The  knight  turned  to  Zbyshko  then,  and  said  with  emphasis :

"There  is  enough  in  the  treasury  to  tempt  the  greatest
greediness,  and  ransom  not  merely  one,  but  a  hundred
captives.  Remember  this."

1 '  But  why  dost  thou  give  me  Spyhov  ?  "  inquired  Zbyshko

"I  give  thee  more  than  Spyhov,  for  I  give  thee  my  child.'

"  And  the  hour  of  death  is  unknown,"  said  the  priest.
"  Indeed,  it  is  unknown,"  repeated  Yurand,  as  if  with  sad-
ness. "  For  instance,  not  long  ago  the  snow  covered  me,
and,  though  God  saved  me,  I  have  not  my  former  strength."

"By  the  dear  God !  "  cried  Zbyshko,  "  what  has  changed
in  you  since  yesterday  ?  —  and  you  are  more  willing  to  men-
tion death  than  Danusia !  By  the  dear  God !  "

"  Danusia  will  return,"  answered  Yurand.  "  God's  care  is
above  her.  But  hear  what  I  say ;  when  she  returns,  take
her  to  Bogdanets,  and  leave  Spyhov  in  care  of  Tolima.  He
is  a  trusty  man,  and  this  is  a  difficult  neighborhood.  There
they  will  not  seize  her  on  a  rope  from  thee,  —  there  it  is
safe."

"  Hei !  "  cried  Zbyshko,  "  but  you  are  talking  now  as  it
were  from  the  other  world.  What  does  this  mean  ?  "

"  I  have  been  more  than  half  in  the  other  world,  and  now
it  seems  to  me  that  some  kind  of  sickness  has  laid  hold  of
me.  But  my  child  is  the  question  for  me,  for  she  is  all  that
I  have.  Though  I  know  that  thou  lovest  her  —  "

Here  he  stopped,  and  drawing  from  its  sheath  a  short
sword  of  the  kind  called  misericordia,  he  turned  the  hilt  of  it
toward  Zbyshko.
