‘Well, you see, he had a dog with him, a great, brown, smooth-haired dog. They always lead dogs like that with them by strings, and the Stallo had such a dog, and it swam beside him; but as it was getting near the land I gave it an arrow in the eye as well, and it turned round and sank. If the dog can lick the Stallo’s blood he comes to life again; that is why a Stallo always has a dog with him.’
There was great rejoicing in Petschenga Monastery when Ambrose returned, victorious over the pirate, and the next day a thanksgiving service was held in the church. The sword and coat of mail were hung up again in their place, and Ambrose relapsed once more into his usual silence.
But Unnas related, and was never tired of relating, to the work-people, or to anybody who would listen to him, how it all happened, and so it has been again and again repeated by others for three hundred years, just as it was told to me by Nilas the Finn that night beside Petschenga River.
[[40]]
CHAPTER V.
JUSSI AND UNNAS.
There was something so attractive about the monk Ambrose that everybody liked him. The old, white-haired Superior, Gurij, loved him as if he had been his son, and the other monks had a high regard for him. His pale, handsome and manly face not only inspired feelings of confidence, but called forth even warmer feelings. The better he was known, the more certain did it appear that he was a man who might be thoroughly trusted, and would respond to trust in times of peril, when courage and energy were demanded. He very seldom smiled, but, in spite of this, he was invariably cordial, considerate, obliging, and lenient in his judgment of others. He was ever ready to defend the weak, and was generous towards his opponents.