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〃Let us first dismiss the others to their vespers said he；
〃lest they should be weary。〃
A sign from the abbess； a chanted benediction； a murmuring
of sweet voices and a soft rustling of many feet over the
rushes on the floor； the gentle tide of noise flowed out
through the doors and ebbed away down the corridors； the three
at the head of the table were left alone in the darkening
room。
Then Winfried began to translate the parable of the
soldier into the realities of life。
At every turn he knew how to flash a new light into the
picture out of his own experience。 He spoke of the combat
with self； and of the wrestling with dark spirits in solitude。
He spoke of the demons that men had worshipped for centuries in
the wilderness； and whose malice they invoked against the
stranger who ventured into the gloomy forest。 Gods； they called
them； and told weird tales of their dwelling among the
impenetrable branches of the oldest trees and in the caverns of
the shaggy hills； of their riding on the wind…horses and hurling
spears of lightning against their foes。 Gods they were not； but
foul spirits of the air； rulers of the darkness。 Was there not
glory and honour in fighting them； in daring their anger under
the shield of faith； in putting them to flight with the sword
of truth？ What better adventure could a brave man ask than to
go forth against them； and wrestle with them； and conquer
them？
〃Look you； my friends；〃 said Winfried； 〃how sweet and
peaceful is this convent to…night！ It is a garden full of
flowers in the heart of winter； a nest among the branches of
a great tree shaken by the winds； a still haven on the edge of
a tempestuous sea。 And this is what religion means for
those who are chosen and called to quietude and prayer and
meditation。
〃But out yonder in the wide forest； who knows what storms
are raving to…night in the hearts of men； though all the woods
are still？ who knows what haunts of wrath and cruelty are
closed tonight against the advent of the Prince of Peace？ And
shall I tell you what religion means to those who are called
and chosen to dare； and to fight； and to conquer the world for
Christ？ It means to go against the strongholds of the
adversary。 It means to struggle to win an entrance for the
Master everywhere。 What helmet is strong enough for this
strife save the helmet of salvation？ What breastplate can
guard a man against these fiery darts but the breastplate of
righteousness？ What shoes can stand the wear of these
journeys but the preparation of the gospel of peace？〃
〃Shoes？〃 he cried again； and laughed as if a sudden
thought had struck him。 He thrust out his foot； covered with
a heavy cowhide boot； laced high about his leg with thongs of
skin。
〃Look here；how a fighting man of the cross is
shod！ I have seen the boots of the Bishop of Tours；white
kid； broidered with silk； a day in the bogs would tear them to
shreds。 I have seen the sandals that the monks use on the
highroads；yes； and worn them； ten pair of them have I worn
out and thrown away in a single journey。 Now I shoe my feet
with the toughest hides； hard as iron； no rock can cut them；
no branches can tear them。 Yet more than one pair of these
have I outworn； and many more shall I outwear ere my journeys
are ended。 And I think； if God is gracious to me； that I
shall die wearing them。 Better so than in a soft bed with
silken coverings。 The boots of a warrior； a hunter； a
woodsman；these are my preparation of the gospel of peace。
〃Come； Gregor；〃 he said； laying his brown hand on the
youth's shoulder； 〃come； wear the forester's boots with me。
This is the life to which we are called。 Be strong in the
Lord； a hunter of the demons； a subduer of the wilderness； a
woodsman of the faith。 Come。〃
The boy's eyes sparkled。 He turned to his grandmother。
She shook her head vigorously。
〃Nay； father；〃 she said； 〃draw not the lad away from my
side with these wild words。 I need him to help me with my
labours； to cheer my old age。〃
〃Do you need him more than the Master does？〃 asked
Winfried； 〃and will you take the wood that is fit for a bow to
make a distaff？〃
〃But I fear for the child。 Thy life is too hard for him。
He will perish with hunger in the woods。〃
〃Once；〃 said Winfried； smiling； 〃we were camped on the
bank of the river Ohru。 The table was set for the morning
meal； but my comrades cried that it was empty； the provisions
were exhausted； we must go without breakfast； and perhaps
starve before we could escape from the wilderness。 While they
