‘But can you wield a sword? You will never drive him away with spiritual weapons,’ said Gurij.
‘Yes, I know how to wield a sword. I was once a soldier, and I still know how to give a blow with a sword better than most men.’
‘Will you not take some of our men with you?’
‘No; I will go quite alone.’
‘But you have neither sword nor armour.’
‘You can let me have the sacred sword hanging in the church, and the coat of mail belonging to it,’ said Ambrose. ‘Let me have the sword and coat of mail, Father Gurij, and bless me, and let me go. I am ready for the fight—for a fight for life or death. If you hear no more of me, then I have been killed; but if I return, I shall bring you news of my victory.’
Early next morning Ambrose set off on foot, with the sword and coat of mail under a loose overcoat. From Petschenga there is a way across two isthmuses, and across Fiskerö itself, to the harbour of Anikief. Unnas was not about early enough in the morning to see Ambrose start; but when he came somewhat later to the monastery grounds, and heard that his benefactor had started for Fiskerö, he at once hurried full speed after him, and it was not long before he came upon the [[33]]footprints of Ambrose. However, he did not catch him up until he had reached Anikief, and there he met such a number of strange and odd-looking people that he would not venture among them, but kept at a distance, for Unnas was not stout-hearted.
So it happened that one day, according to the legend, when a fleet of Russian boats was to put out to sea in order to cast their lines, a stranger came unexpectedly to them. The stranger saluted the chief officer very politely, and said:
‘Take me with you to-day, comrades; I shall be of use to you in baiting your hooks.’
The chief officer looked at the stranger, but neither he nor any of his men could call to mind that they had ever seen him before.