Heoughttohaveledanorchestraorplayeda\'cello。Heistoobigforfirstviolin。\'\'
Therewasagroupaboutthecarriagetothelast，whenthemusiccametoanendanditdroveaway。Therehadbeennopossibleopportunityofpassingclosetoitevenhadthepresenceoftheyoungofficerandtheboynotpresentedaninsurmountableobstacle。
MarcoandTheRatwentontheirwayandpassedbytheHof-
Theaterandreadthebills。``TristanandIsolde\'\'wastobepresentedatnightandagreatsingerwouldsingIsolde。
``Hewillgotohearthat，\'\'bothboyssaidatonce。``Hewillbesuretogo。\'\'
ItwasdecidedbetweenthemthatMarcoshouldgoonhisquestalonewhennightcame。OneboywhohungaroundtheentranceoftheOperawouldbeobservedlessthantwo。
``Peoplenoticecrutchesmorethantheynoticelegs，\'\'TheRatsaid。``I\'dbetterkeepoutofthewayunlessyouneedme。Mytimehasn\'tcomeyet。Evenifitdoesn\'tcomeatallI\'ve——I\'vebeenonduty。I\'vegonewithyouandI\'vebeenready-that\'swhatanaide-de-campdoes。\'\'
HestayedathomeandreadsuchEnglishpapersashecouldlayhandsonandhedrewplansandre-foughtbattlesonpaper。
Marcowenttotheopera。EvenifhehadnotknownhiswaytothesquareneartheplacewheretheHof-Theaterstood，hecouldeasilyhavefounditbyfollowingthegroupsofpeopleinthestreetswhoallseemedwalkinginonedirection。Therewerestudentsintheiroddcapswalkingthreeorfourabreast，therewereyoungcouplesandolderones，andhereandtherewholefamilies；thereweresoldiersofallages，officersandprivates；
and，whentalkwastobeheardinpassing，itwasalwaystalkaboutmusic。
ForsometimeMarcowaitedinthesquareandwatchedthecarriagesrollupandpassunderthehugepillaredporticotodeposittheircontentsattheentranceandatoncedriveawayinorderlysequence。Hemustmakesurethatthegrandcarriagewiththegreenandsilverliveriesrolledupwiththerest。Ifitcame，hewouldbuyacheapticketandgoinside。
Itwasratherlatewhenitarrived。PeopleinMunicharenotlatefortheoperaifitcanbehelped，andthecoachmandroveuphurriedly。Thegreenandsilverfootmanleapedtothegroundandopenedthecarriagedooralmostbeforeitstopped。TheChancellorgotoutlookinglessgenialthanusualbecausehewasafraidthathemightlosesomeoftheoverture。Arosy-cheekedgirlinawhitefrockwaswithhimandshewasevidentlytryingtosoothehim。
``Idonotthinkwearereallylate，Father，\'\'shesaid。``Don\'tfeelcross，dear。Itwillspoilthemusicforyou。\'\'
Thiswasnotatimeinwhichaman\'sattentioncouldbeattractedquietly。Marcorantogettheticketwhichwouldgivehimaplaceamongtherowsofyoungsoldiers，artists，maleandfemalestudents，andmusicianswhowerewillingtostandfourorfivedeepthroughouttheperformanceofeventhelongestopera。Heknewthat，unlesstheywereinoneofthefewboxeswhichbelongedonlytothecourt，theChancellorandhisrosy-cheekeddaughterwouldbeinthebestseatsinthefrontcurveofthebalconywhichwerethemostdesirableofthehouse。Hesoonsawthem。Theyhadsecuredthecentralplacesdirectlybelowthelargeroyalboxwheretwoquietprincessesandtheirattendantswerealreadyseated。
Whenhefoundhewasnottoolatetoheartheoverture，theChancellor\'sfacebecomemoregenialthanever。Hesettledhimselfdowntoaneveningofenjoymentandevidentlyforgoteverythingelseintheworld。Marcodidnotlosesightofhim。