complained； a fish…hawk flew up from the river with flapping
wings； and let fall a great pike in the midst of the camp。
There was food enough and to spare！ Never have I seen the
righteous forsaken； nor his seed begging bread。〃
〃But the fierce pagans of the forest；〃 cried the
abbess；〃they may pierce the boy with their arrows； or dash
out his brains with their axes。 He is but a child； too young for
the danger and the strife。〃
〃A child in years；〃 replied Winfried； 〃but a man in
spirit。 And if the hero fall early in the battle； he wears
the brighter crown； not a leaf withered； not a flower fallen。〃
The aged princess trembled a little。 She drew Gregor
close to her side； and laid her hand gently on his brown hair。
〃I am not sure that he wants to leave me yet。 Besides；
there is no horse in the stable to give him； now； and he
cannot go as befits the grandson of a king。〃
Gregor looked straight into her eyes。
〃Grandmother；〃 said he； 〃dear grandmother； if thou wilt
not give me a horse to ride with this man of God； I will go
with him afoot。〃
II
Two years had passed since that Christmas…eve in the cloister
of Pfalzel。 A little company of pilgrims； less than a score
of men； were travelling slowly northward through the wide forest
that rolled over the hills of central Germany。
At the head of the band marched Winfried； clad in a tunic
of fur； with his long black robe girt high above his waist； so
that it might not hinder his stride。 His hunter's boots were
crusted with snow。 Drops of ice sparkled like jewels along
the thongs that bound his legs。 There were no other ornaments
of his dress except the bishop's cross hanging on his breast；
and the silver clasp that fastened his cloak about his neck。
He carried a strong； tall staff in his hand； fashioned at the
top into the form of a cross。
Close beside him； keeping step like a familiar comrade；
was the young Prince Gregor。 Long marches through the
wilderness had stretched his legs and broadened his back； and
made a man of him in stature as well as in spirit。 His
jacket and cap were of wolf…skin； and on his shoulder he
carried an axe； with broad； shining blade。 He was a mighty
woodsman now； and could make a spray of chips fly around him
as he hewed his way through the trunk of a pine…tree。
Behind these leaders followed a pair of teamsters； guiding
a rude sledge； loaded with food and the equipage of the camp；
and drawn by two big； shaggy horses； blowing thick clouds of
steam from their frosty nostrils。 Tiny icicles hung from the
hairs on their lips。 Their flanks were smoking。 They sank
above the fetlocks at every step in the soft snow。
Last of all came the rear guard； armed with bows and
javelins。 It was no child's play； in those days； to cross
Europe afoot。
The weird woodland； sombre and illimitable； covered hill
and vale； table…land and mountain…peak。 There were wide moors
where the wolves hunted in packs as if the devil drove them；
and tangled thickets where the lynx and the boar made their
lairs。 Fierce bears lurked among the rocky passes； and had
not yet learned to fear the face of man。 The gloomy recesses
of the forest gave shelter to inhabitants who were still more
cruel and dangerous than beasts of prey；outlaws and sturdy
robbers and mad were…wolves and bands of wandering pillagers。
The pilgrim who would pass from the mouth of the Tiber to
the mouth of the Rhine must trust in God and keep his arrows
loose in the quiver。
The travellers were surrounded by an ocean of trees； so
vast； so full of endless billows； that it seemed to be
pressing on every side to overwhelm them。 Gnarled oaks； with
branches twisted and knotted as if in rage； rose in groves
like tidal waves。 Smooth forests of beech…trees； round and
gray； swept over the knolls and slopes of land in a mighty
ground…swell。 But most of all； the multitude of pines and
firs； innumerable and monotonous； with straight； stark trunks；
and branches woven together in an unbroken flood of darkest
green； crowded through the valleys and over the hills； rising
on the highest ridges into ragged crests； like the foaming
edge of breakers。
Through this sea of shadows ran a narrow stream of shining
whiteness；an ancient Roman road； covered with snow。 It was
as if some great ship had ploughed through the green ocean
long ago； and left behind it a thick； smooth wake of foam。
Along this open track the travellers held their way；heavily；
for the drifts were deep； warily； for the hard winter had driven
many packs of wolves down from the moors。
The steps of the pilgrims were noiseless； but the sledges
creak