Each day those giants grew greater, more mighty, till at last the retinue of the king came to them and entered a pass which opened on a sudden, like a gate.
“The boundary must be near,” said the king, with emotion.
Then they saw a small wagon, drawn by one horse, and in the wagon a peasant. The king’s men stopped him at once.
“Man,” said Tyzenhauz, “are we in Poland?”
“Beyond that cliff and that little river is the emperor’s boundary, but you are standing on the king’s land.”
“Which way is it then to Jivyets?”
“Go straight ahead; you will come to the road.” And the mountaineer whipped his horse.
Tyzenhauz galloped to the retinue standing at a distance.
“Gracious Lord,” cried he, with emotion, “you are now inter regna, for at that little river your kingdom begins.”
The king said nothing, only made a sign to hold his horse, dismounted, and throwing himself on his knees, raised his eyes and his hands upward.