Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/302

Tales from Tolstoi —and there was a great silence. Then the ancient said: 'Excuse us!' and smiled again."

While the peasant was speaking the ship had drawn nearer to the island.

"Look, now it is quite plain!" said the merchant. "Would it please your Grace to look?" he added, and pointed it out.

The Archbishop looked steadily again, and sure enough there was a black streak—it was the island. The Archbishop gazed and gazed, whereupon he went from the prow to the stern of the vessel, and approaching the steersman, he said:

"What is that island visible over there?"

"It has no name. There are many of them here."

"Is it true what they say, that there live three old men who would save their souls?"

"They say so, your Grace; but I know not whether it be true. The fishermen say they have seen them. So it is, and they talk a lot of nonsense about it!"

"I should like to go to the island to see the old men," said the Archbishop. "How can it be done?"

"To go thither in a ship is impossible," said the steersman; "but one might get there in a small boat, but we must ask the master first."

So they called out the master of the ship.

"I should like to see these old men," repeated the Archbishop; "couldst thou take me over to them?"

The master fell a-thinking. Tis possible, no doubt; but we should lose much time about it, and I

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