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Stanislaus slept soundly。 But he was up with the sun； washed and
dressed quickly； and went to thank his host again before setting out。
〃But you will have something to eat before you go？〃 cried the man； as
Stanislaus stood before him； staff in hand； ready for the road。
〃It is good of you to offer it；〃 the boy answered。 〃But perhaps I shall
find a church before long； and I must go fasting to Holy Communion。〃
Then the landlord marvelled again； for at that period even good people
did not go very often to Holy Communion； especially when they were
traveling hard； as Stanislaus evidently was。 And his admiration and liking
grew for this boy with the merry face and the heart so near heaven。
〃At least；〃 he said； 〃you must take something with you for the way。〃
And that Stanislaus did not refuse； but accepted gratefully； and so
parted from the kind landlord； leaving him gazing in the doorway with
wonder in his eyes。
His legs were a bit stiff and sore this second day。 But the first few
miles wore that off； and he swung on his way as bravely and gayly as
before。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER II
THE PURSUIT
Meanwhile； there was a hubbub in Vienna。 Stanislaus had lived in that
city about three years with his brother Paul； who was about a year older
than he； and in the care of a tutor； a young man named Bilinski。 He had
left them in the early morning。 As the day wore on and he did not return
home； they became uneasy。 They went about all afternoon； inquiring
amongst their friends and acquaintance if any had seen him。 Only one or
two were in the secret； and they kept discreet silence。 Unable therefore to
get any trace of Stanislaus； they soon came to the conclusion that he had
fled。 And； as we shall see； they had good reason in their own hearts for
guessing that from the first。 They returned to the house of the Senator
Kimberker； where they were all lodging； and taking Kimberker； who was a
Lutheran； into their confidence； they held a council of war。
It was decided that Stanislaus must have gone to Augsburg。 Paul
recalled something that Stanislaus had said to him only the day before；
when he had threatened plainly to run away。 And they had heard him say；
another time； that at Augsburg was Peter Canisius； the Provincial of the
German Jesuits。 Of course they were going to follow him and bring him
back。 But night had come on before their inquiries and deliberations were
finished。 They must wait till the next day。
Accordingly； bright and early the following morning； all three； with
one of the Kostkas' servants； drove out in a carriage over the Augsburg
road。 They had four good horses and they told their coachman not to spare
the whip。 They came to the inn where Stanislaus had spent the night。 They
questioned the landlord。
〃Have you seen a boy of seventeen； a Polish noble； pass westward
along this road yesterday or today？〃
But the landlord was shrewd； and though the whole matter was beyond
him； he fancied somehow that these eager folk were no great friends of the
boy who had lodged with him。 And as he trusted that boy and could
scarcely help being loyal to him； he shrugged his shoulders and answered：
〃How should I know？ So many travel this road。〃
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
Then Bilinski described Stanislaus and his doublet of velvet and hose
of silk and jeweled dagger。 But at that the landlord shook his head in
denial。
〃I have seen no such person as your graces describe；〃 he said。
Bilinski called out to the coachman：
〃Drive on。 We have nothing to learn here。〃
But Paul said： 〃NQ let us turn back。 He cannot have walked this far in
one day。 We must have passed him on the road。〃
〃Perhaps you could not have walked so far；〃 said Bilinski； with a sneer。
〃But Stanislaus could。 Drive on！〃
Forty miles or more out of Vienna； they saw a boy trudging ahead of
them； in a rough tunic； rope…girdled； with a staff in his hand。 At the noise
of the hurrying wheels the boy glanced back； then quickly turned up a lane
which there entered the road。 He did not look in the least like a nobleman's
son； and the carriage passed the bottom of the lane without so much as
slacking speed。
Stanislaus ran up the lane until he came to where it ended at a rough；
brawling stream。 Without a moment's hesitation he put off his shoes；
tucked up his tunic； and began wading in the course of the stream。 The
water was cold； the sharp stones in the bed of the stream bruised his feet；
at any moment he might fall into a deep hole and be drowned。 But he
splashed and stumbled ahead； as fast as he could go； praying to his
guardian angel to have care of him。 A little farther； he knew； the highway
crossed this stream by a bridge； and there he could leave the water and
regain the road。
The carriage meantime kept on and came to this bridge。 But Paul had
been thinking of the young fellow who took to the lane when he saw the
carriage approach and a shrewd suspicion came into his head。
〃Did you see that boy who ran up the lane？〃 he cried at length to
Bilinski。 〃I believe it was Stanislaus。〃
〃But he was dressed like a peasant；〃 said Bilinski。 〃And Stanislaus had
on a handsome suit。〃
They debated for a time； but Paul prevailed。 Round they turned and
drove furiously back to the lane。 But as the driver tried to turn his horses
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
into it； the animals reared and balked and refused to enter。 Blows and
curses were showered on them； they merely stood and trembled； no efforts
could urge them into the lane。 Then the driver grew afraid； and cried out：
〃My Lord Paul； we cannot go into this lane。 And before God； I have
fear upon me！ Never have the horses acted this way。〃
And indeed fear seized them all。 They saw the hand of God in this
strange obstinancy of their beasts。 Even Kimberker cried the pursuit。
〃Fear God！〃 he said。 〃For this is no common mishap！〃
And when they turned the horses' heads again toward Vienna； the
animals snorted and pranced and went very willingly。
And so； when Stanislaus came to the bridge； the highway was clear。
After a look about； he put on his shoes； gripped his staff afresh； and took
up again cheerily as ever his thirty miles a day to Augsburg。
Day after day； tired and footsore； he told off the long miles； begging
his food and lodging as he went； fearless and happy； praying like an angel
of God as he walked along。
Many were kind to him for the brave； bright spirit that shone out in his
face。 Many remembered those words of our Lord； 〃Whatsoever you have
done unto the least of these my brethren； you have done it unto me；〃 and
willingly sheltered the boy and gave him to eat。 Sometimes he turned into
the fields beside the road and slept through the warm August night beneath
the open sky。 Whenever he came to a church in the morning； he heard
Mass and received Holy Communion； for he started out each morning
fasting。 And on the fourteenth day he reached Augsburg。
What happened there； we shall see in another chapter； and how within
three weeks this smiling boy turned his face southward and tramped
another eight hundred miles on foot to Rome。 But just that will show you
something of the spirit of Stanislaus； the spirit of a hero。 All that a knight
might do out of love for his lady； he did out of love for God。 He really
loved God with a sort of fierce intensity。 And he wanted to show his love
in deeds； just as we want to show our love for a person by doing
something； by giving something。 God had given him everything； he would
give God everything： that was the whole