Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/774

 336 But from one of the regiments sprang forth a gigantic German, and whether it was that he recognized Yagello, or was enticed by silvery armor, or wished to show his knightly valor, he bent his head forward, levelled his spear, and rushed directly at Yagello.

The king put spurs to his horse and before his suite could detain him he had sprung toward the German. And they would have met without fail in mortal combat had it not been for that same Zbigniev, the youthful secretary of the king, who was skilled in the knightly calling as well as in Latin. He, having a piece of a lance in his hand, rode against the German from one side, and striking him on the head with it crushed his helmet and brought him to the earth. That moment the king struck the man with a sword on the naked forehead and killed him.

Thus perished a famous German knight, Dippold von Köckeritz. Prince Yamont seized the horse, and the German knight lay, mortally stricken, in his white mantle above his steel armor, and with a gilded girdle. The eyes turned in his head, but his feet dug the earth for some time yet, till death, the greatest pacifier of mankind, covered his head with night and put him to rest forever.

Knights from that same regiment of Helmno wished to avenge the death of their comrade, but the Grand Master, shouting, "Herum! herum!" barred the way, and hurried them on to where the fate of that bloody day was to be decided, that is, to the main battle.

And again something wonderful happened. Mikolai Kielbasa, who was nearest the field, recognized the enemy, it is true, but in the dust, the other Polish regiments did not recognize them, and thinking them Lithuanians returning to the battle, did not hasten to meet them. Dobko of Olesnitsa was the first to spring out before the oncoming Grand Master, and recognized him by his mantle, his shield and the great gold reliquary, which he wore on his breast outside the armor. But the Polish knight dared not strike the reliquary with his lance, though he surpassed the Grand Master in strength immensely; Ulrich, therefore, threw up the knight's spear-point, wounded his horse somewhat, then the two, passing each other, described a circle, and each went to his own people.

"Germans! The Grand Master himself!" shouted Dobko.