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

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER III.

  After the destruction, conflagration and slaughter which the Knights ofthe Cross had committed in 1331, at Sieradz, Casimir the Great rebuiltthe razed town. The place, however, was not exceedingly splendid andcould not keep pace with the other towns of the realm. But Jagienka, whohitherto had spent her time among the people of Zgorzelice and Krzesnia,was beside herself with admiration and astonishment at the sight of thehouses, towers, town hall, and especially the churches; the woodenstructure at Krzesnia could not be compared with them. At first she losther wonted resolution, so much so that she dared not talk aloud, and onlyinquired of Macko in a whisper about those wonderful things which dazzledher eyes. But when the old knight assured her that there was as muchdifference between Sieradz and Krakow as there is between a firebrand andthe sun, she would not believe her own ears, because it appeared to heran impossibility that another city could be found in the world whichcould be equal to Sieradz.

  They were received in the cloister by the same shriveled old prior, whostill remembered in his childhood the butchery by the Knights of theCross, and who had previously received Zbyszko. The news of the abbotoccasioned them sorrow and trouble; he lived in the cloister for a longwhile, but he left a fortnight before their arrival to visit his friend,the bishop of Plock. He was constantly ill. He was generally conscious inthe morning; but toward the evening he lost his head, he stormed and heasked to put on a coat of mail, and challenged Prince John of Racibor.The clergy were obliged to apply force to keep him in bed; that was notaccomplished without considerable trouble and even much risk. About afortnight ago he had entirely lost his reason, and in spite of hisserious illness, he had given orders to be taken to Plock immediately.

  "He said that he confided in nobody so much as in the bishop of Plock,and that he wished to receive the sacrament from him alone and leave histestament with him. We opposed his journey as much as we could, for hewas very faint, and we feared that he would not survive even one mile'sjourney. But to oppose him was not an easy task. So the attendantsprepared a wagon and carried him away. May God direct it to a happyissue."

  "If he had died somewhere near Sieradz you would have heard of it," saidMacko.

  "We would have surely heard of it," replied the little old prior. "Wetherefore are of opinion that he did not die, and we think that he hadnot yet when he reached Lenczyca. What may have happened beyond thatplace, we are unable to tell. You will get information on the road if yougo after him."

  Macko felt uneasy when he received the tidings, and he went to takecounsel with Jagienka, who had already got information from the Bohemianwhither the abbot had gone.

  "What is to be done?" he asked her; "and what are you going to do withyourself?"

  "Come to Plock, and I will go with you."

  "To Plock!" repeated Sieciechowa, in a piping voice.

  "Look how things go! Is it as easy for you to go to Flock as to handlethe sickle?"

  "How can I and Sieciechowa return by ourselves? If I cannot continue myjourney with you, it would have been preferable to have remained at home.Do you not think that Wilk and Cztan will be more obstinate in theirintrigues against me?"

  "Wilk will protect you against Cztan."

  "I fear Wilk's protection as much as Cztan's open violence. I see thatyou too are opposing me; if it were only simple opposition I should notmind it, but not when it is in earnest."

  Indeed Macko's opposition was not in earnest; on the contrary hepreferred that Jagienka should accompany him, than return, so when heheard her words, he smiled and said:

  "She has got rid of her petticoats, and now she wants reason too."

  "Reason is only to be found in the head."

  "But Plock is out of the way."

  "The Bohemian said that it is not out of the way, but it is nearer toMalborg."

  "Then you have already consulted the Bohemian?"

  "Surely; moreover, he said: 'If the young lord got into trouble atMalborg, then we could get much help from Princess Alexandra, for she isa relative of the king; besides that, being a personal friend of theKnights of the Cross, she has great influence among them.'"

  "It is true, as God is dear to me!" exclaimed Macko. "It is a fact wellknown to all, that if she wished to give us a letter to the master wecould travel with perfect safety in all lands of the Knights of theCross. They love her because she loves them. That Bohemian boy is not afool, his advice is good."

  "And how much so!" Sieciechowa exclaimed with warmth, lifting up herlittle eyes.

