Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/773

 Rh had returned after the dispersal of the Lithuanians, and wishing also to attack the Polish flank, advanced in the arc of a circle; in consequence of this his sixteen chosen regiments had to pass very near the eminence on which stood the king, Vladislav Yagello. The danger was noted, but there was no time to withdraw. They merely furled the royal banner, and at the same time the king's secretary, Zbigniev of Olesnitsa, rushed with all speed on horseback to a neighboring regiment which was just making ready for the oncoming enemy, and which was led by the knight Mikolai Kielbasa.

"The king is in danger! To the rescue!" cried Zbigniev.

But Kielbasa, having lost his helmet, pulled away from his head a piece of cloth wet with blood and sweat, and showing it to the messenger shouted in terrible anger,—

"Look if we are idle here! Madman! Dost thou not see that that cloud is sweeping down on us, and we should merely lead it to the king were we to leave this place? Be off, or I shall put a sword through thee!"

And unmindful of the man with whom he was speaking, panting, borne away with anger, he aimed really at Zbigniev, who, seeing with whom he had to deal, and what was more, that the old warrior was right, raced back to the king and repeated what he had heard.

Hence the royal suite pushed forward in close rank to protect the sovereign with their breasts. This time, however, the king permitted no one to restrain him, he stood in the first rank. But barely had they taken their places when the German regiments were so near that the escutcheons on their shields could be distinguished perfectly. The sight of these regiments was indeed sufficient to fill the most daring hearts with a quiver, for that was the very flower and pick of the knighthood.

Arrayed in brilliant armor, on horses as immense as bisons, not wearied by battle, in which they had taken no part up to that hour, they advanced like a hurricane, with a thundering of horse-hoofs, with a roaring, with a rustling of flags and banners, and the Grand Master himself flew before them in a broad white mantle, which, spread out by the wind, looked like the giant wings of an eagle.

The Grand Master had passed the king's retinue and was rushing to the main battle, for what did a handful of knights standing at one side signify to his mind? He did not suspect that the king was among them, and did not recognize him.