The Knights of the Cross/Volume 2/Chapter 45

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

CHAPTER XLV.

In a forest about five miles west of Kovno, which Vitold himself had destroyed, were assembled the main forces of Skirvoillo, who, in case of need, moved them from place to place with the speed of a thunderbolt, and made swift attacks either across the Prussian boundaries or on large and small castles still in the hands of the Order, thus rousing the flame of war throughout the whole country. It was in that forest that his faithful attendant found Zbyshko, and in his company Matsko, who had arrived only two days before. After the greeting with Zbyshko, Hlava slept the whole night like a dead man, and only next day, in the evening, did he go forth to greet the old knight, who, being tired and out of humor, received him in anger, and inquired why, according to orders given, he had not remained in Spyhov; and Matsko was pacified in some degree only when Hlava, finding a favorable moment while Zbyshko was not in the hut, justified himself by quoting the express command of Yagenka. He said also that in addition to her command and his inborn inclination for warfare, he was led to those regions by the wish to send in case of need a herald with information to Spyhov. "The lady," said he, "whose soul is like that of an angel, prays for Yurand's daughter, though she prays against her own interest. But there must be an end to everything. If Yurand's daughter is no longer alive, may God give eternal light to her, for she was as innocent as a lamb; but should she be found, the need would come to let the lady know this at the earliest, so that she might go from Spyhov before, and not after the return of Yurand's daughter, so as not to seem pushed out with shame and without honor."

Matsko listened unwillingly, repeating from moment to moment: "That is not thy affair." But Hlava, having resolved to speak plainly, paid no heed, and at last he said,—

"Better the lady had remained at home; to her this journey has been of no service. We have persuaded the poor girl that Yurand's daughter is not living, but it may turn out the opposite."

"And who said that she was not living, unless thee?" inquired Matsko with anger. "Thou shouldst have held thy tongue behind thy teeth. I brought her away, for she was afraid of Stan and Vilk."

"That was a mere excuse," answered Hlava. "She might have remained at home without danger, for they would have hindered each other. But you were afraid, lord, that in case of the death of Yurand's daughter my lady might be lost to Pan Zbyshko, and that is why you brought her."

"How hast thou grown so insolent? Art thou a belted knight, or a servant?"

"A servant, but her servant; for I am watching that no harm should come to my lady."

Matsko grew gloomily thoughtful, for he was not rejoiced at his own course. More than once he had blamed himself for taking Yagenka from home, for he felt that in taking the maiden to Zbyshko some kind of injury had been done her, and, in case Danusia were found, much more than injury. He felt also that there was truth in the bold speech of Hlava, and that he had taken the girl mainly to keep her, if need be, for Zbyshko.

"That had not come to my head!" but he said this to befog both himself and Hlava; "she herself insisted on coming."

"She insisted, for we persuaded her that the other was no longer in this world, and that her brothers would be safer without her than with her. That is why she left home."

"Thou didst tell her!" cried Matsko.

"I—and it was my fault. But now we must show her how things are. We must do something, lord. If not, better we perished."

"What wilt thou do here?" asked Matsko, impatiently, "in a war with such an army? If anything better comes it will be in July, for here there are two seasons of war for Germans,—the winter, and a dry summer. But seest thou, there is no fire yet, there is only smouldering. Very likely Prince Vitold has gone to Cracow to inform the king, and gain from him permission and assistance."

"But there are castles of the Order near by. If we could take about two of them, perhaps we might find Yurand's daughter, or learn of her death."

"Or that she is not dead."

"In every case Siegfried look her in this direction. They told us that in Schytno, and we ourselves always thought so."

"But hast thou seen the army here? Come out behind the tent and look. Some have only clubs, and some have bronze swords inherited from their great-grandfathers."

"Yes. I have heard, though, that they are splendid men in battle."

"But they cannot capture castles with their naked breasts, especially castles of the Order."

Further conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Zbyshko and Skirvoillo, the leader of the Jmud forces, a man of small stature, about as tall as an armor-bearer, but strong in body and broad-shouldered. He had a breast so projecting that it seemed almost a hump, and disproportionately long arms, which extended well-nigh to his knees. In general, he reminded one of Zyndram, the famed knight with whom Matsko and Zbyshko had become acquainted in Cracow; he had an immense head, therefore, and was somewhat bow-legged. It was said of him, too, that he understood war well. His life had been spent in the field, hence against Tartars, with whom he had fought many years in Russia, and against Germans, whom he hated as he did pestilence. In those wars he had learned Russian, and later, at the court of Vitold, he learned something of Polish; he knew German, or at least repeated three words in it,—fire, blood, death. His immense head was always full of plans, and war stratagems, which the Knights of the Cross were unable either to foresee or to baffle; hence they feared him in the neighboring provinces.

