The Knights of the Cross, or, Krzyzacy: Historical Romance

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER III.

  The next day Jurand did not avoid Zbyszko at all; and he did not preventhim from performing for Danusia, during the journey, those differentservices which, being her knight, he was obliged to render her. On thecontrary, Zbyszko noticed that the gloomy _Pan_ of Spychow looked at himkindly, as if he were regretting that he had been obliged to refuse hisrequest. The young _wlodyka_ tried several times to have someconversation with him. After they started from Krakow, there were plentyof opportunities during the journey, because both accompanied theprincess on horseback; but as soon as Zbyszko endeavored to learnsomething about the secret difficulties separating him from Danusia, theconversation was suddenly ended.

  Jurand's face became gloomy, and he looked at Zbyszko uneasily as if hewere afraid he would betray himself.

  Zbyszko thought that perhaps the princess knew what the obstacle was; sohaving an opportunity to speak to her privately, he inquired; but shecould not tell him anything.

  "Certainly there is some secret," she said. "Jurand himself told me that;but he begged me not to question him further, because he not only did notwish to tell what it was, but he could not. Surely he must be bound bysome oath, as so often happens among the knights. But God will help usand everything will turn out well."

  "Without Danusia I will be as unhappy as a chained dog or a bear in aditch," answered Zbyszko. "There will be neither joy nor pleasure,nothing but sorrow and sighing; I will go against the Tartars with PrinceWitold and may they kill me there. But first I must accompany uncle toBogdaniec, and then tear from German heads the peacock's tufts as Ipromised. Perhaps the Germans will kill me; and I prefer such a deathrather than to live and see some one else take Danusia."

  The princess looked at him with her kind blue eyes, and asked him, with acertain degree of astonishment:

  "Then you would permit it?"

  "I? As long I have breath in my nostrils, it will not happen, unless myhand be paralyzed, and I be unable to hold my axe!"

  "Then you see!"

  "Bah! But how can I take her against her father's will?"

  To this the princess said, as to herself:

  "Does it not happen that way sometimes?"

  Then to Zbyszko:

  "God's will is stronger than a father's will. What did Jurand say to you?He said to me 'If it be God's will, then he will get her.'"

  "He said the same to me!" exclaimed Zbyszko.

  "Do you not see?"

  "It is my only consolation, gracious lady."

  "I will help you, and you can be sure of Danusia's constancy. Onlyyesterday I said to her: 'Danusia, will you always love Zbyszko?' And sheanswered: 'I will be Zbyszko's and no one else's.' She is still a greenberry, but when she promises anything, she keeps her word, because she isthe daughter of a knight. Her mother was like her."

  "Thank God!" said Zbyszko.

  "Only remember to be faithful to her also; man is inconstant; he promisesto love one faithfully, and afterward he promises another."

  "May Lord Jesus punish me if I prove such!" exclaimed Zbyszkoenergetically.

  "Well, remember then. And after you have conveyed your uncle toBogdaniec, come to our court; there will be some opportunity then for youto win your spurs; then we will see what can be done. In the meanwhileDanusia will mature, and she will feel God's will; although she loves youvery much even now, it is not the same love a woman feels. Perhaps Jurandwill give his consent, because I see he likes you. You can go to Spychowand from there can go with Jurand against the Germans; it may happen thatyou will render him some great service and thus gain his affection."

  "Gracious princess, I have thought the same; but with your sanction itwill be easier."

  This conversation cheered Zbyszko. Meanwhile at the first baiting place,old Macko became worse, and it was necessary to remain until he becamebetter. The good princess, Anna Danuta, left him all the medicine she hadwith her; but she was obliged to continue her journey; therefore both_wlodykas_ of Bogdaniec bid those belonging to the Mazovian courtfarewell. Zbyszko prostrated himself at the princess' feet, then atDanusia's; he promised her once more to be faithful and to meet her soonat Ciechanow or at Warszawa; finally he seized her in his strong arms,and having lifted her, he repeated with a voice full of emotion:

  "Remember me, my sweetest flower! Remember me, my little golden fish!"

  Danusia embraced him as though he were a beloved brother, put her littlecheek to his face and wept copiously.

  "I do not want to go to Ciechanow without Zbyszko; I do not want to go toCiechanow!"

  Jurand saw her grief, but he was not angry. On the contrary, he bid theyoung man good-bye kindly; and after he had mounted, he turned toward himonce more, and said:

  "God be with you; do not bear ill will toward me."

