As there were many stones upon the road and under the mosses, the grave was soon covered with a considerable mound. Then Hlawa cut a cross with his axe upon the trunk of the pine-tree near. He did that, not for Zygfried, but to prevent evil spirits from gathering at that place. Then he returned to the retinue.
"His soul is in hell and his body is already in the ground," he said to
Jagienka. "We can travel now."
They started; but Jagienka, whilst passing along, took a small branch of pine-tree and pressed it upon the stones. Then everybody of the train followed the example of the lady. That, too, had been an old custom.
They traveled for a long while absorbed in thought, thinking of that wicked monk and knight. Finally Jagienka said:
"God's justice cannot be escaped. It does not even permit the prayer, 'Everlasting rest'[118] to be offered up because there is no mercy for him."
"You have shown by your order to bury him that you possess a compassionate soul," replied the Bohemian.
Then he spoke hesitatingly: "People talk. Bah! maybe they are not people, but witches and wizards—that a halter or a strap taken from the hanging body secures to the possessor certain luck in everything. But I did not take the strap from Zygfried, because I wish that your luck should proceed from the Lord Jesus and not from necromancers."
Jagienka did not reply to that at once, but after awhile she sighed several times and said as it were to herself:
"Hey! My happiness is behind, not in front of me."