footmen," said Zbyshko.

"But only infantry can take Malborg," answered Hlava. Remarks on infantry stopped there, for Matsko, following the course of his own thoughts, said,—

"Hear Hlava; to-day, when I get up and feel in strength, we will go."

"But whither?"

"Of course to Mazovia. To Spyhov," said Zbyshko.