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

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER I.

  Neither loving words nor tender persuasion availed. Danusia recognizednobody and did not regain consciousness. The only feeling which pervadedher whole being was fear, a kind of fear shown by captured birds. Whenfood was brought to her she refused to eat it in the presence of others.In the glances of rejection which she cast upon the food one could detecthabitual hunger. Left alone, she sprang upon the eatables like a ravenouslittle wild beast. But when Zbyszko entered she rushed into the cornerand hid herself under a bundle of dry hops. Zbyszko opened his arms invain, he stretched out his hands in vain, with tears he begged her, butunavailingly. She refused to issue from her hiding-place even when thelight was so arranged that she could recognize the outlines of Zbyszko'sface. It seemed as though she had lost her memory along with her senses.He therefore gazed upon her emaciated pale face in which was depicted anexpression of dismay, her hollow eyes, her tattered dress, and his heartcried out within him from pain at the thought in whose hands she had beenand how she had been treated. He was finally seized with such a terriblerage that he grasped his sword and rushed toward Zygfried, and he wouldhave certainly killed him, had not Macko grasped him by the arm.

  Then like enemies they struggled with each other. But the young man wasso much fatigued from his previous fight with the gigantic Arnold, thatthe old knight prevailed. Twisting Zbyszko's wrist, he exclaimed:

  "Are you mad?"

  "Let me go!" he begged, gnashing his teeth, "for my heart bursts withinme."

  "Let it burst! I will not let you go. It is better to dash your head topieces than disgrace yourself and the whole family."

  And, clutching Zbyszko's hand, as with iron tongs, he said threateningly:

  "See, revenge will not escape you; and you are a belted knight. How thendare you kill a prisoner in bonds? You cannot help Danusia. What will bethe result? Nothing but disgrace. You say that kings and princes think itproper to destroy their prisoners. Bah! That is not the case with us; andwhat is feasible with them is not so with you. They have a kingdom,cities, castles. But what have you? Knightly honor. Those who find nofault with them will spit in your face. Consider, for God's sake!"

  There was silence for a moment.

  "Let me go!" Zbyszko repeated gloomily. "I will not kill him."

  "Come to the fire, let us consult."

  Macko led him by the hand to the fire which the servant stirred up nearthe tar-ovens. There they sat down and Macko reflected for a moment, andthen said:

  "You must also remember that you have promised this old dog to Jurand,who will avenge his own and his daughter's tortures. He is the one whowill pay him, and do not you fear! In this you must please Jurand. It ishis affair and not yours. Jurand may do it, but you must not; he did notcapture him but will receive him as a present from you; he can even flayhim alive and none will blame him for it. Do you understand me?"

  "I understand," replied Zbyszko. "You are right."

  "You are evidently coming to your senses again. Should you again betempted by the devil, bear this also in your mind, that you have alsochallenged Lichtenstein and other Knights of the Cross, and if you shouldkill a defenceless captive and the men should publish your action, noknight would accept your challenge, and he would be justified. Godforbid! We have enough misfortunes, but spare us shame. Let us rathertalk about what concerns our present doings and movements."

  "Give your advice," said the young man.

  "My advice is this: that serpent who was with Danusia ought to be killed;but it does not become a knight to kill a woman. We shall thereforedeliver her into the hands of Prince Janusz. She plotted treason whilstat the forest court of the prince and princess. Let the Mazovian courtsjudge her. If they do not crush her upon the wheel for her crimes, thenthey will offend God's justice. As long as we find no other woman to waitupon Danusia, as long as she is wanted to serve her we must keep heruntil some other old woman be found; then we will tie her to a horse'stail. But now we must push on toward the Mazovian wilderness as soon aspossible.

  "It cannot be done at once, it is dark already. By to-morrow, if Godwill, Danusia may come to her senses."

  "Let the horses rest well, and at daybreak we will start."

  Further conversation was interrupted by Arnold von Baden, who wasstretched on his back at a distance, trussed by his own sword; he saidsomething in German. Old Macko got up and went to him, but as he did notunderstand him he called the Bohemian.

