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of water and handed it to Danusia who drank it with much avidity. Macko entered the hut before Zbyszko and seeing the patient he became gloomy.
"She is feverish?" he said.
"Yes!" groaned Zbyszko.
"Does she understand what you say?"
"No."
The old knight furrowed his brow, then he began to rub his neck and nape with his hands.
"What is to be done?"
"I do not know."
"There is only one thing to be done," said Macko.
But Danusia, who finished drinking, interrupted him at that moment; she fixed her dilated pupils on him, and said:
"You too I have not offended, have mercy upon me!"
"We have pitied you already, child. We only desire your welfare," replied the old knight, somewhat agitated.
Then he turned to Zbyszko:
"Listen, there is no use to leave her here. The wafting of the wind and the rays of the sun will probably benefit her. Do not lose your head, boy, but take her to the same cradle wherein she was when they brought her here--or upon the saddle and let us move on! Do you understand?"
Then he left the hut to give the last orders, but he had scarcely looked in front of him, when he suddenly stood still--as if nailed to the spot.
A numerous host of infantry armed with pikes and spears was surrounding the huts, ovens and clearing, on all sides like a wall.
"Germans!" thought Macko.
He was greatly terrified, but in a moment he grasped the hilt of his sword, clenched his teeth, and had the appearance of a wild beast at bay, ready to defend himself desperately.
Then the giant-like Arnold, and another knight, advanced toward them from the shanty, and when he approached Macko, Arnold said:
"Fortune's wheel turns rapidly. I was your prisoner yesterday; you are mine to-day."
Then he looked haughtily at the old knight as one looks upon an inferior person. He was neither a very bad man, nor a very cruel one, but he had the defect common to all Knights of the Cross, who in spite of their