  Macko suddenly turned toward her and said:

  "What do you want here?"

  The girl became much confused, lowered her eyelashes and blushed like arose.

  However, Macko saw that there was no other remedy but to continue hisjourney and take both girls with him. This he much desired. The followingmorning he took leave of the little old prior and then they continuedtheir journey. Owing to the thawing of the snow and inundations theyprogressed with greater difficulty than before. On the road they inquiredafter the abbot, and they found many courts, and parsonages, where therewere none of the former, even inns, where he had remained for a night'slodging. It was quite easy to follow in his track, because he hadlavishly distributed alms, bought missals, contributed to church bellsand subscribed to funds for the repair of churches. Therefore everybeggar, sexton, yea even every priest they met remembered him withgratitude. They generally said: "He traveled like an angel," and prayedfor his recovery, although here and there were heard more expressions ofapprehension that his everlasting rest was drawing nigh, than hopes oftemporary recovery. In some places he had taken supplies enough for twoor three days. It seemed to Macko that most likely he would be able toovertake him.

  Yet Macko was mistaken in his calculations. The overflow of the riversNer and Bzur prevented them from arriving at Lenczyca. They were obligedto take up their quarters for four days at a deserted inn, whose ownerapparently had fled on account of the threatening floods. The roadleading from the inn to the town which to a certain extent was repairedwith stumps of trees was submerged for a considerable stretch in themuddy flood. Macko's servant, Wit, a native of that locality, had someknowledge of the road leading through the woods, but he refused to act asguide, because he knew that the marshes of Lenczyca were the rendezvousof unclean spirits, especially the powerful Borut who delighted inleading people to bottomless swamps, whence escape was only possible byforfeiture of the soul. Even the inn itself was held in bad repute, sothat travelers used to provision themselves with victuals to avoidhunger. Even old Macko was scared of this place. During the night theyheard skirmishing upon the roof of the inn; at times there were alsorappings at the door. Jagienka and Sieciechowa, who slept in the alcovenear the large room, also heard the sound of little footsteps upon theceiling and walls during the night-time. They were apparently not afraidof it, because at Zgorzelice they were accustomed to croaking birds. OldZych, in his time, fed them, according to the then prevailing customthere were not wanting those who would provide them with crusts, and theywere not mischievous. But on a certain night, from the neighboringthickets resounded a dull ominous bellowing, and the following morningthey discovered huge cloven-foot traces upon the mud. They might havebeen of aurochs or bison, but Wit was of opinion that the traces werethose of Borut, and although his outward appearance is that of a man,even of a nobleman, he has cloven instead of human feet. But owing toparsimony he takes off his boots when crossing the swamps. Macko wasinformed that one could appease him with drink; he considered during thewhole day whether it would be sinful to gain the friendship of the evilspirit. He even took counsel with Jagienka on the same subject.

  "I should like to suspend upon the fence a bull's bladder full of wine ormead," he said, "and if it were found that something of the drink weremissing, then it would be conclusive proof that the evil spirit waspresent."

  "But that might displease the heavenly powers," replied Jagienka, "ofwhose blessing we stand in need to assist us in succoring Zbyszkosucces
sfully."

  "I, too, am afraid, but I think that a little mead is not the soul. Ishall not give him my soul. One bladder full of wine or mead, I think, isof little significance in the eyes of the heavenly powers!"

  Then he lowered his voice and added:

  "One nobleman entertains another even if he is a useless fellow, and theysay he is a nobleman."

  "Who?" asked Jagienka.

  "I do not want to mention the name of the unclean spirit."

  Nevertheless, Macko, with his own hands suspended the same evening alarge bull's bladder in which drink is usually carried, and it was foundempty the following morning.

  When that was related to the Bohemian, he laughed heartily, but nobodypaid attention to it. Macko, however, was filled with joy, because heexpected that when he should attempt to cross the swamp no mishap wouldoccur on that account.

  "Unless they told an untruth when they said that he knows honor," he saidto himself.

