CHAPTER VII.
The canon of the church heard Matsko's confession, and kept the two men all night hospitably, so that they set out again only next morning early. Beyond Olkush they turned towards Silesia, along the boundary of which they were to pass till they reached Great Poland. The road lay for the greater part through a wilderness, in which were heard frequently about sunset the bellowing of wild bulls and bisons, which sounded like underground thunder, in hazelnut thickets at night glittered wolves' eyes. The greatest danger, however, threatening travellers on this road was from Germans or Germanized knights of Silesia, whose castles rose here and there on the border. It is true that, because of war with Opolchyk the naderspan, who was assisted against King Vladislav by his Silesian nephews, Polish hands had destroyed the greater part of these castles, but it was needful at all times to guard one's self, and not let weapons out of one's hands, especially after sunset.
But they advanced slowly, so that the road annoyed Zbyshko, and only when they were one day's wheel-travelling distant from Bogdanets did he on a certain night hear behind them the trampling and snorting of horses.
"Some people are following us," said Zbyshko.
Matsko. who was not sleeping, looked at the stars, and answered, like a man of experience,—
"Dawn is not distant. Robbers would not attack at the end of night, for they must be at home before daylight."
Zbyshko, however, stopped the wagon, arranged his men across the road, faced those who were approaching, pushed forward himself, and waited.
Indeed, after a certain time, he saw in the darkness between ten and twenty horsemen. One rode in front a few yards in advance of the others; evidently he had no intention of hiding, for he was singing. Zbyshko could not hear his words, but to his ears came the joyous: "Hots! hots!" with which the unknown finished each verse of the song.
"Our people!" said he.
But after a while he called,—
"Stop!"