  "How can I feel ill will toward you; you are Danusia's father!" answeredZbyszko cordially; then he bent to his stirrup, and the old man shookhands with him, and said:

  "May God help you in everything! Understand?"

  Then he rode away. But Zbyszko understood that in his last words, hewished him success; and when he went back to the wagon on which Macko waslying, he said:

  "Do you know I believe he is willing; but something hinders him fromgiving his consent. You were in Spychow and you have good common sense,try to guess what it is."

  But Macko was too ill. The fever increased so much toward evening, thathe became delirious. Therefore instead of answering Zbyszko, he looked athim as if he were astonished; then he asked:

  "Why do they ring the bells?"

  Zbyszko was frightened. He feared that if the sick man heard the sound ofbells, it was a sign that death would soon come. He feared also that theold man might die without a priest and without confession, and thereforego, if not to hell, then at least for long centuries to purgatory;therefore he determined to resume their journey, in order to reach, assoon as possible, some parish in which Macko could receive the lastsacraments.

  Consequently they started and traveled during the night. Zbyszko sat inthe wagon on the hay, beside the sick man and watched him till day-break.From time to time he gave him wine to drink. Macko drank it eagerly,because it relieved him greatly. After the second quart he recovered fromhis delirium; and after the third, he fell asleep; he slept so well thatZbyszko bent toward him from time to time, to ascertain if he was stillalive.

  Until the time of his imprisonment in Krakow, he did not realize howdearly he loved this uncle who replaced, for him, father and mother. Butnow he realized it very well; and he felt that after his uncle's death,life would be very lonesome for him, alone, without relatives, except theabbot who held Bogdaniec in pledge, without friends and without anyone tohelp him. The thought came to him that if Macko died, it would be onemore reason for vengeance on the Germans, by whose means he had nearlylost his head, by whom all his forefathers had been killed, alsoDanusia's mother and many other innocent people, whom he knew or aboutwhom he had heard from his acquaintances--and he began to say to himself:

  "In this whole kingdom, there is no man who has not suffered some wrongfrom them, and who would not like to avenge those wrongs." Here heremembered the Germans with whom he fought at Wilno, and he knew thateven the Tartars were less cruel.

  The coming dawn interrupted his thoughts. The day was bright but cold.Evidently Macko felt better, because he was breathing more regularly andmore quietly. He did not awaken until the sun was quite warm; then heopened his eyes and said:

  "I am better. Where are we?"

  "We are approaching Olkusk. You know, where they dig silver."

  "If one could get that which is in the earth, then one could rebuildBogdaniec!"

  "I see you are better," answered Zbyszko laughing. "Hej! it would beenough even for a stone castle! We will go to the _fara_,[65] becausethere the priests will offer us hospitality and you will be able to makeyour confession. Everything is in God's hands; but it is better to haveone's conscience clear."

  "I am a sinner and will willingly repent," a
nswered Macko. "I dreamedlast night that the devils were taking my skin off. They were talkingGerman. Thanks be to God that I am better. Have you slept any?"

  "How could I sleep, when I was watching you?"

  "Then lie down for a while. When we arrive, I will awaken you."

  "I cannot sleep!"

  "What prevents you?"

  Zbyszko looked at his uncle and said:

  "What else can it be, if not love? I have pain in my heart; but I willride on horseback for a while, that will help me."

  He got down from the wagon, and mounted the horse, which his servantbrought for him; meanwhile, Macko touched his sore side; but he wasevidently thinking about something else and not about his illness,because he tossed his head, smacked his lips and finally said:

  "I wonder and wonder, and I cannot wonder enough, why you are so eagerfor love, because your father was not that way, and neither am I."

  But Zbyszko, instead of answering, stretched himself on the saddle, puthis hands on his hips, gave his head a toss and sang:

  "I cried the whole night, cried in the morning, Where have you been, my sweet girl, my darling! It will not help me, if I mourn for thee, Because I am quite sure, you will not see me."

  "Hej!"

  This "hej" resounded in the forest, reverberated against the trunks ofthe trees, finally reechoed in the far distance and then was lost in thethickets.

  Again Macko felt his side, in which the German spearhead had lodged andsaid, moaning a little:

  "Formerly the people were wiser!"

