The Knights of the Cross/Volume 2/Chapter 67
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CHAPTER LXVII. The old knight wished absolutely to go with Zbyshko to the armies of Prince Vitold, but Zbyshko would not permit his uncle even to speak of this. He insisted on going alone, without retinue, without wagons, with only three mounted men, one of whom was to carry provisions, the other, arms and clothing, the third, bearskins on which to sleep. In vain did Yagenka and Matsko implore him to take even Hlava, as a man of tried strength and devotion. He resisted, and refused, saying that he must forget the pain which was gnawing him, while the presence of Hlava would remind him of all that had happened and was past. But before he departed there were weighty discussions as to what should be done with Spyhov. Matsko's advice was to sell the estate. He called that land unfortunate; it had brought, he said, nothing save disaster and misfortune to any one. There was in Spyhov much wealth of every kind: money, arms, horses, clothing, sheepskin coats, precious furs, costly implements, herds of cattle. In Matsko's soul the question was to increase with that wealth Bogdanets, which was dearer to him than any other spot. They counselled long over this, but Zbyshko would not consent to sell Spyhov at any price. "How am I," said he, "to sell Yurand's bones? Am I to repay in that way the benefactions with which he has covered me?" "We have promised to take Danusia's coffin," answered Matsko; "we can take Yurand's body also." "But he is here with his fathers, and without his fathers he would be wretched in Kresnia. If you take Danusia, he will be here far away from his daughter; if you take him with her, then the fathers will be here without both." "Dost thou not remember that Yurand in Paradise sees all people daily? and Father Kaleb says that he is in Paradise," answered the old knight. But Father Kaleb, who was on Zbyshko's side, said,— "His soul is in Paradise, but his body will be on earth till the day of judgment." Matsko stopped a while, and following further his own thought, added,— "Well, Yurand does not see a man who is not saved; for that there is no remedy." "What use in trying to get at God's judgments?" said Zbyshko. "But may the Lord not permit a stranger to dwell above the sacred remains of Yurand! Better leave all here, but Spyhov I would not sell, though I got a principality in return for it." Matsko knew after these words that there was no help; he knew his nephew's stubbornness, and did homage in the depth of his soul to it, as well as to everything that was in the young man; so after a while he added,— "It is true that the boy speaks against my grain, but there is truth in what he tells us." And he was vexed, for in every case he knew not what to do. But Yagenka, who had been silent so far, appeared now with a new advice,— "If an honest man could be found to manage Spyhov, or to rent it, that would be excellent. Best would be to rent the place, for there would be no trouble, nothing but ready money. Might not Tolima? He is old and understands war better than land management; but if not he, then perhaps Father Kaleb?" "Dear young lady," answered the priest, "there is land ready for me and Tolima, but that which will cover us is not that on which we are walking." Then he turned to Tolima. "Is this true, old man?" Tolima surrounded his pointed ear with his palm, and asked what the question was, and when they explained in a lower voice, he answered,— "That is the holy truth. I am not for land management. I go deeper with an axe than a plough; before I die I should like to avenge my lord and his daughter." And he stretched forth his lean but sinewy hands with fingers curved like the talons of a bird of prey, then turning his gray head, which resembled a wolf's head, toward Matsko and Zbyshko, he added,— "Take me, your Grace, against the Germans; that is my service!" And he was right. He had added no little to Yurand's wealth, but it was by war and plunder, not by land-tilling. So Yagenka, who during this conversation had been thinking what to say, spoke again,— "A young man is needed here, a man who fears no one, for the boundary of the Order is close by; a man who not only would not hide from the Germans, but would hunt them; so, without hesitation, I think that Hlava is the man for this place." "See how she will fix it!" cried Matsko, who, in spite of his love for Yagenka, was unwilling that a woman should have a voice in such matters, and moreover a woman who was unmarried. But Hlava rose from the seat where he had been sitting, and said,— "God sees that I should go to the war gladly with Pan Zbyshko, for he and I have shelled out German souls somewhat, and we might shell out more of them in the future. But if I am to stay, I will stay. Tolima is a friend of mine; he knows me. The boundary of the Order is near by. Well! that is just as is proper. We shall see which neighbor will be first to grow sick of the other. I fear them! No; let them fear me. May the Lord Jesus not permit me either to wrong your Graces and grasp everything. In this matter the lady can speak for me; she knows that I would rather die a hundred times than show dishonest eyes to her. Of land management I know what I have learned in Zgorzelitse; but I see that the axe and sword are more needed here than the plough in land management. And this all is greatly to my liking; but still, to stay here—" "Well, what?" inquired Zbyshko. "Why dost thou hesitate?" Hlava was confused greatly, and stammered as he said,— "It is this, when the young lady goes away all will go with her; to make war is well, and to manage land is well also, but to do it here all alone—without assistance. It will be awfully dreary without the young lady—and without this—just as I wanted to say—and as the young lady is going away not without attendants—then as no one would help here—I do not know—" "What is the man talking about?" inquired Matsko. "You have a quick mind, but have not noticed anything," answered Yagenka. "What is it?" Instead of answering, she turned to Hlava,— "But if Anulka were to stay with thee, couldst thou hold out?" At this Hlava fell at her feet so suddenly that dust rose to the ceiling. "With her I could hold out in hell!" cried he, embracing Yagenka's feet. When Zbyshko heard this cry he looked at Hlava with astonishment, for he had not known anything previously and had not suspected. Matsko wondered also at how much woman means in man's affairs, and how through her everything may succeed or may fail altogether. "Glod is gracious to me," muttered he, "because I am not curious about women." However, Yagenka, turning again to Hlava, said,— "Now we only need to ask if Anulka will hold out with thee." She called Anulka, who entered, knowing or guessing evidently what the question was, for she came in with her arm across her eyes, and her head drooping so that they saw only the parting of her bright hair, which was much brighter from the sunlight which now fell on it. Anulka halted at the door; then, springing forward to Yagenka, dropped on her knees before her, and hid her face in the folds of the lady's skirt. But Hlava knelt near her, and said to Yagenka,— "Bless us, young lady!"
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