CHAPTER LXXVII.
The Grand Master Conrad died only a year later. Yasko of Zgorzelitse, Yagenka's brother, first heard the news in Sieradz, both of his death and of the election of Ulrich von Jungingen; he was the first also to bring it to Bogdanets, where, as well as in all noble houses, it shook souls and hearts to their depth. "Such times are come as have not been hitherto," said old Matsko, with solemnity, while Yagenka brought at the first moment all the children to Zbyshko, and began herself to take farewell of him, as if he had to set out next morning.
Matsko and Zbyshko knew, it is true, that war would not break out as suddenly as fire in a chimney, but nevertheless they believed that it would come to war, and they began to prepare. They chose horses, arms, exercised their attendants and servants in the military art,—the mayors of villages managing by German law, who were obliged to appear in expeditions on horseback, and the poorer nobles and possessors were glad to join themselves to the more wealthy. The same thing was done on all other estates. Everywhere hammers were beating in forges, everywhere men were cleaning old armor, rubbing bows and straps with tallow melted in kettles, wagons were ironed, supplies of provisions, both grits and dried meat, were prepared. In churches on Sundays and holidays people inquired for news; they were sad when tidings of peace came, for every man carried deep in his soul the conviction that there was absolute need to finish immediately with that dreadful enemy of the whole Polish race, and that the kingdom could not flourish in strength, peace, and labor till, according to the words of Saint Bridget, the teeth of the Order were broken and its right hand cut from it.
In Kresnia more especially did men gather around Matsko and Zbyshko as persons who knew the Order and knew what war with the Germans was. People not only asked news of them, but inquired about methods against the Germans. "How are we to fight best with them?" asked they. "What is their style of warfare? In what are they superior to the