Whentheaudiencewentoutbetweenactstopromenadeinthecorridors，hemightgoalsoandtheremightbeachancetopassneartohiminthecrowd。Hewatchedhimclosely。Sometimeshisfineoldfacesaddenedatthebeautifulwoeofthemusic，sometimesitlookedenraptured，anditwasalwaysevidentthateverynotereachedhissoul。
Theprettydaughterwhosatbesidehimwasattentivebutnotsoenthralled。Afterthefirstacttwoglitteringyoungofficersappearedandmadeelegantandlowbows，drawingtheirheelstogetherastheykissedherhand。Theylookedsorrywhentheywereobligedtoreturntotheirseatsagain。
AfterthesecondacttheChancellorsatforafewminutesasifhewereinadream。Thepeopleintheseatsnearhimbegantorisefromtheirseatsandfileoutintothecorridors。Theyoungofficersweretobeseenrisingalso。Therosydaughterleanedforwardandtouchedherfather\'sarmgently。
``Shewantshimtotakeherout，\'\'Marcothought。``Hewilltakeherbecauseheisgood-natured。\'\'
Hesawhimrecallhimselffromhisdreamwithasmileandthenheroseand，afterhelpingtoarrangeasilverybluescarfroundthegirl\'sshoulders，gaveherhisarmjustasMarcoskippedoutofhisfourth-rowstanding-place。
Itwasaratherwarmnightandthecorridorswerefull。BythetimeMarcohadreachedthebalconyfloor，thepairhadissuedfromthelittledoorandweretemporarilylostinthemovingnumbers。
Marcoquietlymadehiswayamongthecrowdtryingtolookasifhebelongedtosomebody。Onceortwicehisstrongbodyandhisdenseblackeyesandlashesmadepeopleglanceathim，buthewasnottheonlyboywhohadbeenbroughttotheoperasohefeltsafeenoughtostopatthefootofthestairsandwatchthosewhowentupandthosewhopassedby。Suchamiscellaneouscrowdasitwasmadeupof——goodunfashionablemusic-loversmixedhereandtherewithgrandpeopleofthecourtandthegayworld。
Suddenlyheheardalowlaughandamomentlaterahandlightlytouchedhim。
``YouDIDgetout，then？\'\'asoftvoicesaid。
Whenheturnedhefelthismusclesstiffen。Heceasedtoslouchanddidnotsmileashelookedatthespeaker。Whathefeltwasawaveoffierceandhaughtyanger。Itsweptoverhimbeforehehadtimetocontrolit。
Alovelypersonwhoseemedswathedinseveralshadesofsoftvioletdraperywassmilingathimwithlong，lovelyeyes。
ItwasthewomanwhohadtrappedhimintoNo。10BrandonTerrace。
XXI
``HELP！\'\'
Didittakeyousolongtofindit？askedtheLovelyPersonwiththesmile。``OfcourseIknewyouwouldfinditintheend。Butwehadtogiveourselvestime。Howlongdidittake？\'\'
Marcoremovedhimselffrombeneaththetouchofherhand。Itwasquietlydone，buttherewasadisdaininhisyoungfacewhichmadeherwincethoughshepretendedtoshrughershouldersamusedly。
``Yourefusetoanswer？\'\'shelaughed。
``Irefuse。\'\'
AtthatverymomenthesawatthecurveofthecorridortheChancellorandhisdaughterapproachingslowly。Thetwoyoungofficersweretalkinggailytothegirl。Theywereontheirwaybacktotheirbox。Washegoingtolosethem？Washe？
Thedelicatehandwaslaidonhisshoulderagain，butthistimehefeltthatitgraspedhimfirmly。
``Naughtyboy！\'\'thesoftvoicesaid。``Iamgoingtotakeyouhomewithme。IfyoustruggleIshalltellthesepeoplethatyouaremybadboywhoisherewithoutpermission。Whatwillyouanswer？Myescortiscomingdownthestaircaseandwillhelpme。
