"They attacked me; but half a day later he attacked them and hardly half of them escaped. He took me with him to the _grodek_ and then to Spychow. I fought with death for three weeks. God did not let me die and although I am not well yet, I have returned." "Then you have not been in Malborg?" "On what would I ride? They robbed me of everything and they took the letter with the other things. I returned to ask Princess Ziemowitowa for another; but I have not met her yet, and whether I will see her or not, I do not know. I must prepare for the other world!" Having said this, he spit on the palm of his hand and stretching it toward Zbyszko, showed him blood on it, saying: "Do you see?" After a while he added: "It must be God's will." They were both silent for a time under the burden of their gloomy thoughts; then Zbyszko said: "Then you spit blood continually?" "How can I help it; there is a spear head half a span long between my ribs. You would spit also! I was a little better before I left Jurand of Spychow; but now I am very tired, because the way was long and I hastened." "He; I why did you hasten?" "Because I wished to see Princess Alexandra and get another letter from her. Jurand of Spychow said 'Go and bring the letter to Spychow. I have a few Germans imprisoned here. I will free one of them if he promise upon his knightly word to carry the letter to the gland master.' For vengeance for his wife's death, he always keeps several German captives and listens joyfully when they moan and their chains rattle. He is a man full of hatred. Understand?" "I understand. But I wonder that you did not recover the lost letter, if Jurand captured those who attacked you." "He did not capture all of them. Five or six escaped. Such is our lot!" "How did they attack you? From ambush?" "From behind such thick bushes that one could see nothing. I was riding without armor, because the merchants told me that the country was safe, and it was warm." "Who was at the head of the robbers? A Krzyzak?" "Not a friar, but a German. Chelminczyk of Lentz, famous for his robberies on the highway." "What became of him?" "Jurand chained him. But he has in his dungeons two noblemen, Mazurs, whom he wishes to exchange for himself." There was a moment of silence. "Dear Jesus," Zbyszko said, finally; "Lichtenstein is alive, and also that robber from Lentz; but we must perish without vengeance. They will behead me and you will not be able to live through the winter." "Bah! I will not live even until winter. If I could only help you in some way to escape." "Have you seen anybody here?" "I went to see the castellan of Krakow. When I learned that Lichtenstein had departed, I thought perhaps the castellan would be less severe." "Then Lichtenstein went away?"