Page:Anthology of Modern Slavonic Literature in Prose and Verse by Paul Selver.djvu/210

186 "You sit down with us as well, Luka! Do not be vexed, for it was only a joke!" spoke the serdar to him in a fatherly tone.

"I will obey you, serdar, but I only ask your leave for one word more."

"Good, what is it?" asked the serdar, giving him an encouraging glance.

"Brother!" began the Latin boy, "a girl has overcome me, has she not?"

"Truly!" exclaimed several through their teeth.

"But I tell you it was not so. Rather was it the girl's blood by which I was overcome. If anyone does not believe it, I am at his service!"

"Come, Luka, stop your foolish talk!" cried his kinsmen.

"I have said nothing evil. I only ask whether there is one among you who would venture to enter the lists with me now, although I have been overcome by a girl?"

"Stop, that is folly!"

"Whichever one of you Kněžević men pleases, and there are real heroes among you, I am sure."

"I accept the challenge," cried Kićun, angrily, "but from the knee upwards!"

"Have no fear, we shall strive together like men."

They seized one another.

Kićun was the strongest lad among the Gradjani.