"Why does the young lord think that his little wife is alive, and that she is somewhere in this neighborhood?" asked the Bohemian.
"Because if Zygfried, at the first impulse, did not kill her at Szczytno," replied Macko, "then one may rightly conclude that she is still alive. The priest of Szczytno would not have told us what he did, in the presence of Zbyszko, if she had been killed. It is a very difficult matter; even the most cruel man would not lift up his hand against a defenceless woman. Bah! Against an innocent child."
"It is a hard thing, but not with the Knights of the Cross. And the children of Prince Witold?"
"It is quite true, they have wolfish hearts. Nevertheless, it is true that they did not kill her at Szczytno, and Zygfried himself left for this part of the country; it is therefore possible that he had hid her in some castle."
"Hey! If it turns out so, then I shall take this island and the castle."
"Only look at this people," said Macko.
"Surely, surely; but I have an idea that I will communicate to the young lord."
"Even if you have ten ideas, I do not care. You cannot overthrow the walls with pikes."
Macko pointed toward the lines of pikes, with which most of the warriors were provided; then he asked:
"Did you ever see such soldiers?"