  Then he became thoughtful, as if recollecting the old times; and headded:

  "Although even then some of them were stupid also."

  But, in the meantime, they emerged from the forest, behind which theyperceived the miners' sheds, and further walls, built by King Kazimierz,and the tower of the _fara_ erected by Wladyslaw Lokietek.

  The canon of the _fara_ beard Macko's confession and offered themhospitality; they remained there over night, and started the nextmorning. Beyond Olkusk, they turned toward Szlonsk,[66] and on itsboundaries, they proposed to ride toward Wielkopolska. The road was laidout through a large forest, in which there was heard toward sunset, theroaring of the urus and of the bison, and during the night the eyes ofwolves were seen shining behind the thick hazelnut trees. But thegreatest danger which threatened the traveler on this road, was from theGerman and Germanized knights of Szlonsk, whose castles were erected hereand there near the boundaries. It is true, that because of the war withthe Opolczyk, Naderspraw, whom the Silesians were helping against KingWladyslaw, the majority of these castles had been destroyed by Polishhands; it was necessary, however, to be watchful, and especially aftersunset, and to have one's weapons ready.

  They were riding so quietly, however, that Zbyszko found the journeytedious; when they were about one day's journey from Bogdaniec, theyheard the snorting and trampling of horses behind them.

  "Some people are following us," said Zbyszko.

  Macko, who was awake, looked at the stars and answered like anexperienced traveler:

  "Day-break is near. Robbers do not attack toward the end of the night."

  Zbyszko stopped the wagon; however, placed the men across the road,facing the advancing horses, and waited.

  In fact, after a certain time he perceived in the dusk, several horsemen.One of them was riding ahead, and it was evident that he did not wish tohide, because he was singing. Zbyszko could not hear the words of thesong; but the gay "hoc! hoc!" with which the stranger ended each refrain,reached his ears.

  "Our people!" he said to himself.

  After a while he shouted, however:

  "Stop!"

  "And you sit down!" answered a joyous voice.

  "Who are you?"

  "And you?"

  "Why do you follow us?"

  "And why do you obstruct the road?"

  "Answer, our crossbows are bent."

  "And ours,--thrust out,--aimed!"

  "Answer like a man, otherwise woe to you!"

  To this a merry song was given, as an answer to Zbyszko.

  "One misery with another They are dancing on the crossway. Hoc! Hoc! Hoc! What use have they of dancing? It's a good thing, anyhow. Hoc! Hoc! Hoc!"

  Zbyszko was amazed at hearing such an answer; meantime, the song stoppedand the same voice asked:

  "And how is the old man Macko? Does he still breathe?"

  Macko rose in the wagon and said:

  "For God's sake, they are some of our people!"

  Zbyszko rushed forward.

  "Who asks about Macko?"

  "A neighbor. Zych of Zgorzelice. I have looked for you for a week andinquired about you from all on the road."

  "_Rety!_[67] Uncle! Zych of Zgorzelice is here!" shouted Zbyszko.

  They began to greet each other joyfully because Zych was really theirneighbor, and also a good man of whom everybody was very fond on accountof his mirth.

  "Well, how are you?" asked he, shaking hands with Macko. "Still _hoc_, orno more _hoc_!"[68]

  "Hej, no more _hoc_!" answered Macko. "But I see you gladly. GraciousGod, it is as if I were already in Bogdaniec."

  "What is the matter with you; I heard that the Germans had wounded you?"

  "They did, dog-brothers! I A head of a spear stuck between my ribs."

  "You see!" said Zbyszko, "everybody advises the grease of a bear. As soonas we reach Bogdaniec, I will go with an axe to the _barcie_."[69]

  "Perhaps Jagienka has some."

  "What Jagienka? Your wife's name was Malgochna," said Macko.

  "O! Malgochna is no more! It will be three years on St. Michael's daysince Malgochna was buried in the priests' field. She was a sturdy woman;may the Lord make his face shine upon her soul! Jagienka is exactly likeher, only younger."

  "Behind a ravine, there is a mount, As was mother, such is daughter. Hoc! Hoc!"

  "I told Malgochna not to climb the pine tree because she was no longeryoung. But she would climb it. The branch broke; she fell and was badlyhurt; within three days, she died."

  "Lord, make your face shine upon her soul!" said Macko. "I remember, Iremember! When she was angry, the farm boys used to hide in the hay. Butshe was clever. So she fell from a pine tree!"

