Chapter 54 Chapter Twenty

Zbyszko ordered him to lie on a captured wagon that had been used to transport wheel axles to reinforcements coming to the castle.He mounted another horse himself, and went with Macko to pursue the fleeing Germans.The pursuit was easy, for none of the German horses could go fast enough, especially on the ground softened by the spring rains, and this was particularly advantageous for Macko, who now rode a horse that had been killed in battle. A light and fast stallion of 'Wrodika' from Lenkavitry.After galloping for several Fullangs, he surpassed almost all Shimuds.He soon overtook the first German cavalryman, and challenged him at once to surrender or to a duel, in accordance with the custom of knights prevailing at the time.But the German pretends to be deaf.He even threw away his shield to lighten the horse's load, leaned forward on the horse, and galloped away.Then the old knight gave him a blow on the shoulder-blades with the broad-axe, and he fell to the ground.

Thus Macko avenged on the fleeing German the treacherous arrow he had received.They ran before him like frightened deer.They no longer wanted to fight or defend themselves, but only wanted to escape from this terrible knight.Ten of the Germans rushed into the forest, but one sank near the river, and the Zmuds strangled him with a bridle.So in order to hunt down this group of fugitives who fled into the woods, a battle like hunting wild animals began. The depths of the forest resounded with the cries of the hunter and the screams of the hunted, until the Germans were wiped out.Afterwards Bogdaniec's old knight, accompanied by Zbyszko and the Czechs, returned to the battlefield where the corpses of the German infantry lay heavily hacked to death.The corpses had been stripped naked.Some were chopped to pieces by the vengeful Shimuter.It was a great victory, and the soldiers were all overjoyed.Since the last defeat of Skovoro near Gautzweld, the Schmuds were in low spirits, especially because the promised relief from Duke Wittout had not arrived as soon as expected.But now hope revived, as if fuel were added to the flickering embers and the fire was kindled again.The bodies of the Germans killed and of the Zemudians awaiting burial were numerous.Zbyszko ordered a special grave to be dug for the two "Wrodikas" of Lenkavitri, because their contribution to the victory was so great.They were buried among the pine trees, and Zbyszko carved a cross on the trunk with his sword, and then ordered the Czechs to guard De Lausch, who had not yet regained consciousness; Go forward so that he can give him the necessary help in a critical moment.

But after walking for a long time, he suddenly saw a desolate battlefield. Just like the battlefield just now, the corpses of Germans and Zemudians were everywhere.Zbyszko judged at once that the stern Skovoro had also won an equally important victory against the enemy, because if he had won, Zbyszko would not have missed the march to the castle. Victorious Germans.But it must have been a bloody victory, for for quite a long way there were dead bodies everywhere.The experienced Macko deduced at once that some of the Germans broke through and escaped after being defeated. It was difficult to say whether Scovolo was pursuing them, for the tracks were so jumbled that it was difficult to tell them apart.Macko also concluded that the battle had been fought quite early, perhaps earlier than Zbyszko's, because the corpses were all blue and swollen, some of which had been torn to pieces by wolves, and the wolves were When Zbyszko's men arrived they scattered farther into the woods.

Faced with this situation, Zbyszko decided not to wait for Skovoro, but to go back to the camp where he had been safe.It was already late at night when I got there, and I found that the commander of the Mude people had arrived first.His usually gloomy face is now full of spring, with ferocity in joy.He immediately inquired about the result of the battle; when he heard that he had won, he chirped like a crow and said: "I am happy for your victory, and I am also happy for my own victory. They will not send reinforcements for the time being. It will be even more joyful when the Grand Duke arrives, because this castle will be ours."

"Have you taken any prisoners?" asked Zbyszko. "Only some small fish, no pike. One or two, but they got away. They're all sharp-toothed pike that run away when they bite!" "God has given me a captive," answered the young knight. "He is a great knight of renown, though a secular one—a guest of the Crusader Order!" The austere Shimud raised his hands to his neck, and with his right hand made a gesture of jerking up the rein: "Do it to him," he said, "to him and to the other prisoners . . .!" Zbyszko frowned. "Listen, Scovolo," he said, "don't touch him, neither this nor that, he is my prisoner and my friend. Duke Janussi knighted us both. I won't allow anyone to touch him even with his fingers."

"You don't want it?" "Yes, I won't allow it." So they gave each other a fierce look.Scovolo's face was tense, like a bird of prey.The two sides are on the verge of breaking out.But Zbyszko did not want to quarrel with this old boss, whom he valued and respected; and the victory of the day was very encouraging to the young knight.Suddenly he threw his arms around Scovolo's neck, pressed him to his chest, and cried: "Do you really want to take him from me, with my last hope? Why do you do me wrong?" Scovolo did not refuse the embrace.At last he wrenched his head out of Zbyszko's arms, looked at him kindly, and breathed heavily.