  But Hlawa could not come at once because he was busy about somethingelse. During the conversation, near the fire, he went directly to theservant of the Order, put his hands around her neck, shook her like apear-tree, and said:

  "Listen, you slut! Go into the shanty and prepare the fur bedding for theyoung lady. But before you do that, dress her in your good apparel,whilst you put upon your carcass the tattered rags which you have givenher.... May your mother suffer perdition!"

  He was so angry that he could not control himself, and shook her sosavagely that her eyes bulged out. He would have twisted her neck, but hethought better of it since she was still of some use; finally he let hergo, saying:

  "After that I will hang you to a branch."

  She embraced his knees in terror, but he kicked her. She rushed into theshanty, threw herself at Danusia's feet and began to scream:

  "Protect me. Do not permit!"

  But Danusia closed her eyes, and uttered her customary suppressedwhisper: "I am afraid, I am afraid, I am afraid."

  Then she lapsed into perfect silence, because that was the effectwhenever the woman approached her. She permitted the woman to undress,wash and dress her in the new clothes. The woman prepared the bedding andlaid upon it Danusia, who had the appearance of a wooden or wax figure;after which she sat down near the fireplace fearing to go out.

  But the Bohemian entered after awhile. First he turned toward Danusia andsaid:

  "You are among friends, lady, so in the name of the Father, Son and HolyGhost, sleep peacefully!"

  Then he made the sign of the cross. Then not wishing to disturb her hesaid to the servant in a low voice:

  "You shall lie bound at the threshold; you must keep quiet and do notfrighten her; if not, I will break your neck. Get up, and come."

  He led her out and bound her tightly, then he went to Zbyszko.

  "I have ordered that lizard to dress the lady in her own garments, tomake her a soft bed, and the lady is asleep; better leave her alonebecause she is scared. God grant that by to-morrow, after repose, she mayregain her presence of mind. You too must think of refreshment and rest."

  "I shall sleep at her threshold," replied Zbyszko.

  "Then I shall withdraw the slut from the threshold and place her nearthat corpse with curled locks. But you must take refreshment now, becausethere is a long road and no little fatigue before you."

  Then he went and got some smoked meat and dried turnips which they hadprocured in the Lithuanian camp; but he had scarcely put the meal infront of Zbyszko when Macko called him to come to Arnold.

  "Notice carefully, what this mass wishes, although I know a few Germanwords, I am unable to understand him."

  "Bring him to the fire, sir, and have your conversation there," repliedthe Bohemian.

  Then he unbelted himself and placed the belt under Arnold's arms andlifted him upon his shoulders; he bent much under the heavy weight of thegiant, but as the Bohemian was a powerful man, he carried him near thefireplace and threw him down, as one throws a sack of peas, at the sideof Zbyszko.

  "Take off the fetters from me," said Arnold.

  "That might be done if you swore on knightly honor, that you wouldconsider yourself a prisoner. Nevertheless, I will order the sword to betaken from under your knees, the bonds of your hands to be loosened, soas to enable you to sit with us, but the rope binding your feet shallremain until we have discussed the affair." And he nodded to theBohemian, who cut the bonds away from Arnold's hands and assisted him tosit down. Arnold looked haughtily at Macko and Zbyszko and asked:
r />   "Who are you?"

  "How do you dare to ask? It is not your business. Go and informyourself."

  "It concerns me, because to swear upon the honor of a knight can only bedone to knights."

  "Then look!"

  And Macko opened his cloak and showed his knightly belt upon his loins.

  Seeing that, the Knight of the Cross was greatly amazed, and after awhilesaid:

  "How is it? and you prowl in the wilderness for prey and assist thepagans against the Christians?"

  "You lie!" exclaimed Macko.