Doyousee？\'\'Andinfactthereappearedinthecrowdattheheadofthestaircasethefigureofthemanheremembered。
Hedidsee。Adampnessbrokeoutonthepalmsofhishands。Ifshedidthisboldthing，whatcouldhesaytothoseshetoldherlieto？Howcouldhebringprooforexplainwhohewas——andwhatstorydarehetell？Hisprotestationsandstruggleswouldmerelyamusethelookers-on，whowouldseeinthemonlytheimpotentrageofaninsubordinateyoungster。
Theresweptoverhimawaveofremembrancewhichbroughtback，asifhewerelivingthroughitagain，themomentwhenhehadstoodinthedarknessofthewinecellarwithhisbackagainstthedoorandheardthemanwalkawayandleavehimalone。Hefeltagainashehaddonethen——butnowhewasinanotherlandandfarawayfromhisfather。HecoulddonothingtohelphimselfunlessSomethingshowedhimaway。
Hemadenosound，andthewomanwhoheldhimsawonlyaflameleapunderhisdenseblacklashes。
Butsomethingwithinhimcalledout。Itwasasifheheardit。
Itwasthatstrongself——theselfthatwasMarco，anditcalled——itcalledasifitshouted。
``Help！\'\'itcalled——tothatUnknownStrangerThingwhichhadmadeworldsandwhichheandhisfathersooftentalkedofandinwhosepowertheysobelieved。``Help！\'\'
TheChancellorwasdrawingnearer。Perhaps！Shouldhe——？
``Youaretooproudtokickandshout，\'\'thevoicewenton。
``Andpeoplewouldonlylaugh。Doyousee？\'\'
Thestairswerecrowdedandthemanwhowasattheheadofthemcouldonlymoveslowly。Buthehadseentheboy。
Marcoturnedsothathecouldfacehiscaptorsquarelyasifheweregoingtosaysomethinginanswertoher。Buthewasnot。
Evenashemadethemovementofturning，thehelphehadcalledforcameandheknewwhatheshoulddo。Andhecoulddotwothingsatonce——savehimselfandgivehisSign——because，theSignoncegiven，theChancellorwouldunderstand。
``Hewillbehereinamoment。Hehasrecognizedyou，\'\'thewomansaid。
Asheglancedupthestairs，thedelicategripofherhandunconsciouslyslackened。
Marcowhirledawayfromher。ThebellrangwhichwastowarntheaudiencethattheymustreturntotheirseatsandhesawtheChancellorhastenhispace。
Amomentlater，theoldaristocratfoundhimselfamazedlylookingdownatthepalefaceofabreathlessladwhospoketohiminGermanandinsuchamannerthathecouldnotbutpauseandlisten。
``Sir，\'\'hewassaying，``thewomaninvioletatthefootofthestairsisaspy。Shetrappedmeonceandshethreatenstodoitagain。Sir，mayIbegyoutoprotectme？\'\'
Hesaiditlowandfast。Nooneelsecouldhearhiswords。
``What！What！\'\'theChancellorexclaimed。
Andthen，drawingastepnearerandquiteaslowandrapidlybutwithperfectdistinctness，Marcoutteredfourwords：
``TheLampislighted。\'\'
TheHelpcryhadbeenansweredinstantly。Marcosawitatonceintheoldman\'seyes，notwithstandingthatheturnedtolookatthewomanatthefootofthestaircaseasifsheonlyconcernedhim。
``What！What！\'\'hesaidagain，andmadeamovementtowardher，pullinghislargemoustachewithafiercehand。
