Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/676

 238 Zyndram divined that the Master was speaking of that "tower" filled with gold, of which the Knights boasted, so he hesitated a while, and then said,—

"Once, oh, very long ago, a certain German Cæsar showed an ambassador of ours, whose name was Skarbek, such a chamber, and said: 'I have something with which to overcome thy lord!' But Skarbek threw into it a costly ring, and added, 'Go thou gold to gold; we Poles like iron better.' And you know what came after that, your Honor? After that came ."

"What is that Hundsfeld?" inquired a number of knights together.

"That," answered Zyndram, quietly, "was a field on which they were unable to bury all the Germans, and at last dogs finished the burial."

Knights of the Order and brothers when they heard this were greatly confused, and knew not what reply to make, while Zyndram said, as if in ending,—

"Thou wilt do nothing with gold against iron."

"Well," exclaimed the Master, "our second method is always iron. Your Honor saw at the First Castle armorers' workshops. Hammers are forging night and day there, and they forge swords and armor that have no equal elsewhere."

In answer Povala stretched out his hand to the middle of the table, and took a strip of iron used for cutting meat; in length it was an and in width more than half a span. This he wound into a roll easily, like parchment, and raised it high so that all might see the roll; after that he gave it to the Master.

"If the iron of your swords is of this sort, you will not do much with them."

And he smiled with satisfaction, while the spiritual and lay knights rose from their seats and hurried in a crowd to the Grand Master; then they passed the iron roll from one to another, but all were silent, having timid hearts in their breasts in view of this strength in Povala.

"By the head of !" exclaimed the Master at last, "you have iron hands, lord." But the Burgundian count added,—

"And better iron than this. He folded the strip as if it were wax."

"He did not even flush, and his veins were not swollen," said one of the brothers.