Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/725

 Rh

the fifth year, however, when uncommon order had been introduced into all the villages, when above the watchtower a banner with "The Dull Horseshoe" had been waving for some months, and Yagenka had given birth to a fourth son, whom they called Yurand, old Matsko said one day to Zbyshko,—

"Everything succeeds, and if the Lord Jesus would give one more thing I could die in peace."

Zbyshko looked at his uncle inquiringly, and after a while asked,—

"Are you speaking of war with the Knights of the Cross?—for what else do you need?"

"I will say to thee what I have said before, that while the Grand Master Conrad lives there will be no war."

"But is he to live forever?"

"I cannot live forever either, and therefore I am thinking of something else."

"Of what?"

"Better not ask. Meanwhile I am setting out for Spyhov, and perhaps I shall visit the princes in Plotsk and in Chersk."

This answer did not astonish Zbyshko greatly, for in the course of recent years, old Matsko had gone to Spyhov a number of times; hence he only asked,—

"Will you stay long?"

"Longer than usual, for I shall halt at Plotsk."

Something like a week later, Matsko started, taking with him a number of wagons, and good armor, "for the event of having to fight within barriers." When going he declared that he might remain longer than usual, and in fact he did remain during half a year, and there were no tidings of him. Zbyshko began to be alarmed, and at last sent a messenger purposely to Spyhov, but that man met Matsko beyond Sieradz and returned with him.

The old knight was rather gloomy at first, but after he had inquired of Zbyshko carefully touching everything which had happened during his absence, and was set at