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At last, as they were marching through the land one day, they came upon a place where four roads met. Just here stood a cross. When Satan saw the cross, he turned his army and marched quickly away. "What does this mean?" asked the giant. "Are you afraid of that cross, my master?" Satan was silent. "Answer me," said Offero, "or I leave you at once."
Immediately after the holy sacrifice, they dedicated themselves to her service, according to the formula used by the Olivetan monks; only that the phrase "me offero" was substituted for "profiteor;" and that instead of taking solemn vows, they were simply affiliated to the Benedictine Order of Mount Olivet.
The story of Saint Cristofero. The strong man, Offero, who would serve the strongest; who served a great king, till he learned that the king feared Satan; who then sought Satan and served him, till he found that Satan feared the Cross; who sought for Jesus, then, that he might serve Him, and found a hermit who bade him fast and pray.
"Margaret has ratted she is going to drive out with mamma," said Norman; "as to Etheldred the Unready, I'll run up and hurry her." In a moment he was at her door. "Oh! Norman, come in. Is it time?" "I should think so! You're keeping every one waiting." "Oh, dear! go on; only just tell me the past participle of 'offero', and I'll catch you up." "'Oblatus." "Oh, yes, how stupid.
And once more came the pleading little voice, "Dear, good, kind Offero, carry me across!" And now, for the third time, the old giant seized his palm-tree staff and pressed through the cold river. There on the shore stood "a tender, fair little boy with golden hair. He looked at the giant with eyes full of trust and love." Offero tossed him on his shoulder and then turned to the river.
At last, he bore a little child who entreated him, and the child grew heavy, and heavier, till, when they reached the other side, Offero said, 'I feel as if I had borne the world upon my shoulders! And he was answered, 'Thou may'st say that; for thou hast borne Him who made the world. And then he knew that it was the Lord; and he was called no more 'Offero, but 'Cristofero. My mother told me that when I was a little child; and the story has grown in me.
"Hush!" said the emperor. "Tell me, or I will leave you," said Offero. "I tremble because I fear Satan," answered the emperor. "I made the sign of the cross so that he cannot harm me. He is as wicked as he is strong." "Farewell," said the giant. "I seek Satan now. If he is stronger than you, I must serve him." So he journeyed through the land and soon found Satan at the head of a large army.
Dark and surging it rose to his waist. The child grew heavier and heavier. The giant bent under his burden. Now and then he felt he should surely sink into the river and be swept away. At last he struggled up the bank and set down the child. "My little Master," he gasped, "do not pass this way again; I have come near losing my life." But the fair child said to Offero, "Fear not, but rejoice.
With such a book as one's only support it was clearly of the highest importance to be good at etymology; with ouis, for instance, not to be troubled by Priscian's fanciful derivation from the Greek, but to know that it came from offero, and was therefore to be found under fero; or again to look for hirundo under aer.
"How can I serve the Son of Mary?" "You must fast," said the hermit. "Ah, no!" said Offero. "If I fasted I should lose my great strength." "Then you must pray," said the hermit. "How can I pray?" asked Offero, "I know no prayers." "Then," said the gentle old man, "I think the Son of Mary would be pleased to have you use your strength in some good work.
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