  Then the conversation began in an unfriendly and arrogant manner, whichseemed like quarreling. But when Macko vehemently shouted that the veryOrder prevented Lithuania from embracing Christianity, and when allproofs were adduced, Arnold was again amazed and became silent, becausethe truth was so obvious that it was impossible not to see it, or todispute it. What specially struck him was Macko's words which he utteredwhilst making the sign of the cross: "Who knows whom ye actually serve,if not all at least some among you." It specially struck him becausethere were certain _comthurs_ in the very Order who were suspected ofhaving given themselves over to Satan. Steps were not taken against themfor fear of public reproach of the whole Order. But Arnold knew it wellbecause these things were whispered among the brethren of the Order andhappenings of such a character reached his ears. Therefore, Macko'snarrative which he had heard from Sanderus, concerning the inconceivableconduct of Zygfried, greatly disturbed the mind of the candid giant.

  "Oh, that very Zygfried, with whom you marched to war," he said. "Does heserve Christ? Have you never heard how he communicates with evil spirits,how he whispers to them, smiles and gnashes his teeth at them?"

  "It is true!" murmured Arnold.

  But Zbyszko, whose heart was filled with new waves of grief and anger,suddenly exclaimed:

  "And you, who speak of knightly honor? Shame upon you, because you help ahangman, a devilish man. Shame upon you, because you quietly looked uponthe torture of a defenceless woman, and a knight's daughter. Maybe youalso outraged her. Shame upon you!"

  Arnold closed his eyes, and making the sign of the cross, said:

  "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.... How isthat?... That fettered girl in whose head dwell twenty-seven devils?I?..."

  "Oh, horrible! horrible!" interrupted Zbyszko, groaning.

  And, grasping the handle of his _misericordia_ he again looked savagelytoward the dark corner where Zygfried lay on his back.

  Macko placed his hand quietly upon Zbyszko's arm, which he pressed withhis whole strength, so as to bring him back to his senses; whilst hehimself, turning toward Arnold, said:

  "That woman is the daughter of Jurand of Spychow, and wife of this youngknight. Do you understand now, why we followed you up, and why we havecaptured you?"

  "For God's sake!" said Arnold. "Whence? How? she is insane...."

  "Because the Knights of the Cross kidnapped that innocent lamb andsubjected her to torture."

  When Zbyszko heard these words: "Innocent lamb," he put his fist to hismouth, gnashed his teeth, and was not able to restrain his tears.

  Arnold sat absorbed in thought; but the Bohemian told him in a few wordsof Danveld's treachery, the kidnapping of Danusia, the torture of Jurand,and the duel with Rotgier. Silence reigned when he concluded. It was onlydisturbed by the rustling of the trees of the forest and the crackling ofthe brands in the fireplace.

  In that manner they sat for a while. Finally Arnold lifted up his headand said:

  "I swear to you not only upon my knightly honor, but also upon thecrucifix, that I have not seen that woman, that I did not know who shewas, and that I have not taken the least part in her tortures and neverlaid my hand upon her."

  "Then swear also that you will go with us willingly and that you willmake no attempt to escape, then I will order your bonds to be entirelyunloosed," said Macko.

  "Let it be as you say. I swear! Whither are you going to take me?"

  "To Mazovia, to Jurand of Spychow."

  Then Macko himself cut the rope from Arnold's feet, and ordered meat andturnips to be brought. After a while Zbyszko went out and sat upon thethreshold of the hut to rest, where he no longer found the servant, forthe hostler boys had carried her off and put her among the horses.Zbyszko lay down upon the fur which Hlawa brought. He resolved to keepawake and wait until daybreak; peradventure then some happy change mighttake place in Danusia!

  But the Bohemian returned to the fireplace where he wished to conversewith the old knight of Bogdaniec about a certain affair and take off theburden which pressed so heavily upon his heart. He found him alsoabsorbed in troubled thought, and not noticing the snoring of Arnold who,after having consumed an immense quantity of baked turnips and meat, wasmuch fatigued and slept the sleep of a stone. "And why do you not take arest?" inquired the Bohemian.

  "Sleep has fled from my eyelids," replied Macko. "May God grant a goodmorning."

