Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/757

 Rh an archer above archers; Beniash Verush of Great Poland, and Peter of Milan, and the Lithuanian boyar Senko of Pohost, whose father, Peter, led a Smolensk regiment; and Prince Fedushko, a relative of the king; Prince Yamont, and finally Polish knights "chosen from thousands;" these had all sworn to defend the king from every mishap of war, to the last drop of their blood. And immediately near the person of Yagello were the reverend vice-chancellor Mikolai, and the royal secretary, a young man of learning, skilled in letters and in writing, who at the same time surpassed in strength men of his years considerably. The king's weapons were cared for by three armor-bearers: Chaika of Novy Dvor, Mikolai of Moravitsa, and Danilko of Rus, who carried the king's bow and quiver. The suite was completed by some tens of attendants who, mounted on swift horses, were to rush to the armies with orders.

The armor-bearers arrayed their lord in brilliant, glittering mail, then they led up to him a chestnut steed, also "chosen from thousands," which snorted, as a good omen, beneath its steel head-piece, and, filling the air with a neigh, reared somewhat, like a bird about to fly. The king, when he felt the steed under him and a spear in his hand, changed in a flash. Sadness vanished from his face, his small dark eyes glittered, and on his cheeks appeared a flush; but that was only during an instant, for when the reverend vice-chancellor began to make the sign of the cross on him he grew serious again and bent humbly his head, which was covered with a silvery helmet.

Meanwhile the German army, descending gradually from the elevated plain, passed Grünwald, passed Tannenberg and halted at the middle of the plain in complete battle array. From below, from the Polish camp, that tremendous line of gigantic knights and horses enclosed in mail, was perfectly visible. In so far as was permitted by the wind which moved the banners, quick eyes distinguished accurately various designs embroidered on them, such as crosses, eagles, griffins, swords, helmets, lambs, bison and bear heads.

Old Matsko and Zbyshko, who had warred previously with Knights of the Order and knew their troops and escutcheons, showed their Sieradz friends two regiments of the Master himself, in which served the very flower and choice of the knighthood, and the grand banner of the whole Order, which was carried by Friedrich von Wallenrod, and the banner of Saint George with a red cross on a white