CHAPTER XVII.
But it was not to come this time either to a battle, for Pan Mikolai, learning from Yendrek of the question between them, took his word from each that he would not do battle without knowledge of the prince and the comturs; in case of opposition he threatened to close the gates. Zbyshko desired to see Danusia at the earliest, hence he dared not oppose; and De Lorche, who fought willingly when there was need, was not bloodthirsty, and took an oath readily on his knightly honor, that he would wait for permission from the prince, all the more that acting otherwise he might fear to offend him. The Knight of Lorraine, who had heard many songs about tournaments, liked brilliant assemblies and showy solemnities; he wished to combat in presence of court dignitaries and ladies, for he thought that his victory would thus obtain greater fame, and that thus he would win golden spurs the more easily. Moreover, the country and the people roused his curiosity; hence delay pleased him, especially as Mikolai, who had passed whole years in captivity among Germans and was able to talk easily with foreigners, told wonders of the prince's hunts, and of various beasts unknown in western regions. So De Lorche started with Zbyshko about midnight for Prasnysh, having his own numerous retinue and people, with torches as a defence against wolves, which during winter collected in countless numbers, and might show themselves terrible, even for more than ten horsemen, though armed in the best manner possible. At the south side of Tsehanov there was no lack of forests, either, which not far beyond Prasnysh were lost in the giant Kurpie wilderness, which joined on the east with the impenetrable forests of Podlasie and Farther Lithuania. Somewhat previous to that time the wild Lithuanians, avoiding, however, the terrible Kurpie, came out by those forests, usually to Mazovia. In 1337 they came to Tsehanov and destroyed it. De Lorche listened with the utmost curiosity to narratives of this event told by the old guide, Matsko of Turoboy, for he was burning in soul with desire to measure himself with Lithuanians, whom he, like other knights of the West, considered Saracens. He had come to those
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