  Then he looked at the stars and said:

  "The Wagoner is already visible in the sky, and I am continually thinkingabout how all these things shall be arranged. And I shall not go to sleepeither because the young lady of Zgorzelice occupies my mind."

  "Ah! that is true. More trouble. But she, at least, is at Spychow."

  "But we brought her to Spychow from Zgorzelice, not knowing why."

  "It was at her own request," replied Macko, impatiently, because he knewin his heart that he was wrong and he hated to talk about it.

  "Yes! But what now?"

  "Ha! Well? I shall carry her back to her home; then let God's will bedone!"

  But after a moment he added:

  "Yes! God's will be done, that at least Danuska be restored to health,one might then know what to do. But as it is now, the deuce knows! Whatwill it be if she neither recovers nor dies? The Devil knows."

  But the Bohemian was thinking all the time of Jagienka.

  "Your honor should understand that when I left Spychow and bade hergood-bye, she told me this: 'If anything should happen, come and informme before Zbyszko and Macko arrive. And as they will be obliged to sendinformation by somebody, let them send it by you, then you will take meto Zgorzelice.'"

  "Hey!" replied Macko. "Surely, it would be improper for her to stay atSpychow when Danusia arrives. Surely she ought now to be taken back toZgorzelice. I pity the little orphan, I sincerely regret it. But God'swill must be done. But now how shall I arrange the matter? Let me see.Did you say that she commanded you to come ahead of us with the news, andthen take her to Zgorzelice?"

  "She did. I repeated to you her words exactly."

  "Now, you may move ahead of us. Old Jurand must also be informed that hisdaughter has been found, but it must be done carefully so that the suddenjoy may not kill him. As I love God, I declare that it is the mostpractical thing to do."

  "Return! Tell them that we have rescued Danusia, and that we shall bringher home without delay. Then take that other poor girl to Zgorzelice!"

  Then the old knight sighed, because he was really sorry for Jagienka,whom he had fostered.

  After a while he asked again:

  "I know that you are a valiant and powerful man, but see that you keepher out of harm's way or accident. Things of that character are often metwith on the road."

  "I shall do my best, even if I lose my head! I shall take with me a fewgood men, whom the lord of Spychow will not grudge, and I shall bring hersafely even to the end of the world."

  "Well, do not have too much confidence in yourself. Bear also in mindthat even there, at Zgorzelice, it will be necessary to watch Wilk ofBrzozowa and Cztan of Rogow. But, I confess, in speaking of Wilk andCztan, I am out of order; for, it was necessary to watch them when therewas nothing else to think of. But now, things have changed and there isno more hope, and that which is going to happen must happen."

  "Nevertheless, I shall protect the young lady from those knights, seeingDanusia is very weak and consumptive. What if she should die?"
/>   "As God is dear to me you are right. The emaciated lady is scarcelyalive. If she should die?"

  "We must leave that with God. But we must now think only of the younglady of Zgorzelice."

  "By rights, I ought to convey her myself to her fatherland. But it is adifficult task. I cannot now leave Zbyszko for many potent reasons. Yousaw how he gnashed his teeth, how he strove to get at the old _comthur_to kill him, and my wrangling with him. Should that girl die on the road,even I should be unable to restrain him. And if I shall not be able toprevent him, nobody else could, and everlasting shame would fall upon himand upon our clan, which God forbid. Amen!"

  Then the Bohemian replied:

  "Bah! There is, I am sure, a simple means. Give me the hangman and I willkeep him and bring him to Jurand at Spychow and shake him out of thesack."

  "How clever you are! May God grant you health," exclaimed Macko,joyfully. "It is a very simple thing, quite simple. Should you succeed inbringing him to Spychow alive then do with him as you please."

  "Then let me also have that Szczytno bitch, and if she is not troublesomeon the road, I will bring her too to Spychow, if she is, then I shallhang her on a tree."

  "The removal of the pair, whose presence causes much fear to Danusia, maycontribute to her speedy recovery. But if you take the female servantwith you, who is going to nurse Danusia?"

