Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/759

 Rh to him, and which augured inevitable victory. He sent out neither scouts nor spies, thinking that there must be a general battle in every case, and that the battle could end only in dreadful defeat for the enemy. Confident in a force such as no previous Grand Master had ever brought to the field he despised his opponent, and when the comtur of Gniev, who had made investigations himself, explained to him that Yagello's troops were more numerous than those of the Order, he answered: "What troops are they? With the Poles alone shall we have to struggle somewhat but the rest, even if greater in number, are the last of men, better at a spoon than a weapon."

And, hastening with all his forces to the battle, he was flushed with great delight, for all at once he found himself face to face with the enemy. The purple of the grand banner of the kingdom, seen on the dark background of the forest, permitted no further doubt that before him the main army had its position.

It was impossible, however, for the Germans to attack the Poles standing near the pine wood and in it, for the Knights of the Order were formidable only on the open field; they did not like battle in dense forests, and knew not how to fight in them.

Therefore they assembled in brief council, at the side of the Grand Master, to determine how to entice the enemy out of the forest.

"By Saint George!" exclaimed the Grand Master. "We have ridden ten miles without resting; the heat is oppressive and our bodies are covered with sweat beneath our armor. We shall not wait here till it please the enemy to come forth to meet us!"

To this Count Wende, a man important through age and knowledge, replied,—

"My words have been ridiculed here already, and ridiculed by those who, as God knows, will flee from this field on which I shall fall" (here he looked at Werner von Tetlingen), "but I shall say what my conscience commands as well as my love for the Order. The Poles lack not courage, but, as I know, the king is hoping till the last moment for messengers of peace."

Werner von Tetlingen made no reply; he merely snorted with contemptuous laughter.

Wende's words were not pleasing to the Grand Master, so he answered,—

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