Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/737

 Rh "Will you not remain at home?"

"I? What is in thy head?"

"According to law you can stay, for you are a man of advanced years, and there should be some protector for Yagenka and the children."

"Well, listen to that! I have waited to white hairs for this hour."

It sufficed to look at his cold, resolute face to know that words were of no use in that case. Besides, notwithstanding his seventh cross, the man was as sound as an oak, yet; his arms moved easily in their joints, and an axe wielded by them just whistled through the air. He could not, it is true, spring in full armor on to a horse without touching the stirrups, but there were many young men, especially knights of western Europe, who could not do that either; he had immense training, however, in knightly deeds, and in all that region there was not a warrior of more experience.

It was evident also that Yagenka had no fear of remaining alone, for on hearing her husband's words she rose, kissed his hand, and said,—

"Be not troubled about me, dear Zbyshko, for the castle is a good one; and know this, that I am not over timid; to me neither crossbow nor lance is a novelty. It is not the time now to think of wife and children, when there is need to save the country. God will be our guardian."

Her eyes filled quickly with tears, which rolled down in great drops on her beautiful lily-like face, and pointing to the group of children she spoke on with emotion, and a quivering voice,—

"Hei! were it not for those little ones, I should lie at thy feet till I received permission to go to the war with thee."

"Yagus!" cried Zbyshko, seizing her in his arms.

She embraced his neck, nestling up to him with all her strength, and said, "Only come back to me, my golden, my only one, my dearest of all!"

"But thank God every day that he has given thee such a wife," added Matsko, in a deep voice.

An hour later they lowered the flag from the watchtower in sign that the master was absent.

Zbyshko and Matsko permitted Yagenka with the children to accompany them as far as Sieradz. One hour later all set out with men and a whole train of wagons. The day was clear and still. The forests were in a motionless quiet.