ThenMarcorecognizedthatacuriousthinghappened。TheLovelyPersonsawthemovementandthegraymoustache，andthatinstanthersmilediedawayandsheturnedquitewhite——sowhite，thatunderthebrilliantelectriclightshewasalmostgreenandscarcelylookedlovelyatall。Shemadeasigntothemanonthestaircaseandslippedthroughthecrowdlikeaneel。Shewasaslimflexiblecreatureandneverwasadisappearancemorewonderfulinitsrapidity。Betweenstoutmatronsandtheirthinorstoutescortsandfamiliesshemadeherwayandlostherself——butalwaysmakingtowardtheexit。Intwominutestherewasnosightofhervioletdraperiestobeseen。Shewasgoneandso，evidently，washermalecompanion。
ItwasplaintoMarcothattofollowtheprofessionofaspywasnotbyanymeansasafething。TheChancellorhadrecognizedher——shehadrecognizedtheChancellorwhoturnedlookingferociouslyangryandspoketooneoftheyoungofficers。
``SheandthemanwithheraretwoofthemostdangerousspiesinEurope，SheisaRumanianandheisaRussian。WhattheywantedofthisinnocentladIdon\'tpretendtoknow。Whatdidshethreaten？\'\'toMarco。
Marcowasfeelingrathercoldandsickandhadlosthishealthycolorforthemoment。
``ShesaidshemeanttotakemehomewithherandwouldpretendI
washersonwhohadcomeherewithoutpermission，\'\'heanswered。
``ShebelievesIknowsomethingIdonot。\'\'Hemadeahesitatingbutgratefulbow。``Thethirdact，sir——Imustnotkeepyou。
Thankyou！Thankyou！\'\'
TheChancellormovedtowardtheentrancedoorofthebalconyseats，buthediditwithhishandonMarco\'sshoulder。
``Seethathegetshomesafely，\'\'hesaidtotheyoungerofthetwoofficers。``Sendamessengerwithhim。He\'syoungtobeattackedbycreaturesofthatkind。\'\'
PoliteyoungofficersnaturallyobeythecommandsofChancellorsandsuchdignitaries。ThisonefoundwithouttroubleayoungprivatewhomarchedwithMarcothroughthedesertedstreetstohislodgings。HewasastolidyoungBavarianpeasantandseemedtohavenocuriosityorevenanyinterestinthereasonforthecommandgivenhim。HewasinfactthinkingofhissweetheartwholivednearKonigseeandwhohadskatedwithhimonthefrozenlakelastwinter。Hescarcelygaveaglancetotheschoolboyhewastoescort，heneitherknewnorwonderedwhy。
TheRathadfallenasleepoverhispapersandlaywithhisheadonhisfoldedarmsonthetable。ButhewasawakenedbyMarco\'scomingintotheroomandsatupblinkinghiseyesintheefforttogetthemopen。
``Didyouseehim？Didyougetnearenough？\'\'hedrowsed。
``Yes，\'\'Marcoanswered。``Igotnearenough。\'
TheRatsatuprightsuddenly。
``It\'snotbeeneasy，\'\'heexclaimed。``I\'msuresomethinghappened——somethingwentwrong。\'\'
``Somethingnearlywentwrong——VERYnearly，\'\'answeredMarco。
ButashespokehetookthesketchoftheChancelloroutoftheslitinhissleeveandtoreitandburneditwithamatch。``ButIdidgetnearenough。Andthat\'sTWO。\'\'
Theytalkedlong，beforetheywenttosleepthatnight。TheRatgrewpaleashelistenedtothestoryofthewomaninviolet。
``Ioughttohavegonewithyou！\'\'hesaid。``Iseenow。Anaide-de-campmustalwaysbeinattendance。Itwouldhavebeenharderforhertomanagetwothanone。Imustalwaysbeneartowatch，evenifIamnotclosebyyou。Ifyouhadnotcomeback——ifyouhadnotcomeback！\'\'Hestruckhisclenchedhandstogetherfiercely。``WhatshouldIhavedone！\'\'
WhenMarcoturnedtowardhimfromthetablenearwhichhewasstanding，helookedlikehisfather。
``YouwouldhavegoneonwiththeGamejustasfarasyoucould，\'\'hesaid。``Youcouldnotleaveit。Youremembertheplaces，andthefaces，andtheSign。Thereissomemoney；andwhenitwasallgone，youcouldhavebegged，asweusedtopretendweshould。