  "You may find some old woman in the wilderness, or one of the fugitivepeasant women; take hold of the first one you meet, for any one will bebetter than this. Meanwhile, you must take care of lady Zbyszko."

  "You speak to-day somewhat more prudently than usually. Seeing thatZbyszko is constantly with her, he will also succeed in filling thedouble position, that of father and mother, for her. Very well, then.When do you intend to start?"

  "I shall not wait for the dawn; now I must lie down for a while, it isscarcely midnight yet."

  "The Wagoner[117] is already in the sky, but the chickens[117] had notyet made their appearance."

  "Thank God that we have taken some counsel together, for I was very muchtroubled."

  Then the Bohemian stretched himself near the expiring fire, coveredhimself over with the long furred robe and in a moment he fell asleep.However, the sky had not yet paled and it was still deep, dark night whenhe awoke, crept from under the skin, looked at the stars, and stretchinghis somewhat benumbed limbs, he awoke Macko.

  "It is time for me to move," he said.

  "Whither?" asked the semi-conscious Macko, rubbing his eyes with hisfists.

  "To Spychow."

  "True, I quite forgot. Who is there snoring so loud as to awake thedead?"

  "The knight Arnold. Let me throw a few branches upon the embers, then Iwill go to the men."

  Then he left, and hastily returned in a little while, and from a distancehe called in a low voice:

  "Sir, there is news, bad news!"

  "What has happened?" Macko exclaimed, jumping to his feet.

  "The servant has escaped. The men took her among the horses. May thunderstrike them, and when they fell asleep, she sneaked like a serpent fromamong them and escaped. Come, sir!"

  Macko, in alarm, moved quickly with the Bohemian toward the horses, wherethey found only one man, the others had scattered in pursuit of thefugitive. But, considering the darkness of the night and the thickets ofthe forest, the search was a foolish undertaking, and after a while theyreturned with hanging heads. Macko began to belabor them quietly with hisfists. Then he returned to the fireplace, for there was nothing to bedone.

  Zbyszko, who was watching in the hut and did not sleep, came in, hearingthe movements, to ascertain the reason. Macko told him all about hisconsultation with the Bohemian, then he also informed him of the woman'sescape.

  "It is not a great misfortune," he said. "Because she will either die ofstarvation, or fall into the hands of the peasants who will flay her;that is, if she succeeds first in escaping the wolves. It is only to beregretted that she escaped the punishment at Spychow."

  Zbyszko also regretted her escaping punishment at Spychow; otherwise hereceived the news quietly. He did not oppose the departure of theBohemian with Zygfried, because he was indifferent to anything which didnot directly concern Danusia. He began to talk about her at once.

  "I shall take her in front of me on horseback to-morrow, then we shallproceed."

  "How is it there? Is she asleep?" inquired Macko.

  "At times she moans, but I do not know whether she does it in sleep orwhilst she is awake, but I don't want to disturb her, lest I frightenher."

  Further conversation was interrupted by the Bohemian, who observingZbyszko, exclaimed:

  "O! your honor, also here! It is now time for me to start. The horses areready and the old devil is fastened to the saddle. It will soon begin todawn because now the nights are short. Good-bye, your grace!"

  "God be with you, and health!"

  But Hlawa pulled Macko aside again and said:

  "I wish also to ask you kindly, that in case anything should happen....You know, sir ... some misfortune or another ... you would dispatch acourier posthaste to Spychow. If we have left Spychow, let him overtakeus."

  "Well," said Macko, "I have also forgotten to tell you to take Jagienkato Plock. Do you understand? Go there to the bishop, and tell him who sheis, that she is the goddaughter of the abbot, for whom there is a will inthe bishop's possession; then ask his guardianship for her, as that isalso mentioned in the abbot's will."

  "But if the bishop orders us to remain in Plock?"

  "Then obey him in everything and follow his counsel."

  "It shall be so, sir! Good-bye!"

  "Good-bye!"