Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/332

Tales from Tolstoi should slay me," thought he, "before I have the time to redeem my sins." Thus he went on living for ten years. One apple-tree also grew up, but as for the other two stumps, stumps they remained.

One day the godson rose up early and went to do his task, moistening the earth round the stump, and sat him down to rest. There he sat resting, and he bethought him, "I have sinned, I begin to fear death; if God so wills it, I will redeem my sins by my death." No sooner had he thought this than he heard something: it was the robber coming along, cursing and swearing. The godson listened, and then he thought, "Save it be God's will, nothing good or bad can befall me from anyone"—and he went forth to meet the robber. And he saw that the freebooter was not alone, but was dragging after him another man, and both the hands and the mouth of this man were tied up. The man was silent, and the robber was cursing him. And the godson went up to the freebooter, and stopped in front of his horse.

"Whither dost thou carry this man?" said he.

"I am leading him into the forest. He is the son of a merchant. He will not say where his father's treasures are hid. I mean to torment him till he does tell me." And the freebooter would have gone on, but the godson would not let him, for he seized the horse by the bridle. The freebooter was very wroth with the godson, and shook his fist at him. "Hey! " cried he, "and dost thou wish the same for thyself? Hence, or I'll murder thee too, I promise thee." 282