The Knights of the Cross, or, Krzyzacy: Historical RomanceSienkiewicz, Henryk
History
The Knights of the Cross, or, Krzyzacy: Historical Romance
Sienkiewicz, Henryk
Poland -- History -- Jagellons, 1386-1572 -- Fiction; Teutonic Knights -- History -- Fiction
Then she leaned over and felt of the bear's body, to ascertain whether
the beast was fat; then she arose with a bright face, and said:
"There will be plenty of grease for two years."
"But the fork is broken, look!"
"That is too bad; what shall I tell them at home?"
"About what?"
"_Tatus_ would not let me come into the forest, therefore I was obliged
to wait until everybody had retired."
After a moment she added:
"You must not tell that I was here, because they will laugh at me."
"But I will go with you to your house, because I am afraid the wolves
will attack you, and you have no fork."
"Very well!"
Thus they sat talking for a while beside the bright fire, looking like
two young forest creatures.
Zbyszko looked at the girl's pretty face, lighted by the flames, and said
with involuntary admiration:
"There is not another girl in this world as brave as you are. You ought
to go to the war!"
She looked into his face and then she answered, almost sadly:
"I know; but you must not laugh at me."
CHAPTER VI.
Jagienka herself melted a large pot of bear's grease. Macko drank the
first quart willingly, because it was fresh, and smelt good. Jagienka put
the rest of it in a pot. Macko's hope increased; he was sure he would be
cured.
"That is what I needed," said he. "When all parts inside of me become
greasy, then that dog's splinter will slip out."
But the next quarts did not taste as well as the first; but he continued
to drink it and Jagienka encouraged him, saying:
"You will get well. Zbilud of Ostrog had the links of a coat of mail
driven into his neck; but they slipped out because he drank grease. But
when your wound opens, you must put some grease of a beaver on it."
"Have you some?"
"Yes, we have. But if it be necessary to have it fresh, we will go with
Zbyszko and get a beaver. Meanwhile it would not do any harm, if you
promised something to some saint, who is the patron for wounds."
"I was thinking about that, but I do not know to whom I should make the
promise. Saint George is the patron of knights; he protects the warrior
from any accident and always gives him victory, and it is said that
sometimes he fights personally for the one who is right. But a saint who
fights willingly, does not heal willingly; and for that, there must be
another saint with whom he would not want to interfere. It is known that
every saint has his specialty. But they will not interfere with one
another; because that would cause quarrels, and it is not proper to fight
in heaven. There are Kosma and Damian to whom all doctors pray, that
illness may exist; otherwise the doctors would not have anything to eat.
There is Saint Apolonia for the teeth and Saint Liborius for stone; but
they will not do for me. The abbot, when he comes, will tell me whom I
must ask. Every _clericus_ does not know all celestial secrets and
everyone of them is not familiar with such things, but the abbot is."
"Suppose you make a vow to the Lord Jesus himself?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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