i84 ST. TRIPHON'S MONASTERY 



bounded over the edge down into the abyss, dragging with them the 

 other sledges and inmates, fastened to each other by straps ; desperate 

 shrieks of terror for a moment filled the air ; and with a hellish 

 laughter the evil fiend answered from the depths of the abyss, mocked 

 by the echoes of the hills in loud and endless repetition. Shuddering, 

 Ivan looked back and saw that all the robbers had disappeared; he 

 turned his reindeer and rushed back ; but the animal was mad with 

 terror, its hair stood on end ; it pressed its horns flat on its back, and, 

 disregarding its master's lead, jumped aside, and losing its footing on 

 the same spot, bounded into space. Endless seemed the flight 

 through air, until at last Ivan fell on something soft. The north 

 light was shining in the sky ; and by it he saw that he was lying on 

 a heap of his crushed and blood-stained companions; beneath him 

 they moved their hands and feet, lifting their heads and begging for 

 help ; and all around was a herd of wolves tearing their living flesh 

 and greedily drinking their life-blood. In their greed the nearest 

 wolves threw themselves upon Ivan's still living reindeer. With the 

 strength of maddening desperation he unsheathed his knife, and 

 striking back the attacking wolves, he rushed headlong through the 

 gorge. Far did he run, and at last he reached the tundra; around 

 was the forest, and in the middle a glade with a copious spring 

 rising high, and pouring broadly from the earth's depths. Ivan 

 rejoiced, and parched with thirst he drew forth the monastery's 

 silver cup, filled it with water, and greedily carried it to his lips ; but 

 the water was warm and red ; he tasted it — it was blood ! ! 1 Terrified, 

 he threw the cup into the pool of the spring ; but it would not sink, 

 floated upright on the water, and shone like fire ; and inside the cup 

 the blood was shining like rubies. His hair stood on end, his eyes 

 protruded from his head ; the traitorous Judas tried to make the 

 sign of the Cross, but his arm would not move, and hung down 

 like a lash. Then a column of water rose up from the pool and 

 carefully carried the cup up towards heaven ; like a sun the sacred 

 cup was shining on high ; all around it suddenly changed to a bright 