"We have been talking of an attack, uncle," said Zbyshko, with unusual animation, "and have come so that you might give your experienced opinion."

Matsko seated Skirvoillo on a pine log which was covered with a bearskin; then he ordered the servant to bring a small keg filled with mead, which the knights began to draw into tankards and drink, for it strengthened them properly; then Matsko inquired,—

"Do ye wish to go on an expedition?"

"To burn German castles."

"Which? Ragneta, or New Kovno?"

"Ragneta," answered Zbyshko. "Three days ago we were at New Kovno and they beat us."

"They did indeed," said Skirvoillo.

"How did they do it?"

"They did it well."

"Wait," said Matsko, "for I know not this country. Where is New Kovno, and where is Ragneta?"

"From here to Old Kovno is not quite five miles," said Zbyshko, "and from Old to New Kovno the same distance. The castle is on an island. We wanted to go over to it, but they beat us at the passage. They followed us half a day, till we hid in this forest, and our men were so scattered that some of them only turned up this morning."

"But Ragneta?"

Skirvoillo stretched forth his arm, as long as a tree branch, toward the north, and said,—

"Far! far!"

"Just because it is far should we go," added Zbyshko. "There is peace there, because all the armed men in that region have joined us. The Germans in Ragneta expect no attack, hence we shall strike on men off their guard."

"That is true," said Skirvoillo.

"Do you think that we can take the castle?" asked Matsko.

Skirvoillo shook his head in sign of denial.

"The castle is strong," added Zbyshko, "by chance alone could we take it. But we shall ravage the country, burn towns and villages, destroy storehouses, and, above all, take captives, among whom may be considerable people, and such the Knights of the Cross ransom willingly, or else exchange for them." Here he turned to Skirvoillo: "You have acknowledged, prince, that I speak justly; and now consider: New Kovno is on an island. There we shall not destroy villages, drive away cattle, or take captives. And besides, they have just beaten us. Ei! let us go to a place where they are not expecting us at this moment."

"The victor is the last man to think of surprise," muttered Skirvoillo.

Here Matsko began, and began by supporting Zbyshko's opinion, for he understood that the young man had greater hope of learning something at Ragneta than at Old Kovno, and that at Ragneta he could more easily capture some considerable person whom he might exchange. He thought, too, that in every case it was better to go farther, and slip into a country less guarded, than to rush onto an island which was defended by nature, and guarded besides by a strong castle and a victorious garrison. As a man experienced in war, he spoke clearly and gave reasons so convincing that they might have satisfied any man. Both listened carefully. Skirvoillo moved his brows from time to time, as if in sign of agreement, and muttered: "He speaks justly." At last he pushed in his immense head between his broad shoulders, so that he seemed altogether a humpback, and fell to thinking deeply.

After a certain time he rose, and, without saying more, began to take leave.

"But, prince, how is it to be?" inquired Matsko. "Whither are we to go? "

"To New Kovno," answered Skirvoillo, briefly.

And he passed out of the hut.

Matsko and Hlava looked for some time at Zbyshko in astonishment, then the old knight struck his palms on his thighs and cried,—

"Tfu! Just like a log! That is as if a man were to listen and listen and never hear anything but his own thought. It is too bad to wear one's lips out on—"

"I have heard that he is that kind of man," said Zbyshko, "and to tell the truth, all people here are stubborn as few are. They listen to another man's opinions and then act as if he had blown against the wind."

"But why did he consult us? "

"We are belted knights, and he did it to consider the two sides. But he is not stupid."

"At New Kovno perhaps they expect us less than at any place," remarked Hlava, "for this very reason, that just now they have beaten you. In this he is right."

"Let us go, then, to look at those men I lead," said Zbyshko, who felt stifled in the tent; "I must tell them to be ready."

And they went out. Night had fallen, a night dark and cloudy, lighted only by camp fires, at which Jmud men were sitting.