Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/699

 Rh even the two Vilks to a duel with lances or long swords, but they had no wish to fight with a churchman, and before the court they could effect nothing. Old Vilk claimed that land now; and Matsko, who was not so eager for anything on earth as for land, following his own impulse, and roused also by the thought that barley would grow on that fresh soil to perfection, would not hear of surrender. They would have gone to law beyond doubt had they not met by chance at the priest's house in Kresnia. There, when old Vilk, after a harsh dispute, said at last on a sudden, "I will rely on God rather than people; He will take revenge on your family for the injustice done me," the stubborn Matsko grew mild immediately; he became pale, was silent for a moment, and said then to his quarrelsome neighbor,—

"Listen, it was not I who began this affair, but the abbot. God knows which side is right; but if you intend to say evil words against Zbyshko, take the place, and may God so give health and happiness to Zbyshko as I from my heart give this land to you."

And he stretched his hand out to Vilk, who, knowing him from of old, was greatly astonished, for he did not even suspect what love for his nephew was hidden in that heart which seemed so hard to him. For a long time he could not utter a syllable, till at last, when the priest of Kresnia, pleased at such a turn of affairs, made the sign of the cross on them, Vilk said,—

"If that be the case, it is different! I am old and have no one to whom I could leave property. I was not thinking of profit, but of justice. If a man meets me with kindness, I will add to him even out of my own store. But may God bless your nephew so that in old age you may not weep over him as I over my one son!"

They threw themselves into each other's arms then, and for a long time they disputed over this, who was to take the newly cleared land. But Matsko let himself be persuaded at last, since Vilk was alone in the world, and had really no one to whom he might leave the property.

Then Matsko invited his neighbor to Bogdanets, where he entertained him with food and drink generously, for he had in his own soul immense gladness. He was comforted by the hope that barley would come up on that new land most splendidly, and also by the thought that he had turned God's disfavor from Zbyshko.