Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/467

Rh ground is kept solid by plants and tree-roots the earth does not soften from rain easily. Vit, who as a man of the place might carry out that work best, cried at the mere mention of it: "I will not go, though you kill me!" Vainly did they explain to him that in the daytime unclean power cannot act. Matsko wished to go himself, but they settled on this, that Hlava, who was a daring fellow and glad to exhibit his daring before people, and especially before women, put an axe inside his girdle, took a staff in his hand, and started.

He set out before daylight, and they looked for his return about midday, but when they did not see him they began to fear. In vain did the servants listen near the edge of the forest. Vit merely waved his hand and said: "He will not come back; if he does woe to us, for God knows whether it will not be with a wolf snout and changed into a wolf man." When they heard this all were afraid; Matsko was not himself; Yagenka, turning toward the forest, made signs of the cross; Anulka from moment to moment sought in vain for an apron on knees which were now covered with leggings, and not finding anything with which to shade her eyes, she shaded them with her fingers, which soon became wet from tears falling one after the other.

But about the time of evening milking, just at sunset, Hlava returned, not alone, but with some human figure which he drove on a rope before him. All ran out at once toward him with shouts, and were delighted, but they grew silent at sight of the figure, which was small, had bent hands, long hair, was black, and dressed in wolf skins.

"In the name of the Father and the Son, what kind of an imp art thou bringing us?" cried Matsko.

"What do I care," answered Hlava; "he says that he is a man and a tar-burner, but what he is really I know not."

"Oh, that is no man!" exclaimed Vit.

Matsko commanded silence, then he examined the prisoner carefully, and said on a sudden,—

"Make the sign of the cross! make the sign of the cross for me this minute!"

"Praised be Jesus Christ!" said the prisoner, and, making the sign as quickly as possible, he drew a long breath, looked with more confidence on the assembly, and said,—

"Praised be Jesus Christ! for I could not tell whether I was in the hands of devils or of Christians. O Jesus!"