  "She fell down like a cone. Do you know, after the funeral I was sostupefied with grief, that for three days they could not arouse me. Theythought I was dead. Afterward, I wept for a long time. But Jagienka isalso clever. She takes care of everything."

  "I can scarcely remember her. She was not as large as the helve of an axewhen I went away. She could pass under a horse without touching its body.Bah! that is a long time ago, and she must have grown."

  "She was fifteen the day of St. Agnes; but I have not seen her for morethan a year."

  "Why have you not seen her? Where have you been?"

  "To the war. I do not need to stay home; Jagienka takes care ofeverything."

  Macko, although ill, began to listen attentively when the war wasmentioned, and asked:

  "Perhaps you were with _Kniaz_ Witold at Worskla?"

  "Yes, I was there," answered Zych of Zgorzelice gaily. "Well, the LordGod did not send him good luck; we were dreadfully defeated by Edyga.First they killed our horses. A Tartar will not attack you openly like aChristian knight, but throws his arrows from afar. You attack him and heflees, and then again throws his arrows. What can you do with such a man?In our army the knights boasted and said: 'We do not need to lower ourspears, nor draw our swords; we will crush the vermin under our horses'feet.' So they boasted; but when the arrows began to twange, it grew darkthey were so numerous, and the battle was soon over. Hardly one out often survived. Will you believe it? More than half of the army were slain;seventy Lithuanian and Russian princes lay dead on the battlefield; andone could not count in two weeks' time, the _bojars_ and other courtiers,whom they call _otroks_, that were killed."

  "I heard about it," interrupted Macko. "Many of our knights perishedalso." />
  "Bah! even ten Knights of the Cross were killed, because they wereobliged to serve in Witold's army. Many of our people perished, becausethey, you know, never run away. _Kniaz_ Witold had the greatestconfidence in our knights and he wanted a guard of them round him duringthe battle, exclusively Poles. Hi! Hi! Great havoc was made among them;but he was not touched! _Pan_ Spytko of Mielsztyn was killed, also thesword bearer, Bernat, Judge Mikolaj, Prokop, Przeclaw, Dobrogost, Jaskoof Lazewice, Pilik Mazur, Warsz of Michow, _Wojewoda_ Socha, Jasko ofDombrowa, Pietrko of Miloslaw, Szczepiecki, Oderski and Tomko Lagoda. Whocan enumerate all of them! Some of them had been hit with so many arrows,that after death they looked like porcupines; it was awful to look atthem!"

  Here he laughed as if he were telling a most amusing story, and at oncehe began to sing:

  "You have learned what is a Tartar, When he beat you and flew afar!"

  "Well, and what then?" asked Zbyszko.

  "Then the grand duke escaped; but he was as courageous as he usually is.The more you press him, the farther he jumps, like a hazelnut stick. Werushed to the Tavanian ford to defend those crossing over. There werewith us a few knights from Poland. The second day, Edyga came with aswarm of Tartars; but he could not do a thing. Hej! When he wanted topass the ford, we fought him so hard he could not do it. We killed andcaught many of them. I myself caught five Tartars, and I sent them toZgorzelice. You will see what dogheads they have."

  "In Krakow, they say that the war may reach Poland also."

  "Do they think Edyga is a fool! He knows well what kind of knights wehave; and he also knows that the greatest knights remained home, becausethe queen was not pleased when Witold began the war on his own authority.Ej, he is cunning, that old Edyga! He understood at Tavania that theprince's army had increased and had gone far beyond the tenth-land!"

  "But you returned?"

  "Yes, I returned. There is nothing to do there. In Krakow I heard aboutyou, and that you had started a little ahead of me."

  Here he turned to Zbyszko:

  "Hej! my lord, the last time I saw you, you were a small boy; and now,although there is no light, I suppose you are large like an urus. And youhad your crossbows ready! One can see you have been in the war."

  "War has nurtured me since childhood. Let my uncle tell you if I amlacking in experience."

  "It is not necessary for your uncle to tell me anything; in Krakow, I sawthe _Pan_ of Taczew who told me about you. But I understand that theMazur does not want to give you his daughter. I have nothing against you;but I like you. You will forget about that one when you see my Jagienka.She is a wonder!"

  "I shall not forget, even if I see ten such as your Jagna."

  "She will get the estate of Moczydoly for her dowry. Many will ask me forJagna, do not fear?"