"Okay," he said after a moment's silence. "Well, tomorrow I will order my prisoners to be hanged, but if you want any of them, I will give them to you." Then they embraced again and parted amicably—to the great satisfaction of Macko, who said: "Obviously, it's useless for you to be angry with this Shimuter. Be polite to him, and he will be at your mercy." "That's true of their whole people," replied Zbyszko, "but the Germans don't understand that." So he had De Lauche, who was resting in the shed, brought to the fire.The Czechs brought him quickly; he was disarmed, his helmet removed, and he wore only a leather jacket with wear marks from chain mail.He is wearing a red hat.Halava had already told de Rausch that he was now a prisoner, so he came in with a cold and haughty look, and the light of the fire showed a look of defiance and contempt on his face.

"Thank God," said Zbyszko, "God has delivered you into my hands, because I will do no harm to you." Zbyszko held out a friendly hand or two, but De Lausch did not even move. "I don't want to extend my hand to those knights who stain the honor of knights by colluding with pagans and Catholic knights." One of the Majurs who was present heard his words, and seeing that such an important person as Zbyszko had been humiliated, he could no longer control himself, and his blood boiled with anger. "Fool!" he cried, and involuntarily took hold of the handle of his Mitrikaudia.

De Rausch threw back his head. "Kill me," he said. "I know you will not spare your captives." "Did you spare the captives?" cried the irrepressible Majur. "Didn't you hang all the captives of the last battle at the edge of the island? That's why Skovoro wanted to hang them." and kill all his captives." "Yes! We hanged them. But they were heretics." There was a sense of shame in his answer; it was clear he didn't fully approve of that approach. Then Zbyszko restrained himself and said in a quiet and dignified manner: "De Rausch! You and I have received our knight's belt and spurs from the same hands, and you know that the honor of knighthood is more precious to me than life and wealth. Listen, I ask St. Jessie swears, a few words to you: There are many people in this nation who didn't become Catholic yesterday, and those who don't are holding out their hands to the cross, begging for deliverance. But you know, who got in their way and prevent them from being saved and baptized?"

The Majur translated all Zbyszko's words to de Rausch, who looked incredulously at the young knight's face. "It's a German!" said Zbyszko. "Impossible," cried de Lauches. "I swear by St. Jesse's spear and spurs, Germans! For if the religion of the cross were to spread here, they would lose their pretext to invade, rule, and oppress this unfortunate people. Are you familiar The facts, de Lauche! You know best whether they are acting righteously or not." "But I thought the Germans were at war with the heathen, and that they were expelled precisely in order that they might be baptized."

"The Germans were baptized with the sword and blood, not with the waters of salvation. Please read this appeal, and you will immediately believe that you yourself are the murderer and the plunderer, and that you are for those who fight against religious convictions and the service of the devil of hell with the love of Christ." Then he handed him the letter addressed to the kings and dukes which the Zemuds had circulated; and de Rausch took it, and read it quickly by the firelight.He was taken aback, and said: "Could all this be true?" "May the holy God help you and me, I am not only speaking the truth, but also serving justice." De Lauche was silent for a while, then said: "I am your prisoner." "Give me your hand," said Zbyszko. "You are my brother, not my prisoner." They shook hands and sat down to the supper which the Czech had ordered the servants to prepare. De Rausch was astonished when he heard that Zbyszko had not found Danusia despite the papers issued by the Grand Master, and that the "Commuters" had refused the request under the pretext of the outbreak of war. His proof of protection. "Now I understand why you are here," said de Rausch to Zbyszko, "I thank God for delivering me into your hands, because I think the Knights of the Crusader will take what you want Exchange me. Otherwise, the west will be clamoring, because I am a knight of great importance, and of a powerful family. Then suddenly he tapped his hat and cried: "By all the holy relics of Akwitzgran! It was Arnold von Peyton and old Siegfried de Lauf who led the reinforcements to Gautzweird. We were sent from Letter to the Castle. Are they captured?" "No!" said Zbyszko excitedly. "Not one of the most important knights has been captured! But by God! This news you have given me is important. For God's sake, tell me if I can get a message from another prisoner- Qi Did Griffith bring any woman with him?" He called his servant to bring him the burning resin, and hastened to the spot where Scovolo had ordered the prisoners to be gathered.De Rausch, Macko and the Czechs all went with him. "Listen," de Rausch said to Zbyszko on the way. "If you will free me by my oath, I will run all over Prussia to find Danusia, and when I find her, I will come back to you, and you can exchange her for me." ① Refers to the oath made by the prisoner when he was released. "I wish she lived! I wish she lived!" replied Zbyszko. In a blink of an eye they had arrived at the place where Scovolo's prisoners were concentrated.Some of the captives were lying on their backs, and some were standing near tree stumps to which they were bound by twigs.The bright flame of the pine flakes illuminated Zbyszko's face.So all the captives looked at him. Suddenly there was a terrifying cry in the forest: "My lord and protector! Oh, save me!" Zbyszko snatched two burning twigs from the servant, ran into the forest, and going in the direction from which the cry came, he held up the burning twigs and cried: "Sandros!" "Sandros!" the Czech repeated in amazement. But Sandrus, whose hands were tied to the tree, could only stretch his neck and screamed again. "Have mercy... I know where Jurand's daughter is!... Help me!"