Page:Korolenko - Makar's Dream and Other Stories.djvu/60

36 MAKAR'S DREAM "Speak!"

"There is nought to say."

"What did you hear in the world?"

"Nothing."

"What did you see?"

"Nothing."

Both were silent, and then the priest said :

"I have brought this one."

"Is he from Chalgan?" asked the servant.

"Yes, from Chalgan."

"Then we must get ready the big scales."

He left the room to make his preparations, and Makar asked the priest why scales were needed, and why they must be large.

"You see," answered the priest a trifle embarrassed, "the scales are needed to weigh the good and evil you did when you were alive. With all other people the good and evil almost balance one another, but the inhabitants of Chalgan bring so many sins with them that the Toyon had to have special scales made with one of the bowls extra large in order to contain them all."

At these words Makar quailed, and felt his heartstrings tighten.

The servant brought in and set up the big scales. One bowl was small and of gold, the other was wooden and of huge proportions. A deep black pit suddenly opened under the wooden bowl.

Makar approached the scales, and carefully