and battle-axe men remained behind and they too were melancholy, did not talk, joke or sing, seemingly waiting for a more serious undertaking, preparing themselves by arming with bows and arrows, axes and spears, silently, glumly as if for certain death. What was the meaning of this?
One of them who was standing in the middle of the highway, guarding it, blew a signal upon his horn and the fully armed guard of mercenaries formed themselves in a row before the boyar’s house, spears couched and bow strings drawn ready for a fight. Moving along the trail appeared the band of Tukholian youths and seeing that the guards stood in military formation before the boyar’s home, they also began to prepare themselves for the battle. Maxim’s eyes anxiously searched among the armed company for the boyar and noting that he was not present sighed with relief as if a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders and began boldly to arrange his company for the combat. It was not long before the Tukholians with bent bows, gleaming battle-axes and spears approached the boyar’s mercenaries and halted within fifty paces of them.
“Boyarin, Tuhar Wolf!” called Maxim.
“The boyar, Tuhar Wolf is not at home!” replied the guards.
“Then you, his faithful followers, heed what we have to tell you in the name of our Tukholian municipality. The community has sent us to escort you, willing or unwilling, out of our district, in accordance with the resolution passed by our folk-court at its last meeting. Will you remove yourselves willingly or not?”
The guards were silent.
“We ask the second time!” said Maxim.
The guards remained silent without relaxing their tensed bows.
“We warn you for the third time!” shouted Maxim.
112