  Zbyszko wanted to answer: "But not I!" But Zych of Zgorzelice began tosing:

  "I will bend to your knees And you for that, will give me the girl, Give me the girl!"

  "You are always happy and singing," said Macko.

  "Well, and what do the blessed do in heaven."

  "They sing."

  "Well, then! And the damned cry. I prefer to go to those who sing ratherthan to those who cry; and St. Peter will say thus: 'We must let him intoparadise; otherwise he will sing in hell, and that will not be right.'Look, the day breaks!"

  In fact, daylight was coming. After awhile they arrived at a large glade.By the lake covering the greater part of the glade, some people werefishing; but seeing the armed men, they left their nets and immediatelyseized their picks and staffs and stood ready for battle.

  "They thought we were robbers," said Zych, laughing. "Hej, fishermen! Towhom do you belong?"

  They stood for a while silently, looking distrustfully; but finally oneof them having recognized that they were knights, answered:

  "To the _ksiondz_, the abbot of Tulcza."

  "Our relative," said Macko, "the same who holds Bogdaniec in pledge.These must be his forests; but he must have purchased them a short timeago."

  "He did not buy them," answered Zych. "He was fighting about them withWilk of Brzozowa and it seems that the abbot defeated Wilk. A year agothey were going to fight on horseback with spears and long swords forthis part of the forest; but I do not know how it ended because I wentaway."

  "Well, we are relatives," said Macko, "he will not quarrel with us."

  "Perhaps; he is a chivalrous abbot who knows how to wear a helmet; but heis pious and he sings the mass beautifully. Don't you remember? When heshouts at mass, the swallows nested under the ceiling, fall from theirnests. In that way God's glory increases."

  "Certainly I remember! At ten steps he could blow the candles at thealtar out. Has he been in Bogdaniec?"

  "Yes, he was there. He settled five peasants on the land. He has alsobeen at my house at Zgorzelice, because, as you know, he baptizedJagienka, of whom he is very fond and calls her little daughter."

  "God will bless him if he be willing to leave me the peasants," saidMacko.

  "_Owa!_ what will five peasants amount to! Then Jagienka will ask him andhe will not refuse her."

  Here the conversation stopped for a while, because over the dark forestand from the pink down, the bright sun had risen and lighted theenvirons. The knights greeted it with the customary: "May it be blessed!"and then having made the sign of the cross, they began their morningprayers.

  Zych finished first and said to his companions:

  "I hope to see you well soon. Hej! you have both changed. You, Macko,must regain your health. Jagienka will take care of you, because there isno woman in your house. One can see that you have a piece of iron betweenyour ribs."

  Here he turned toward Zbyszko:

  "Show yourself also. Well, mighty God! I remember you when you were smalland used to climb on the colts by the help of their tails; and now, whata knight! The face looks like that of a little lord; but the body likethat of a sturdy man. Such can wrestle even with a bear."

  "A bear is nothing for him!" said Macko. "He was younger than he isto-day, when that Fryzjan called him a beardless youth; and he resentingit, immediately pulled out the Fryzjan's mustaches."

  "I know," interrupted Zych, "and you fought afterward, and captured theirretinue. _Pan_ of Taczew told me all about it:"

  "There came a German very proud, He was buried with sore snout; Hoc! Hoc!"

  Zbyszko wondered at Zych's long thin figure, at his thin face with itsenormous nose and at his laughing round eyes.

  "O!" said he, "with such a neighbor there will be no sadness, if God onlyrestore my uncle's health."

  "It is good to have a joyful neighbor, because with a jolly fellow therewill be no quarrel," answered Zych. "Now listen to what I tell you. Youhave been away from home a long time, and you will not find much comfortin Bogdaniec. I do not say in the farming, because the abbot has takencare of that; he dug up a large piece of the forest and settled newpeasants. But as he went there very often, you will find the larderempty; even in the house, there is hardly a bench or a bunch of straw tosleep on; and a sick man needs some comforts. You had better come with meto Zgorzelice. I will be glad to have you stay a month or two. Duringthat time, Jagienka will take care of Bogdaniec. Rely on her and do notbother yourselves with anything. Zbyszko can go there, from time to time,to inspect the farming; I will bring the abbot to Zgorzelice, and you cansettle your account with him. The girl will take good care of you, as ofa father, and during illness, a woman's care is the best. Well, my dearfriends, will you do as I ask you?"

