To the monks in the monastery at Petschenga there came intelligence respecting this pirate, but they had no power to help the fishermen to resist his demands. The spring after Ambrose entered the monastery, there came fresh news of the pirate, and of his violent conduct towards the fishermen. They [[32]]themselves, indeed, came, and complained to the monks; and the head of the monastery, Gurij, suggested, in a conference with the senior Brethren (at which Ambrose was present, and at which he sat, as usual, a silent listener), that a message should be sent to Ostrogen, in Kola, or to Solowets, for a ship with cannons and an armed crew, which could chase the pirate away.
The following day Ambrose approached the head of the monastery, and asked for leave of absence for a few days.
‘Where are you going, Brother?’ asked Gurij.
‘To Fiskerö.’
‘To Anikief?’
‘Yes.’
‘Perhaps you want to pay your respects to Anika?’
‘I want to fight him.’
‘To fight him?—you, a Brother, and a man of peace!’ exclaimed Gurij.
‘Yes; for the sake of making peace,’ replied Ambrose.