In order not to get lost he walked along the high ridges of the hills whence he could see the shore of the lake. In the distance on the horizon lay a storm-cloud, still livid, black and terrible, hiding the rising sun. Suddenly the first rays pierced it like sharp spears and forth gushed shafts of fire, streams of blood. It might have been fancied that in the prophetic heavens the last battle, which would end the world, was being fought already, “Michael and his angels waged war against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
“And prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.
“And the great dragon, that old serpent, called the Devil, was cast out of the heavens.” The sun was emerging from behind a cloud, radiant in its force and glory like unto the face of the Coming Lord, and Heaven and earth and all creation joined in the hymn to the rising sun.
“Hosanna! Light will overcome Darkness.”
Tichon ran down from the mountain as if flying to meet the sun. His eternal dumbness was itself hymn to the Lord that was to come!
Hosanna! Christ will overcome the Antichrist!
FINIS
FOOTNOTES
[1] Minors are descendants of noble families who had not yet acquired the right of alienation over their immovable property until they had served seven years in the army or ten years in a civil capacity.—See p. 98, “A History of Russia.” W. R. Morfill.