The Knights of the Cross/Volume 1/Chapter 8

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

CHAPTER VIII.

The day after their arrival at Bogdanets Matsko and Zbyshko began to look around at their old seat, and soon saw that Zyh spoke correctly when he said that privations not a few would annoy them at first.

In the land management matters moved after a fashion. A few acres were worked by old-time men, or those settled in recently by the abbot. Formerly there had been far more cultivated land in Bogdanets, but from the period when the race of "the Grady" perished to the second last man in the battle of Plovtsi there was a lack of working-hands, and after the attack of the Silesian Germans and the war of the Grymaliti with the Nalenchi, the fields of Bogdanets, formerly fruitful, had grown over for the greater part with forests. Matsko could do nothing unaided. In vain had he tried some years before to attract free cultivators from Kresnia and give them land beyond the meadows, but these preferred to sit on their own "small plots" to working large fields owned by other men. He enticed in, however, some homeless people, and in various wars seized a few prisoners, whom he had married and then settled in cottages; in this way the village began to increase anew.

But Matsko met difficulty in management; hence, when a chance to pledge the place offered itself, he mortgaged all Bogdanets quickly, thinking first, that it would be easier for the rich abbot to manage the land, and second, that war would help Zbyshko and him to men and to money.

The abbot had worked indeed actively. He had increased the laboring force in Bogdanets by five families; he had increased the herds of horses and cattle; besides, he had built a granary, a brush cow-house, and also a stable of similar material. But, as he was not living in Bogdanets permanently, he had not thought of a house, and Matsko, who had supposed sometimes that when he came back he would find a castle surrounded by a moat and a palisade, found all as he had left it,—with this difference only, that the corners of the house had grown a little crooked and the walls appeared lower, for they had settled and sunk in the earth somewhat.

The house was composed of an enormous front room, two spacious inner apartments, with chambers and a kitchen. In the inner rooms were windows with panes of membrane. In the middle of each room, on a floor made of clay, was a fireplace from which smoke issued through holes in the ceiling. This ceiling was blackened completely. In better times it had served also as a smoking place, for on hooks fixed in the beams hung in those days hams of pigs, wild boars, bears, and elks, hind legs of deer, backs of oxen, and whole strings of sausage. In Bogdanets the hooks were now empty, as well as shelves along the walls, on which in other "courts" were placed earthen and tin plates. But the walls under the shelves did not seem now too naked, for Zbyshko had commanded his people to hang on them breastplates, helmets, short and long swords, and farther on, spears, forks, crossbows, and horse-trappings. The armor grew black from being hung in the smoke thus, and there was need to clean it frequently; but, to compensate, everything was at hand; and besides, worms did not gnaw the wood of lances, crossbows, and axehandles. Matsko had commanded to carry carefully to his own sleeping room all valuable clothing.

In the front chambers, near the windows, were tables of pine plank, and benches of like material on which the masters sat down to eat with the servants. For men unaccustomed during long years of war to comforts, not much was needed. But in Bogdanets, bread, flour, and various other supplies were lacking, and especially utensils. The peasants had brought in what they could. Matsko had counted mainly on this, that, as happens in such cases, neighbors would aid him; and indeed he was not mistaken, at least not in Zyh.

The second day after his arrival Matsko, wishing to enjoy the serene autumn weather, was seated on a log before the house, when Yagenka rode into the yard on the same horse which she had ridden at the hunt. The servant, who was cutting wood near the fence, wished to help her dismount, but she sprang down in one instant, panting a little from swift riding, and ruddy as an apple she approached Matsko.

"May He be praised! I have come to bow down to you from papa, and to ask about your health."

"It is not worse than on the road," answered Matsko; "a man has slept in his own house at least."

"But you must feel much discomfort, and a sick man needs care."

"We are firm fellows. There are no comforts yet, of course, but there is no hunger either. I have commanded to kill an ox and two sheep; there is meat enough. The women have brought in too some flour and eggs, but that is not much with us, the greatest lack is utensils."

"Well, I have had two wagons filled. In one of them are two beds, and cooking utensils; in the other, food of various kinds. There are cakes and flour, salt meat, dried mushrooms, a small keg of beer, another of mead; there is a little of everything that we have in the house."

Matsko, always pleased with every addition, stretched out his hand and stroked Yagenka's head.

