Page:Stories by Foreign Authors (Russian).djvu/120

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114
ST. JOHNS EVE.

the signs,—that no one had ever heard her utter a word; that she had come on foot, and had brought a frame for the ikon of God's mother set with such brilliant stones that all were dazzled at the sight.

But this was not the end, if you please. Or the same day that the Evil One made way witl Petrus, Basavriuk appeared again; but all flee from him. They knew what sort of a bird he was,—none else than Satan, who had assumed human form in order to unearth treasures; and since treasures do not yield to unclean hands, he seduced the young. That same year, all deserted their earth huts, and collected in a village; but even there, there was no peace, on account of that accursed Basavriuk. My late grandfather's aunt said that he was particularly angry with her because she had abandoned her former tavern and tried with all his might to revenge himself upon her. Once the village elders were assembled in the tavern, and, as the saying goes were arranging the precedence at the table, inr the middle of which was placed a small roasted lamb, shame to say. They chattered about this that, and the other,—among the rest about various marvels and strange things. Well, the saw something; it would have been nothing if only one had seen it, but all saw it; and it was this: the sheep raised his head; his goggling eyes became alive and sparkled; and the black.