  "We know that you are a good man and you always were," answered Mackowith emotion; "but don't you see, if I must die on account of this wound,I prefer to die in my own home. Then when one is home, although he isold, he can inquire about different things, can inspect and do many otherthings. If God order me to go to the other world, well, then I cannothelp it! I cannot escape it even with better care. As for inconvenience,we are accustomed to that at the war. Even a bunch of straw is pleasantto that on
e who, during several years, has slept on the bare ground. ButI thank you for your kind heart and if I be not able to show you mygratitude, God will permit Zbyszko to do it."

  Zych of Zgorzelice, who was noted for his kind heart and readiness tooblige, began to insist: but Macko was firm: "If I must die, it will bebetter to die in my own courtyard!"

  He had longed to see Bogdaniec for several years, therefore now, when hewas so near it, he must go there, even if it were his last night. God wasmerciful, having permitted him who was so ill, to reach here.

  He brushed away the tears gathered under his eyelids, with his hand,looked around and said:

  "If these are the woods of Wilk of Bizozowa we will be home thisafternoon."

  "They do not belong to Wilk of Bizozowa any longer; but to the abbot,"said Zych.

  Macko smiled and said after awhile:

  "If they belong to the abbot, then sometime, they may belong to us."

  "Bah! awhile ago you were talking about death," said Zych joyfully, "andnow you wish to outlive the abbot."

  "No, I will not outlive him; but Zbyszko may."

  Further conversation was interrupted by the sound of horns in the forest.Zych stopped his horse and began to listen.

  "Somebody is hunting," said he. "Wait."

  "Perhaps it is the abbot. It would be pleasant to meet him here."

  "Keep quiet!"

  Here he turned to his retinue.

  "Stop!"

  They halted. The horns resounded nearer, and soon afterward the baying ofdogs was heard.

  "Stop!" repeated Zych. "They are coming toward us."

  Zbyszko jumped from his horse and began to shout:

  "Give me the crossbow! The beast may attack us! Hasten! Hasten!"

  Having seized the crossbow from the servant's hands, he rested it againstthe ground, pressed it against his abdomen, bent, stretched his back likea bow, and having seized the string with the fingers of both hands, hepulled it on to the iron hook; then placed an arrow and sprang into thewoods.

  "He stretched it without a crank!" whispered Zych, astonished at suchgreat strength.

  "Ho, he is a strong boy!" answered Macko, proudly.

  Meanwhile, the sound of horns and the barking of dogs stole nearer; allat once, at the right side of the forest, a heavy trampling resounded,accompanied by the crackling of broken branches and bushes--then out ofthe thicket rushed an old bearded urus, with his gigantic head lowered,with bloody eyes and panting tongue, breathless and terrible. Coming to asmall ravine, he leaped it, but fell on his forelegs; but immediately hearose, and a few seconds later he would have disappeared in the thicketon the other side of the road, when the string of the crossbow twanged,the whistling of the arrow resounded, the beast reared, turned, roareddreadfully and fell on the ground as if he were struck by a thunderbolt.

  Zbyszko leaped from behind a tree, again stretched the crossbow, andapproached the bull who was pawing the ground with his hind feet.

  But having glanced at it, he turned quietly toward the retinue, and beganto shout from afar:

  "I hit him so hard that he is severely wounded!"

  "You are a strong boy!" said Zych, riding toward him, "with one arrowonly!"

  "Bah, it was near, and the speed was great. Come and see; not only theiron, but even the shaft has disappeared under the left shoulder bone."

  "The huntsmen must be near; they will claim the beast."

  "I will not give it to them!" answered Zbyszko. "It was killed on theroad, and the road is not private property."

  "But if it belong to the abbot?"

  "Well, then he may have it."

  Meanwhile, several dogs came out of the forest. Having perceived theanimal, they rushed on him.

  "Soon the huntsmen will appear," said Zych. "Look! There they are, butthey do not see the beast yet. Stop! Stop! Here, here! Killed! Killed!"

  Then he became silent, and sheltered his eyes with one hand; after awhile, he said:

  "For God's sake! what has happened? Have I become blind, or does it onlyseem so to me?"

  "There is some one on a piebald horse in the front," said Zbyszko.

  Then Zych exclaimed at once:

  "Dear Jesus! It must be Jagienka!"

  And he began to shout:

  "Jagna! Jagna!"