  Above all things it was necessary to investigate if there was a passagethrough the woods. It might have been so, because where the soil was madefirm by the roots of the trees and other growths, it did not easilysoften by the rains; although Wit, who belonged in the locality, couldbest perform that service, he refused to go, and when his name wassuggested, he shouted: "Better kill me. I shall not go."

  Then they explained to him that the unclean spirits are powerless duringthe daytime. Macko himself was willing to go, but it was finally arrangedthat Hlawa should venture, because he was a bold fellow, agreeable toall, specially to the ladies. He put an axe in his belt, and in his handa scythe, and left.

  He left early in the morning and was expected to return about noon, buthe did not, and they began to be alarmed. Later on, the servants werewatching at the edge of the forest, and in the afternoon Wit waved hishand as a sign that Hlawa had not returned, and should he return thedanger is greater for us, for God knows whether, owing to a wolf's bite,he is not transformed into a werewolf. Hearing this, all were frightened;even Macko was not himself. Jagienka turned toward the forest and madethe sign of the cross. But Anulka searched in vain in her skirt and apronfor something with which to cover her eyes, but finding nothing shecovered them with her fingers, from between which tears began to tricklein big drops.

  However, toward evening time, just at the spot where the sun was about toset, the Bohemian appeared, and that, not by himself, but accompanied bya human figure whom he drove in front of him on a rope. All rushed outtoward him with shouts of joy. But at the sight of the figure they becamesilent; it was dwarfed, monkey-like, hairy, black and dressed in wolfskin.

  "In the name of the Father and Son tell me; what is this figure you havebrought," shouted Macko.

  "How do I know?" replied the Bohemian. "He said that he was a man and apitch-burner, but I don't know whether he told me the truth."

  "Oh, he is not a man, no," said Wit.

  But Macko ordered him to be quiet; then he looked carefully around himand suddenly said:

  "Cross yourself. We are accustomed to cross ourselves when with thespirits...."

  "Praised be Jesus Christ!" exclaimed the prisoner, and crossed himself asfast as he could. He breathed deeply, looked with great confidence at thegroup and said:

  "Praised be Jesus Christ. I too, O Jesus, was uncertain whether I was inChristian or in the devil's power."

  "Fear not, you are among Christians, who attend the holy Mass. What areyou then?"

  "I am a pitch-burner, sir, dwelling in a tent. There are seven of us whodwell in tents with our families."

  "How far are you from here?"

  "Not quite ten furlongs."

  "How do you get to town?"

  "We have our private road along the 'Devil's Hollow.'"

  "Along what? The Devil's?... then cross yourself again."

  "In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen."

  "Very well. Is that road practicable for vehicles?"

  "Now there is quagmire everywhere, although there is less near the Hollowthan upon the regular road; owing to the access of the wind the mud isquickly dried up. But farther on to Buda the road is bad. But those whoknow the track push through it slowly."

  "Will you lead us for a florin or two?"

  The pitch-burner accepted the offer willingly, but begged for half a loafof bread, which he said is very scarce in the woods and he had seen nonefor some time past. It was arranged that they should start very early thenext morning, because it was "not good to travel in the evening," hesaid. "There at Boruca ghosts storm terribly, but they do no harm. Butbeing jealous for the Lenczyca principality they chase away other devilsinto the bushes. It is only bad to meet them during the night, especiallywhen a man is drunk, but the sober need not be afraid."

  "You were afraid nevertheless," said Macko.

  "Because that knight unexpectedly grasped me with such strength that Itook him for another being."

  Then Jagienka smiled that all of them took the pitch-burner to be thedevil, and he thought them to be the same. Anulka and Sieciechowa laughedat Macko's words, when he said:

  "Your eyes are not yet dry from weeping for Hlawa; now you are laughing?"

  The Bohemian looked at the girl, he observed her eyelids which were stillmoist, then he asked:

  "Did you cry for me?"

  "Of course not," replied the girl. "I was only scared."

  "You ought to be ashamed. Are you not a noblewoman, and a noblewoman likeyour mistress is not afraid. Nothing evil could happen to you in themiddle of the day, and among people."

