Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/694

 256 They reached Cracow without accident, for the country was at peace, and safe from all attacks of Germanized princes beyond the border, and from robber German knights by fear of the power of the kingdom and by the determined bravery of the knighthood. After performing their vows, the old knight and Yasko were presented at the royal court by Povala of Tachev and the little prince, Yamont. Matsko supposed that at the court and in offices they would ask him eagerly about the Knights of the Cross, since he had become well acquainted with the Order, and had looked at it closely. But after consulting with the chancellor and with the sword-bearer of Cracow, he saw with astonishment that their knowledge of the Knights of the Cross was not less than his, but still greater. They knew to the minutest detail all that was happening in Malborg itself and in other castles, even the remotest. They knew what detachments of troops there were, how many warriors there were, how many cannon, how much time was required to assemble the armies, what the plans were in case of hostilities. They knew even details concerning every comtur,—was he quick-tempered and abrupt, or was he thoughtful; and they had recorded all points as carefully as if war had been appointed for the morrow.

The old knight was immensely delighted at this, for he understood that they were preparing for war far more deliberately, strenuously, and wisely than in Malborg.

"The Lord Jesus has given us as much, or greater bravery," said Matsko to himself, "and surely more mind and greater foresight."

And such was the case at that period. He learned also soon whence information came to them: it was given by inhabitants of Prussia, people of all ranks, Germans as well as Poles. The Order had succeeded in rousing such hatred against itself that all people in Prussia looked at Yagello's armies as salvation. Matsko remembered then what Zyndram had told him in Malborg, and said to himself in spirit,—

"That man has a head indeed!—a pile of wisdom."

And he recalled every word of Zyndram's; and once he borrowed even from that wisdom, for when it happened that young Yasko inquired concerning the Knights of the Cross, he answered,—

"They are strong, the beasts; but what thinkest thou, will not a knight fly out of his seat, even though he be the