Wehavenothadtodoityet；anditwasbesttosaveitforcountryplacesandvillages。Butyoucouldhavedoneitifyouwereobligedto。TheGamewouldhavetogoon。\'\'
TheRatcaughtathisthinchestasifhehadbeenstruckbreathless。
``Withoutyou？\'\'hegasped。``Withoutyou？\'\'
``Yes，\'\'saidMarco。``Andwemustthinkofit，andplanincaseanythinglikethatshouldhappen。\'\'
Hestoppedhimselfquitesuddenly，andsatdown，lookingstraightbeforehim，asifatsomefarawaythinghesaw。
``Nothingwillhappen，\'\'hesaid。``Nothingcan。\'\'
``Whatareyouthinkingof？\'\'TheRatgulped，becausehisbreathhadnotquitecomeback。``Whywillnothinghappen？\'\'
``Because——\'\'theboyspokeinanalmostmatter-of-facttone——inquiteanunexaltedtoneatallevents，``youseeIcanalwaysmakeastrongcall，asIdidtonight。\'\'
``Didyoushout？\'\'TheRatasked。``Ididn\'tknowyoushouted。\'\'
``Ididn\'t。Isaidnothingaloud。ButI——themyselfthatisinme，\'\'Marcotouchedhimselfonthebreast，``calledout，`Help！
Help！\'withallitsstrength。Andhelpcame。\'\'
TheRatregardedhimdubiously。
``Whatdiditcallto？\'\'heasked。
``TothePower——totheStrength-place——totheThoughtthatdoesthings。TheBuddhisthermit，whotoldmyfatheraboutit，calledit`TheThoughtthatthoughttheWorld。\'\'\'
AreluctantsuspicionbetrayeditselfinTheRat\'seyes。
``Doyoumeanyouprayed？\'\'heinquired，withaslighttouchofdisfavor。
Marco\'seyesremainedfixeduponhiminvaguethoughtfulnessforamomentorsoofpause。
``Idon\'tknow，\'\'hesaidatlast。``Perhapsit\'sthesamething——whenyouneedsomethingsomuchthatyoucryoutloudforit。Butit\'snotwords，it\'sastrongthingwithoutaname。I
calledlikethatwhenIwasshutinthewine-cellar。I
rememberedsomeofthethingstheoldBuddhisttoldmyfather。\'\'
TheRatmovedrestlessly。
``Thehelpcamethattime，\'\'headmitted。``Howdiditcometo-
night？\'\'
``Inthatthoughtwhichflashedintomymindalmostthenextsecond。Itcamelikelightning。AllatonceIknewifIrantotheChancellorandsaidthewomanwasaspy，itwouldstartlehimintolisteningtome；andthatthenIcouldgivehimtheSign；
andthatwhenIgavehimtheSign，hewouldknowIwasspeakingthetruthandwouldprotectme。\'\'
``Itwasasplendidthought！\'\'TheRatsaid。``Anditwasquick。
Butitwasyouwhothoughtofit。\'\'
``AllthinkingispartoftheBigThought，\'\'saidMarcoslowly。
``ItKNOWS——ItKNOWS。AndtheoutsidepartofussomehowbrokethechainthatlinkedustoIt。Andwearealwaystryingtomendthechain，withoutknowingit。Thatiswhatourthinkingis——tryingtomendthechain。Butweshallfindouthowtodoitsometime。TheoldBuddhisttoldmyfatherso——justasthesunwasrisingfrombehindahighpeakoftheHimalayas。\'\'Thenheaddedhastily，``Iamonlytellingyouwhatmyfathertoldme，andheonlytoldmewhattheoldhermittoldhim。\'\'
``Doesyourfatherbelievewhathetoldhim？\'\'TheRat\'sbewildermenthadbecomeaneagerandrestlessthing。
``Yes，hebelievesit。Healwaysthoughtsomethinglikeit，himself。Thatiswhyheissocalmandknowssowellhowtowait。\'\'
``IsTHATit！\'\'breathedTheRat。``Isthatwhy？Has——hashemendedthechain？\'\'Andtherewasaweinhisvoice，becauseofthisonemantowhomhefeltanyachievementwaspossible。
