Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/304

Tales from Tolstoi she steadied herself. Then they let loose the skiff, the sailors leaped in, and they began to let the Archbishop down by the ladder. They let the Archbishop down, he sat in the skiff on a little box, the sailors set to work pulling, and they drew towards the island. They sped onwards as steadily as a stone falls, and lo! there on the island stood the three old men—the tall one all naked save for his leather girdle the middling-sized one in a ragged kaftan; and the old, old bent-back in the little old hood—there they stood, all three holding each other by the hands.

The rowers rowed the boat ashore, moored her with a rope, and the Archbishop landed.

The old men bowed low before him, he blessed them, and they bowed still lower. Then the Archbishop began to speak to them.

"I have heard," said he, "that ye were here, ye ancients of God, to save your souls and pray for Christ's people, and I am here, by the mercy of God, Christ's unworthy servant, called to feed His flock. I desired therefore to see you also, O ye servants of God, if so be I might give you some instruction."

The old men were silent. They smiled and looked at one another.

"Tell me how ye save your souls, and how you serve God," said the Archbishop.

The middling-sized old man sighed and looked at the eldest of the three, the ancient; the tall old man frowned and looked at the eldest of the three, the ancient. And the old, old man, the ancient one, smiled, and said: 254