"  Swear  to  me  on  this  cross,"  said  he,  "  that  thou  wilt
never  do  her  a  wrong,  and  wilt  love  her  always."

Zbyshko,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  threw  himself  on  his  knees
in  a  moment,  and  putting  his  finger  on  the  hilt,  exclaimed,  —

"  By  the  Holy  Passion,  I  will  do  her  no  wrong,  and  I  will
love  her  always."

"  Amen  !  "  said  the  priest.
Yurand  put  the  misericordia  into  its  sheath  and  opened  his
arms  to  Zbyshko.
"  Now  thou  art  my  child  too !  "

After  that  they  separated,  for  deep  night  had  come,  and
for  some  days  they  had  had  no  good  rest.  Zbyshko,  how-
ever, rose  next  morning  at  dawn,  for  the  evening  before  he
had  been  afraid  that  some  sickness  was  coming  on  Yurand,


336  THE  KNIGHTS  OF  THE  CROSS.
and  he  wished  to  learn  how  the  old  man  had  passed  the
night.
Before  the  door  of  Yurand's  room  he  stumbled  on  Tolima,
who  had  that  moment  come  out  of  it.
"  How  is  your  master?    Is  he  well?  "  inquired  he.
Tolima  bowed,  and  then  surrounding  his  ear  with  his  palm,
asked,  —

' '  What  does  your  Grace  command  ?  "

"  I  ask  how  is  your  master,"  repeated  Zbyshko,  in  a
'  louder  voice.
"  He  has  gone  away."

"  Whither?"

41 1  know  not.     He  was  in  armor."


THE  KNIGHTS  OF  THE  CROSS.        337


CHAPTER  XXVIII.
DAYLIGHT  had  just  begun  to  whiten  the  trees,  the  bushes,
and  the  large  blocks  of  limestone  scattered  here  and  there  on
the  field,  when  a  hired  guide  walking  at  the  side  of  Yurand's
horse  stopped,  and  said,  —

"  Permit  me  to  rest,  lord  knight,  for  I  am  out  of  breath.