"God repay thee, and thy father. When we begin to manage we will return this."

"God prosper you! But are we Germans, to take back what we give?"

"Well, then God will pay thee and thy father still more. Thy father told what a housekeeper thou art. Thou hast managed all thy father's place for a twelvemonth."

"Yes! And when you want something more send a man, but one who knows what is needed, for at times a dull servant comes who knows not what he was sent for."

Here Yagenka began to look around somewhat. Matsko, noting this, smiled, and asked,—

"For whom art thou looking?"

"I am not looking for any one!"

"I will send Zbyshko; let him thank thee and Zyh for me. Has Zbyshko pleased thee?"

"But I have not looked at him."

"Then look at him now, for he is just coming."

Indeed Zbyshko was coming from watering animals, and seeing Yagenka he hastened his step. He wore an elkskin coat and a round felt cap such as was used under helmets, his hair was without a net, cut evenly above his brows, and at the sides it fell in golden waves to his shoulders. He approached quickly, large, comely, exactly like an armor-bearer of a great house.

Yagenka turned entirely to Matsko to show that she had come only to him, but Zbyshko greeted her joyously, and taking her hand raised it to his lips in spite of the girl's resistance.

"Why kiss me on the hand?" inquired she. "Am I a priest?"

"Resist not! Such is the custom!"

"And should thou kiss her on the other hand for what she has brought," put in Matsko, "it would not be too much."

"What has she brought?" inquired Zbyshko, looking around in the yard, not seeing anything save the horse tied to a post.

"The wagons have not come yet, but they will come," answered Yagenka.

Matsko began to name what she had brought, not omitting anything. When he mentioned the two beds Zbyshko said:

"I am glad to lie down on an oxskin, but I thank you for having thought of me also."

"It was not I, but papa," said the girl, blushing. "If you prefer a skin you are free to prefer it."

"I prefer what comes to hand. On the field more than once after battle we slept with a dead Knight of the Cross for a pillow."

"But have you ever killed a Knight of the Cross? Surely not!"

Zbyshko, instead of answering, began to laugh.

"Fear God, girl!" cried Matsko; "thou dost not know him! He has done nothing else but kill Germans till it thundered. He is ready for lances, for axes, for everything; and when he sees a German from afar, even hold him on a rope, he will pull to him. In Cracow he wanted to slay Lichtenstein, the envoy, for which they lacked little of cutting his head off. That is the kind of man he is! And I will tell thee of the two Frisians from whom we took their retinue, and a booty so valuable that with one half of it one might buy Bogtlanets."

Here Matsko told of the duel with the Frisians, and then of other adventures which had met them, and deeds which they had accomplished. They had fought behind walls, and in the open field with the greatest knights from foreign lands. They had fought with Germans, French, English, and Burgundians. They had been in raging whirls of battle, when horses, men, arms, Germans, and feathers formed one mass, as it were. And what had they not seen besides! They had seen castles of red brick belonging to Knights of the Cross, Lithuanian wooden fortresses, and churches such as there are not near Bogdanets, and towns, and savage wildernesses, in which Lithuanian divinities, driven out of their sanctuaries, whine in the night-time; and various marvels. And in all places where it came to battle Zbyshko was in front, so that the greatest knights wondered at him.

Yagenka, who had sat down on the log near Matsko, listened with parted lips to that narrative, turning her head, as if on a pivot, now toward Matsko, now toward Zbyshko, and looking at the young knight with ever increasing wonder. At last, when Matsko had finished, she sighed, and said:

"Would to God that I had been born a man!"

Zbyshko, who during the narrative was looking at her with equal attention, was thinking at that moment of something else evidently, for he said on a sudden,—

"But you are a beautiful maiden!"

"You are more beautiful than I, you see that," said Yagenka, half unwillingly, half in sadness.

Zbyshko might without untruth have replied that he had not seen many maidens like her, for Yagenka was simply radiant with a splendor of health, youth, and strength. It was not without reason that the old abbot declared that she looked half a raspberry, half a pine tree. Everything about her was beautiful, her lithe form, her broad shoulders, her breast as if chiselled from stone, red lips, and blue eyes quickly glancing. She was dressed more carefully than before at the hunt in the forest. She had red beads around her neck, she wore a sheepskin coat open in front and covered with green cloth, a petticoat of strong striped stuff, and new boots. Even old Matsko noted the handsome dress while looking at her, and when he had looked at her a while he inquired,—

"But why art thou arrayed as if for a festival?"

