Then he unbelted himself and placed the belt under Arnold's arms and lifted him upon his shoulders; he bent much under the heavy weight of the giant, but as the Bohemian was a powerful man, he carried him near the fireplace and threw him down, as one throws a sack of peas, at the side of Zbyszko.
"Take off the fetters from me," said Arnold.
"That might be done if you swore on knightly honor, that you would consider yourself a prisoner. Nevertheless, I will order the sword to be taken from under your knees, the bonds of your hands to be loosened, so as to enable you to sit with us, but the rope binding your feet shall remain until we have discussed the affair." And he nodded to the Bohemian, who cut the bonds away from Arnold's hands and assisted him to sit down. Arnold looked haughtily at Macko and Zbyszko and asked:
"Who are you?"
"How do you dare to ask? It is not your business. Go and inform yourself."
"It concerns me, because to swear upon the honor of a knight can only be done to knights."
"Then look!"
And Macko opened his cloak and showed his knightly belt upon his loins.
Seeing that, the Knight of the Cross was greatly amazed, and after awhile said:
"How is it? and you prowl in the wilderness for prey and assist the pagans against the Christians?"