CHAPTER VI.
The following day at noon the messengers saw Jurand, and soon afterwardthey rode away taking with them von Bergow, two esquires and a number ofother prisoners. Jurand then summoned Father Kaleb and dictated a letterto the prince, stating that Danusia had not been carried off by theKnights of the Order, but that he had succeeded in discovering herrefuge, and hoped to recover her in a few days. He repeated the same toZbyszko, who had been wild with astonishment, dread and perplexity sincethe night before.
The old knight refused to answer any of his questions, telling himinstead to wait patiently and not to undertake anything for theliberation of Danusia, because it was unnecessary.
Toward evening he shut himself in again with Father Kaleb, whom he hadordered to write down his last will; then he confessed himself, and afterreceiving the sacrament, he summoned Zbyszko, and the old taciturnTolima, who used to accompany him in all his expeditions and fights, andin times of peace administered the affairs of Spychow.
"Here," he said, turning to the old warrior and raising his voice, as ifhe was speaking to a man who could not hear well, "is the husband of mydaughter whom he married at the prince's court, for which he had myentire consent. Therefore, after my death, he will be the master andowner of the castle, the soil, forests, waters, people and all the craftin Spychow...."
Hearing this, Tolima was greatly surprised and began to turn his squarehead to Jurand and to Zbyszko alternately, he said nothing, however,because he scarcely ever did say anything, he only bowed to Zbyszko andlightly embraced his knees. And Jurand continued:
"This is my will, written by Father Kaleb, and below is my seal in wax;you must testify that you have heard this from me, and that I orderedthat the young knight should be obeyed here even as I am. Furthermore,what is in the treasury in booty and money, you will show him, and youwill serve him faithfully in peace as well as in war till death. Did youhear?"
Tolima raised his hands to his ears and nodded his head, then, at a signfrom Jurand, he bowed and went out; the knight again turned to Zbyszkoand said impressively:
"There is enough in the treasury to satisfy the greatest greed and toransom not one but a hundred captives. Remember!"
But Zbyszko inquired:
"And why are you giving me Spychow already?"
"I give you more than Spychow, in the child."
"And we know not the hour of death," said Father Kaleb.
"Yes, unknown," repeated Jurand, sadly, "a short time ago, the snowcovered me up, and, although God saved me, I have no more my oldstrength...."
"Gracious God!" exclaimed Zbyszko, "something his changed within yousince yesterday, and you prefer to speak of death than of Danusia.Gracious God!"
"Danusia will return, she will," replied Jurand; "she is under God'sprotection. But if she returns ... listen ... take her to Bogdaniec andleave Spychow with Tolima.... He is a faithful man, and this is a wildneighborhood.... There they cannot capture her with a rope ... there sheis safer...."
"Hej!" cried Zbyszko, "and you talk already as if from the other world.What is that?"
"Because I went half-way to the other world, and now I seem to be ill.And I also care for my child ... because I have only her. And, you too,although I know that you love her...."
Here he interrupted, and drawing a short weapon from its sheath, calledthe _misericordia_, he held the handle toward Zbyszko.
"Swear to me now upon this little cross that you will never harm her andthat you will love her constantly...."
And tears suddenly started in Zbyszko's eyes; in a moment he fell uponhis knees and, putting a finger on the hilt, exclaimed:
"Upon the Holy Passion, I will never harm, and will love her constantly!"
"Amen," said Father Kaleb.
Jurand again put the "dagger of mercy" back into the sheath and extendedhis arms:
"Then you are my child too!..."
They separated then, because it was late, and they had had no good restfor several days. However, Zbyszko got up the following morning atdaybreak, because the previous day he had been frightened, lest Jurandwere really falling ill, and he wished to learn how the older knight hadspent the night. Before the door to Jurand's room he met Tolima, who hadjust left it.
"How is the lord? well?" he inquired.
The other again bowed, and then, putting his hand to his ear, said:
"What orders, your grace?"
"I am asking how the lord is?" repeated Zbyszko, louder.
"The lord has departed."
"Where to?"
"I do not know.... In arms!"
The Knights of the Cross, or, Krzyzacy: Historical Romance Page 33