  Then he rushed forward; but before he could make his horse gallop,Zbyszko perceived a most wonderful spectacle; he beheld a girl sittinglike a man, on a swift piebald horse, rushing toward them; she had acrossbow in one hand and a boar-spear on her shoulders. Her floating hairwas full of hop strobiles; her face was bright like the dawn. Her shirtwas opened on the bosom, and she wore a _serdak_.[70] Having reachedthem, she reined in her horse; for a while, her face expressed surprise,hesitation, joy; finally, being scarcely able to believe her own eyes,she began to cry in a childish voice:

  "_Tatulo_,[71] _tatus_[71] dearest!"

  In the twinkling of an eye, she jumped from her horse, and Zychdismounted also to welcome her; she threw her arms around his neck. Foralong time, Zbyszko heard only the sounds of kisses and these two words:"_Tatulo!_ Jagula! _Tatulo!_ Jagula!" repeated in a joyful outburst.

  Both retinues now approached, and Macko arrived also; they continued torepeat: "_Tatulo!_ Jagula!" and still kissed each other. Finally Jagienkaasked:

  "Then you decided to return from the war? Are you well?"

  "From the war. Why should I not be well? And you? And the boys? Are theywell also? Yes, otherwise you would not run in the forest. But, my girl,what are you doing here?"

  "Don't you see that I am hunting?" answered Jagienka, laughing.

  "In somebody else's woods?"

  "The abbot gave me permission. He even sent me experienced huntsmen and apack of hounds."

  Here she turned to the servants:

  "Chase the dogs away, they will tear the skin!"

  Then to Zych:

  "Oj, how glad I am to see you!" And they again kissed each other. Whenthey were through, Jagna said:

  "We are far from home; we followed the beast. I am sure it must be morethan ten miles; the horses are exhausted. What a large urus! Did younotice? He must have at least three of my arrows in him; the last onekilled him."

  "He was killed by the last, but it was not yours; this knight killedhim."

  Jagienka threw her hair back and looked at Zbyszko sharply, but not veryfriendly.

  "Do you know who he is?" asked Zych.

  "I do not know."

  "No wonder you do not recognize him, because he has grown. Perhaps youwill recognize old Macko of Bogdaniec?"

  "For God's sake! is that Macko of Bogdaniec?" exclaimed Jagienka.

  Having approached the wagon, she kissed Macko's hand.

  "It is you?"

  "Yes, it is I; but I am obliged to ride in the wagon, because the Germanswounded me."

  "What Germans? The war was with the Tartars?"

  "There was a war with the Tartars, but we were not in that war; we foughtin the war in Lithuania, Zbyszko and I."

  "Where is Zbyszko?"

  "Then you did not recognize Zbyszko?" said Macko smiling.

  "Is that man Zbyszko?" exclaimed the girl, looking again at the youngknight.

  "Yes, it is he."

  "You must give him a kiss, because he is an old acquaintance of yours,"said Zych, mirthfully.

  Jagienka turned gaily toward Zbyszko; but suddenly she retreated, andhaving covered her eyes with her hand, she said:

  "I am bashful."

  "But we have known each other since we were children," said Zbyszko.

  "Aha! we know each other well. I remember when you made us a visit withMacko about eight years ago, and my _matula_[72] gave us some nuts withhoney; you being the elder, struck me with your fist and then ate all thenuts yourself."

  "He will not act like that now!" said Macko. "He has been with _Kniaz_Witold, and with the court in Krakow, and he has learned courtlymanners."

  But Jagienka was now thinking about something else; turning t
owardZbyszko, she asked:

  "Then you killed the urus?"

  "Yes."

  "We must see where the arrow is."

  "You cannot see it; it disappeared under the shoulder bone."

  "Be quiet; do not dispute," said Zych. "We all saw him shoot the urus,and we saw something still better; he bent the bow without a crank."

  Jagienka looked at Zbyszko for the third time, but now with astonishment.

  "You bent the crossbow without a crank?"

  Zbyszko, detecting some doubt in her voice, rested the crossbow on theground, and bent it in the twinkling of an eye; then wishing to show thathe was familiar with knightly manners, he kneeled on one knee and handedthe bow to Jagienka. But the girl, instead of taking it from him,suddenly blushed--she did not know why herself, and began to fasten theshirt, which, during the swift riding, had become opened on her bosom.