Instead of answering she called out,—

"The wagons are coming! the wagons are coming!"

As they came in she sprang toward them, and after her followed Zbyshko. The unloading continued till sunset, to the great satisfaction of Matsko, who examined every article separately, and praised Yagenka for each one. Twilight had come when the girl was preparing for home. When ready to mount Zbyshko seized her around the waist suddenly, and before she could utter one word he had raised her to the saddle and fixed her there. She blushed like the dawn and turned her face toward him.

"You are a strong lad," said she, in a voice suppressed somewhat.

Zbyshko who because of the darkness took no note of her confusion and blushes, laughed, and inquired,—

"But have you no fear of beasts? Night will come straightway."

"There is a spear in the wagon give it to me."

Zbyshko went to the wagon, took out a spear, and handed it to her.

"Be well!"

"Be well!"

"God repay you! I will go to-morrow, or the next day to your father's house to Low down to him, and to you for your neighborly kindness."

"Come! We shall be glad!"

And urging forward her horse she vanished in a moment among the thickets by the roadside. Zbyshko turned to his uncle.

"It is time for you to go in."

But Matsko answered without moving from the log,—

"Hei! what a girl! The yard was just bright from her."

"Surely!"

A moment of silence came next. Matsko appeared to be thinking of something while looking at the stars which were coming out; then he continued, as if to himself,—

"And active, and a housekeeper, though not more than fifteen years of age."

"Yes," said Zbyshko, "and old Zyh loves her as the eye in his head."

"They say that Mochydoly will go with her, and there In the meadows is a herd of mares with their colts."

"But in the Mochydoly forests there are terrible swamps, very likely."

"There are beaver dams in them also."

Again followed silence. Matsko looked aslant some time at Zbyshko, and asked at last,—

"What art thou thinking of? Thou art meditating on some subject."

"Yes, for, see you, Yagenka so reminded me of Danusia that something pained me in the heart."

"Let us go to the house," said the old man. "It is late." And rising with difficulty he leaned on Zbyshko, who conducted him to his room.

Next morning Zbyshko went directly to Zyh's house, for Matsko hurried the visit greatly. He insisted also that for show's sake his nephew should have two attendants, and array himself in his best, so as to show honor in that way and exhibit due gratitude. Zbyshko yielded and went arrayed as if for a wedding, in that same gold-embroidered, golden-clasped, white-satin jacket won by them. Zyh received him with open arms, with delight and with songs. Yagenka, on reaching the threshold of the main room, stopped as if fixed to the spot, and came near dropping the pitcher of wine when she saw Zbyshko, for she thought that some king's son had come to them." She lost her boldness immediately and sat in silence, merely rubbing her eyes from time to time, as if trying to rouse herself from slumber.

Zbyshko, who lacked experience, thought that for reasons which he knew not, she was not glad to see him; so he talked only to Zyh, praising his bounty as a neighbor and admiring his court, which really resembled Bogdanets in nothing.

Abundance and wealth were there visible on all sides. In the rooms were windows with panes of horn scraped so smooth and thin that they were almost as transparent as glass. There were no fires in the middle of rooms, but great chimneys with niches in the corners. The floor was of larch plank well washed, on the walls were arms and a multitude of plates, shining like the sun, a beautifully cutout spoon-rack with rows of spoons, two of which were silver. In one place and another hung carpets plundered in wars, or obtained from travelling merchants. Under the tables lay gigantic tawny skins of wild bulls, also skins of wild boars and bisons.

Zyh showed his wealth with willingness, saying from moment to moment that that was Yagenka's housekeeping. He conducted Zbyshko also to a room, odorous of pitch and mint, from the ceiling of which hung wolf, fox, beaver, and marten skins in whole bundles. He showed him the cheese house, he showed stores of wax and honey, barrels of flour and rusks, hemp, and dried mushrooms. Then he took him to the granaries, the cowhouses, the stables and pens, to sheds in which were wagons, implements for hunting, with nets for fishing, and so dazzled his eyes with abundance that when the young man came back to supper he could not refrain from expressions of wonder.

