Tolstoi for the young: Select tales from Tolstoi

XII

The godson hid himself from the eyes of men and began to live alone. His rusks were all gone. “I must hunt for some roots,” he thought, but he had no sooner gone out than he saw a bag of rusks hanging on the branch of a tree. He took the bag and began to eat.

When that was all gone he found another bag in the very same place. Thus the godson lived. He had only one care—his fear of the robber. When he heard him coming he hid himself, thinking, “If he kills me I shall not be able to atone for my sins.”

“Where are you taking this man to?” he asked.

“Let the man go,” he said.

“Into the wood. He is a merchant’s son and won’t tell me where his father’s money is hidden. I will keep him prisoner until he tells me.”

“I won’t let go,” he said. “I’m not afraid of you; I only fear God. He tells me not to let go. Set the man free.”

“Do you want to share his fate? I told you I would kill you. Let go!”

“Be gone, the two of you!” he said, “and don’t come across my path a second time!”

The thought had no sooner occurred to him than he heard the robber come along cursing at some one. And the godson thought, “Besides God no one can do me either good or evil.” And he went to meet the robber. He saw that the robber was not alone. On the saddle, behind him, was another man, and this man’s hands were bound and his mouth was gagged. The man made no sound and the robber kept on abusing him. The godson approached the robber and stopped before his horse.

The robber was about to go on, but the godson would not let him, seizing the horse by the bridle.

The robber grew angry and raised his arm to strike him.

The robber frowned; he seized the knife from his girdle, cut the cords and released the merchant’s son.

The merchant’s son fled. The robber was about to go, but the godson stopped him and once more beseeched him to abandon his wicked life. The robber stood and listened without saying a word, then turned and rode away.

The godson was not afraid.

One day the godson went out early to do his watering. He moistened the soil around the stumps until he was tired and sat down to rest. As he rested he thought, “I have sinned greatly in fearing death. If it be God’s will I will atone for my sins by death even.”

Another ten years passed. One apple-tree grew up, the other pieces of charcoal remained as they were before.

In the morning the godson went to water his pieces of charcoal. Behold! another one had burst forth, another apple-tree had grown!