``Ibelievehehas，\'\'saidMarco。``Don\'tyouthinksoyourself？\'\'
``Hehasdonesomething，\'\'TheRatsaid。
Heseemedtobethinkingthingsoverbeforehespokeagain——andthenevenmoreslowlythanMarco。
``Ifhecouldmendthechain，\'\'hesaidalmostinawhisper，``hecouldfindoutwherethedescendantoftheLostPrinceis。HewouldknowwhattodoforSamavia！\'\'
Heendedthewordswithastart，andhiswholefaceglowedwithanew，amazedlight。
``Perhapshedoesknow！\'\'hecried。``Ifthehelpcomeslikethoughts——asyoursdid——perhapshisthoughtoflettingusgivetheSignwaspartofit。We——justwetwoevery-dayboys——arepartofit！\'\'
``TheoldBuddhistsaid——\'\'beganMarco。
``Lookhere！\'\'brokeinTheRat。``Tellmethewholestory。I
wanttohearit。\'\'
ItwasbecauseLoristanhadheardit，andlistenedandbelieved，thatTheRathadtakenfire。Hisimaginationseizedupontheidea，asitwouldhaveseizedonsometheoryofnecromancyprovedtrueandworkable。
Withhiselbowsonthetableandhishandsinhishair，heleanedforward，twistingalockwithrestlessfingers。Hisbreathquickened。
``Tellit，\'\'hesaid，``Iwanttohearitall！\'\'
``Ishallhavetotellitinmyownwords，\'\'Marcosaid。``Anditwon\'tbeaswonderfulasitwaswhenmyfathertoldittome。
ThisiswhatIremember：
``Myfatherhadgonethroughmuchpainandtrouble。Agreatloadwasuponhim，andhehadbeentoldhewasgoingtodiebeforehisworkwasdone。HehadgonetoIndia，becauseamanhewasobligedtospeaktohadgonetheretohunt，andnooneknewwhenhewouldreturn。Myfatherfollowedhimformonthsfromonewildplacetoanother，and，whenhefoundhim，themanwouldnothearorbelievewhathehadcomesofartosay。Thenhehadjungle-feverandalmostdied。Oncethenativeslefthimfordeadinabungalowintheforest，andheheardthejackalshowlingroundhimallthenight。Throughallthehourshewasonlyaliveenoughtobeconsciousoftwothings——alltherestofhimseemedgonefromhisbody：histhoughtknewthathisworkwasunfinished——andhisbodyheardthejackalshowl！\'\'
``WastheworkforSamavia？\'\'TheRatputinquickly。``Ifhehaddiedthatnight，thedescendantoftheLostPrinceneverwouldhavebeenfound——never！\'\'TheRatbithislipsohardthatadropofbloodstartedfromit。
``Whenhewasslowlycomingaliveagain，anative，whohadgonebackandstayedtowaituponhim，toldhimthatnearthesummitofamountain，aboutfiftymilesaway，therewasaledgewhichjuttedoutintospaceandhungoverthevalley，whichwasthousandsoffeetbelow。OntheledgetherewasahutinwhichtherelivedanancientBuddhist，whowasaholyman，astheycalledhim，andwhohadbeenthereduringtimewhichhadnotbeenmeasured。Theysaidthattheirgrandparentsandgreat-grandparentshadknownofhim，thoughveryfewpersonshadeverseenhim。Itwastoldthatthemostsavagebeastwastamebeforehim。Theysaidthataman-eatingtigerwouldstoptosalutehim，andthatathirstylionesswouldbringherwhelpstodrinkatthespringnearhishut。\'\'
``Thatwasalie，\'\'saidTheRatpromptly。
Marconeitherlaughednorfrowned。
``HowdoweKNOW？\'\'hesaid。``Itwasanative\'sstory，anditmightbeanything。Myfatherneithersaiditwastruenorfalse。
Helistenedtoallthatwastoldhimbynatives。Theysaidthattheholymanwasthebrotherofthestars。Heknewallthingspastandtocome，andcouldhealthesick。Butmostpeople，especiallythosewhohadsinfulthoughts，wereafraidtogonearhim。\'\'
