Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/736

 298 the good relations between them would be broken, if not forever, at least for a long time. But since the lords who formed the council in Cracow knew of everything which was done and planned in Malborg, the king also chose Vitold as arbiter.

And the Order regretted the choice. The dignitaries of the Order to whom it seemed that they knew the Grand Prince, did not know him sufficiently, for Vitold not only adjudged Drezdenko to the Poles, but, knowing also, and divining how the affair must end, roused Jmud again and more fiercely,—showing a more and more threatening visage to the Order, he began to assist Jmud with men, with weapons, and with grain sent from fertile lands in Poland.

When this took place all,—throughout every land of the immense State, understood that the decisive hour had struck.

It had struck indeed.

Once in Bogdanets, when old Matsko, Zbyshko and Yagenka were sitting in front of the castle gate, enjoying the warmth and the marvellous weather, an unknown man appeared suddenly on a foaming horse, he reined back his steed before the gate, threw at the feet of the Knights something that looked like a garland woven from the osier and the common willow. Then he shouted:"Vitsi! Vitsi!" (the summons, the summons) and shot away.

They sprang to their feet in great excitement. Matsko's face became threatening and solemn. Zbyshko stepped forward to urge the messenger to hasten on with his summons; then he turned with fire in his eyes, and shouted,—

"War! God has given it at last! War!"

"And not such a war as we have seen before, but a great one!" added Matsko, with solemnity.

Then he turned to the servants, who in one moment gathered around their master.

"Sound horns on the watch tower toward the four sides of the world!" shouted he; "and let others run to the villages for the mayors! Bring out the horses and attach them to the wagons! Do it in a breath!!"

His voice had not ceased to sound yet when the servants hurried in different directions to carry out his orders, which, moreover, were not difficult, since all had been ready long before: men, wagons, horses, armor, arms, provisions. The knights had nothing to do but take their seats and drive on.

But before starting Zbyshko asked Matsko,—