Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/728

 290 "You know that in such matters I do not spare myself, or any one, but if things had happened to me as to you I should be satisfied. And I say now that the greatest knights in Cracow will support me. Zavisha Charny himself, who knows most of knightly honor, will surely say nothing different."

"Dost thou say that?" inquired Matsko.

"But just think: they are famous throughout the whole world, and they challenged him also, but none of them have done so much as you. They vowed death to Lichtenstein, but you have slaughtered a Lichtenstein."

"That may be," said the old knight.

But Zbyshko, who was curious in knightly affairs, said,—

"Well! tell me: was he young, or old, and how was the struggle? on horseback, or on foot?"

"He was thirty-five years old, he had a beard to his girdle, and was on horseback. God assisted me so that I overcame him with the lance, but after that it came to swords. I tell thee the blood gushed from his mouth so that his whole beard was drenched with it."

"But have you not complained frequently that you are growing old?"

"Yes, for when on horseback, or on the ground, I hold firmly, but I cannot spring into the saddle in full armor."

"But Kuno himself would not have escaped you."

The old man waved his hand contemptuously, in sign that with Kuno it would have gone much easier, then they went to look at the captured "plates," which Matsko had taken only as proof of victory, for they were too much shattered, and therefore without value. But the hip piece and the leg armor were uninjured and of excellent workmanship.

"But I should prefer that these were Kuno's," said Matsko, gloomily.

"The Lord God knows what is best," answered Zbyshko.

"You will not reach Kuno if he becomes Grand Master, unless in some great battle."

"I inclined my ears to what people said," replied Matsko.

"Some declared that after Conrad would come Kuno, while others mentioned Ulrich the brother of Conrad."

"I should prefer Ulrich," said Zbyshko.

"I too, and knowest why? Kuno has more mind and is more cunning, while Ulrich is passionate. He is a truthful knight who observes honor, but he just quivers for war with us. They say also that were he to be Grand Master there