"One should live here and never die," said Zbyshko.

"In Mochydoly there is almost the same order," said Zyh. "Thou dost remember Mochydoly? That is toward Bogdanets. Formerly our fathers quarrelled about the boundary, and sent challenges to each other to fight, but I will not quarrel."

Here he touched his tankard of mead with Zbyshko's, and asked,—

"But, perhaps, thou hast the wish to sing something?"

"No," replied Zbyshko, "I listen to you with curiosity."

"The young bears, seest thou, will get this place. If only they do not fight about it some time!"

"How, the young bears?"

"Yes, the boys, Yagenka's brothers."

"Hei! they will not need to suck their paws in winter."

"Oh no. But neither will Yagenka's mouth in Mochydoly lack a bit of cheese."

"Surely not!" "But why not eat and drink? Yagenka, pour out to him and to me!"

"I am eating and drinking as much as I am able."

"If thou art not able to eat more, ungirdle— That is a beautiful belt! Ye must have taken brave booty in Lithuania?"

"We make no complaint," answered Zbyshko, who used the occasion to show that the heirs of Bogdanets were not poor little possessors. "We sold a part of the booty in Cracow and received forty gryvens of silver—"

"Fear God! One might buy a village for that much."

"Yes, for there was one suit of Milan armor which uncle sold when expecting to die, and that, you know—"

"I know! That is worth going to Lithuania for. In my time I wanted to go, but I was afraid."

"Of what? The Knights of the Cross? Ei, who is afraid of the Germans? Why fear till they attack?—and when they attack there is no time for fear. I was afraid of those pagan gods or devils. In the forest there are as many of them as of ants, very likely."

"But where are they to live, since their temples are burnt? In old times they had plenty, but now they live only on ants and mushrooms."

"But hast thou seen them?"

"I have not seen them myself, but I have heard that people do see them. One of those devils will thrust out his hairy paw from behind a tree, and shake it, asking to give him something."

"Matsko said the same thing," remarked Yagenka.

"Yes, on the road he said the same thing to me," added Zyh. "Well, it is no wonder! For that matter, with us here, though the country is Christian this long time, something laughs in the swamps, and even in houses; though the priests scold, it is better always to put out a plate of food for the imps, or they will scrape on the wall so that thou wilt not close an eye— Yagenka! put out a plate on the threshold, daughter."

Yagenka took an earthen plate full of paste with cheese and put it on the threshold.

"The priests blame and punish!" said Zyh. "But the glory of the Lord Jesus will not be decreased by some paste; and when satisfied and well-wishing, the imps will guard a man from fire, and from evil-doers."

"Thou mightst ungirdle and sing something," said he, turning to Zbyshko.

"Sing you, for I see that you have the wish this long time; but perhaps Panna Yagenka would sing?"

"We will sing in turn," cried Zyh, rejoiced. "There is a lad in the house too who plays on a wooden flute and accompanies us. Call him!"

They called the lad, who took his seat on a block, put the flute to his mouth, spread his fingers over it, and looked at those present, waiting to see whom he was to accompany.

They began to dispute then, for none wished to be first. Finally Zyh commanded Yagenka to set an example; Yagenka, though greatly abashed before Zbyshko, rose from the bench, put her hands under her apron, and began,—

"Oh, had I wings like a wild goose,
I would fly after Yasek, I would fly after him to Silesia!"

Zbyshko opened his eyes widely to begin with, then sprang to his feet and cried in a loud voice,—

"Whence do you know that?"

Yagenka looked at him with astonishment.

"But all sing it here. What wonder to you?"

Zyh, who thought that Zbyshko had drunk a little too much, turned to him with delighted face, and said,—

"Ungirdle thyself! It will be easier right away."

Zbyshko stood for a while with changing face, then mastering his emotion he said to Yagenka,—

"Pardon me. I remembered something unexpectedly. Sing on."

"Maybe it makes you sad to listen?"

"Ei, why?" asked he, with a quivering voice. "I could listen all night to that song."

Then he sat down, covered his brows with his hand, and was silent, not wishing to lose a word. Yagenka sang the second verse, but when she had finished it she saw a great tear passing over Zbyshko's fingers; then she pushed up to him quickly, and touching him with her elbow inquired,—

"Well, what is the matter? I do not wish you to weep. Tell what the matter is."

