CHAPTER XLVII.
They reached the Nievaja in the morning and crossed; one on horseback, another holding to a horse's tail, another on a bundle of grape-vines. This passed so quickly that Matsko, Zbyshko, Hlava, and those Mazovians who had come as volunteers, were amazed at the skill of that people, and they understood then for the first time why neither pinewoods nor swamps nor rivers could stop Lithuanian onsets. When they had come out of the water no man put off his clothing, no man threw off a sheepskin or wolf-hide; each warrior dried himself standing with his back to the sun till steam rose from him as from a tarpit; and after a short rest they moved swiftly northward. At dusk they reached the river Niemen. There the crossing was not easy, since it was over a great river swollen with the waters of springtime. The ford, known to Skirvoillo, had changed in places into deep spots, so that horses had to swim more than a quarter of a furlong. Two men were swept away from Zbyshko's and Hlava's side; these they tried to save, but in vain; because of darkness and deep water they lost sight of them quickly. The drowning men dared not call for aid, since their leader had commanded earlier that the crossing should be made in the deepest silence. All the rest reached the other shore successfully and remained there till morning.
At daybreak the whole army was divided into two parts. With one Skirvoillo went to meet those knights who were bringing reinforcements to Gotteswerder, the other Zbyshko led straight toward the island, to intercept those castle people sallying forth to meet the reinforcements. The day had grown bright overhead, and calm, but the forest, the meadows, and bushes were veiled with a thick whitish mist, which hid them completely. This was for Zbyshko and his men a favorable condition, because the Germans marching from the castle could not see them and withdraw in time from an encounter. The young knight was delighted greatly for this reason, and said to Matsko, who was riding near him,—