  "Nothing to me, but to you."

  "Yet you said that you did not cry for me."

  "I insist, not for you."

  "Then why did you cry?"

  "From fear."

  "You are not afraid now?"

  "No."

  "Why?"

  "Because you have returned."

  Then the Bohemian looked at her with gratitude, smiled, and said:

  "Bah! If we kept on talking in that manner we might have continued tillmorning. What a smart woman you are!"

  "Make no fun of me," quietly replied Sieciechowa. In fact she was assmart as any woman; and Hlawa who was himself a cunning fellow understoodit well. He knew that the girl's attachment to him was daily increasing.He loved Jagienka, but the love was that of a subject for his king'sdaughter, and with great humility and reverence, and without any othermotive. Meanwhile the journey brought him in closer contact withSieciechowa. When on the march old Macko and Jagienka usually rode sideby side in front, while Hlawa and Sieciechowa were together in the rear.He was as strong as a urus and hot-blooded, so that when looking straightinto her lovely bright eyes, at her flaxen locks which escaped from underher bonnet, upon her whole slender and well-shaped figure, especially ather admirably shaped limbs gripping the black pony, his whole frametrembled. He could restrain himself no longer. The more he looked uponthose charms the more intense and longing his gaze became. Heinvoluntarily thought that if the devil were to assume the form of thatgirl he would have no difficulty in leading one into temptation. She wasmoreover of a sweet temperament, very obedient, and lively, like asparrow upon the roof. Sometimes strange thoughts crossed the Bohemian'smind; once when he and Anulka remained somewhat in the rear near thepackhorses, he suddenly turned toward her and said:

  "Do you know I shall devour you here as a wolf devours a lamb."

  She heartily laughed, and showed her pretty little white teeth.

  "Do you want to eat me?" she asked.

  "Yes I even with the little bones."

  And he cast such a look at her that she melted under his glances. Thenthey lapsed into silence, only their hearts were beating intensely, hiswith desire, and hers with pleasurable intoxication tinged with fear.

  But the Bohemian's passion at first entirely prevailed over histenderness, and when he said that he looked at Anulka like a wolf at alamb, he told the truth. Only on that evening when he observed hereyelids and cheeks moistened with tears, his heart beca
me softened Sheseemed to him as good, as though near to him and as though she werealready his own, and as he himself was upright by nature, and at the sametime a knight, he not only was elated with pride, and not hardened at thesight of the sweet tears, but he courageously continued gazing at her.His wonted gaiety of conversation left him, and although he continued tojest in the evening with the timid girl, yet it was of a differentnature. He treated her as a knightly armor-bearer ought to treat anoblewoman.

  Old Macko was chiefly occupied in thinking of the journey, and thecrossing of the swamps, and he only praised him for his noble mannerswhich, as he observed, he must have learned when he was with Zbyszko atthe Mazovian court.

  Then he turned to Jagienka and added:

  "Hey! Zbyszko!... His deportment befits even a king's presence."

  But his work was over in the evening, when it was time to retire. Hlawa,after having kissed the hand of Jagienka, lifted in turn the hand ofSieciechowa to his lips and said:

  "Not only need you not fear me, but whilst you are with me you need fearnothing, for I shall not give you to anybody."

  Then the men went into the front room whilst Jagienka and Anulka retiredto the alcove and slept together in a wide and comfortable bed. Neitherfell asleep readily, especially Sieciechowa, who was restless and turnedfrom side to side. At length Jagienka moved her head toward Anulka andwhispered:

  "Anulka?"

  "What is it?"

  "It seems to me that you are much taken with that Bohemian.... Is it so?"

  Her question remained unanswered.

  But Jagienka whispered again:

  "I understand it all.... Tell me."

  Sieciechowa did not reply, but instead, pressed her lips to the cheeks ofher mistress and showered kisses upon them.

  At Anulka's kisses, poor Jagienka's breast heaved.

  "Oh, I understand, I understand," she whispered, so low that Anulka's earscarcely caught her words.