"Nothing! nothing!" replied Zbyshko, with a sigh. "It would take long to tell. What happened has passed. I am more cheerful now."

"Perhaps you might drink some sweet wine."

"Honest girl!" cried Zyh. "Why say 'you' to each other? Say 'Zbyshko' to him, and say thou 'Yagenka' to her. Ye knew each other from childhood." Then he turned to his daughter. "That he beat thee in the old time is nothing! He will not do so now."

"I will not," said Zbyshko, joyously. "Let her beat me if she chooses."

At this Yagenka, wishing to amuse him perfectly, closed her hand, and while laughing pretended to beat him.

"Here is for my broken nose! and here! and here!"

"Wine!" cried the jollified Zyh.

Yagenka ran to the cellar and soon brought out a stone jug full of wine, two beautiful tankards ornamented with silver flowers, wrought by silversmiths of Vrotslav, and two cakes of cheese, odorous from afar.

This sight made Zyh, who had something in his head, altogether tender; so gathering the stone jug to himself he pressed it to his bosom, feigning to think it Yagenka, and repeated,—

"Oi, my dear daughter! Oi, poor orphan! What shall I, lone unfortunate, do here when thou art taken from me? What shall I do?"

"You will have to give her away before long! " cried out Zbyshko.

In the twinkle of an eye Zyh passed from tenderness to laughter.

"Hi! hi! The girl is fifteen years of age, but she is drawn toward those two boys already! When she sees one from afar her knees smite each other."

"Papa, I will go away!" said Yagenka.

"Go not! It is pleasant in thy company."

Then he blinked mysteriously at Zbyshko.

"The two will come here: one, young Vilk, son of old Vilk of Brozova; the other, Stan of Rogov. If they should find thee here they would grit their teeth at thee as they do at each other."

"Oh!" exclaimed Zbyshko.

Then he turned to Yagenka, and saying "thou" to her according to Zyh's command, he inquired,—

"Which one dost thou prefer?"

"Neither."

"But Vilk is strong!" remarked Zyh.

"Let him howl in some other direction!" retorted Yagenka.

"And Stan?"

Yagenka laughed.

"Stan," said she, turning to Zbyshko, "has as much hair on his face as a goat, his eyes are covered; and there is as much fat on him as on a bear."

Zbyshko struck his head as if remembering something on a sudden, and said,—

"But if ye would be so kind I should beg of you; have ye not bear's fat in the house? My uncle needs it for medicine, and in our house I have not been able to find any."

"We had some," said Yagenka, "but the men took it to rub on their bows, and the dogs ate what was left."

"Was none left?"

"They licked it up clean."

"There is no way but to look for fat in the woods."

"Call a hunt; there is no lack of bears, and shouldst thou need hunter's gear we will give it."

"How can I wait? I will go for a night to the bee nests."

"Take about five assistants. There are good fellows among them."

"I will not go with a crowd; they would frighten the beast away."

"How then? Wilt thou go with a crossbow?"

"What should I do with a crossbow in the dark in a forest. Besides, the moon does not shine at present. I will take a barbed fork, with a good axe, and go alone to-morrow."

Yagenka was silent for a while, then alarm was evident on her face.

"Last year," said she, "Bezduh, a hunter, went from here, and a bear tore him to pieces. It is always most dangerous, for when the bear sees a lone man in the night, and moreover at bee nests, he stands on his hind legs immediately."

"Should he run away, thou wouldst never get him," answered Zbyshko.

Zyh, who had been dozing, woke up on a sudden, and began to sing,

"But thou, Kuba, art coming from labor,
And I, Matsek, am coming from sport!
Go early with plow to the clear land,
But I'd rather visit with Kasia the wheat,
⁠Hots! hotsl"

Then he said to Zbyshko,—

"Thou knowest there are two of them: Vilk of Brozova, and Stan of Rogov—and thou—"

But Yagenka, fearing lest Zyh might say too much, approached Zbyshko quickly, and inquired,—

"And when wilt thou go? To-morrow?"

"To-morrow after sunset."

"To what bee nests?"

"To ours in Bogdanets, not far from your hillocks, at the side of the Radzikov swamp. People tell me that there bears are found easily."