``I\'dliketohaveseen——\'\'TheRatponderedaloud，buthedidnotfinish。
``Beforemyfatherwaswell，hehadmadeuphismindtotraveltotheledgeifhecould。Hefeltasifhemustgo。Hethoughtthatifheweregoingtodie，thehermitmighttellhimsomewisethingtodoforSamavia。\'\'
``HemighthavegivenhimamessagetoleavetotheSecretOnes，\'\'saidTheRat。
``Hewassoweakwhenhesetoutonhisjourneythathewonderedifhewouldreachtheendofit。Partofthewayhetraveledbybullockcart，andpart，hewascarriedbynatives。Butatlastthebearerscametoaplacemorethanhalfwayupthemountain，andwouldgonofurther。Thentheywentbackandlefthimtoclimbtherestofthewayhimself。Theyhadtraveledslowlyandhehadgotmorestrength，buthewasweakyet。Theforestwasmorewonderfulthananythinghehadeverseen。Thereweretropicaltreeswithfoliagelikelace，andsomewithhugeleaves，andsomeofthemseemedtoreachthesky。Sometimeshecouldbarelyseegleamsofbluethroughthem。Andvinesswungdownfromtheirhighbranches，andcaughteachother，andmattedtogether；andtherewerehotscents，andstrangeflowers，anddazzlingbirdsdartingabout，andthickmoss，andlittlecascadesburstingout。Thepathgrewnarrowerandsteeper，andtheflowerscentsandthesultrinessmadeitlikewalkinginahothouse。Heheardrustlingsintheundergrowth，whichmighthavebeenmadebyanykindofwildanimal；oncehesteppedacrossadeadlysnakewithoutseeingit。Butitwasasleepanddidnothurthim。Heknewthenativeshadbeenconvincedthathewouldnotreachtheledge；butforsomestrangereasonhebelievedheshould。Hestoppedandrestedmanytimes，andhedranksomemilkhehadbroughtinacanteen。Thehigherheclimbed，themorewonderfuleverythingwas，andastrangefeelingbegantofillhim。Hesaidhisbodystoppedbeingtiredandbegantofeelverylight。Andhisloadlifteditselffromhisheart，asifitwerenothisloadanymorebutbelongedtosomethingstronger。EvenSamaviaseemedtobesafe。Ashewenthigherandhigher，andlookeddowntheabyssattheworldbelow，itappearedasifitwerenotrealbutonlyadreamhehadwakenedfrom——onlyadream。\'\'
TheRatmovedrestlessly。
``Perhapshewaslight-headedwiththefever，\'\'hesuggested。
``Thefeverhadlefthim，andtheweaknesshadlefthim，\'\'Marcoanswered。``Itseemedasifhehadneverreallybeenillatall——asifnoonecouldbeill，becausethingslikethatwereonlydreams，justastheworldwas。\'\'
``IwishI\'dbeenwithhim！PerhapsIcouldhavethrowntheseaway——downintotheabyss！\'\'AndTheRatshookhiscrutcheswhichrestedagainstthetable。``IfeelasifIwasclimbing，too。Goon。\'\'
MarcohadbecomemoreabsorbedthanTheRat。Hehadlosthimselfinthememoryofthestory。
``Ifeltthat_I_wasclimbing，whenhetoldme，\'\'hesaid。``I
feltasifIwerebreathinginthehotflower-scentsandpushingasidethebigleavesandgiantferns。Therehadbeenarain，andtheywerewetandshiningwithbigdrops，likejewels，thatshoweredoverhimashethrusthiswaythroughandunderthem。
Andthestillnessandtheheight——thestillnessandtheheight！
Ican\'tmakeitrealtoyouashemadeittome！Ican\'t！Iwasthere。Hetookme。Anditwassohigh——andsostill——andsobeautifulthatIcouldscarcelybearit。\'\'
Butthetruthwas，thatwithsomevividboy-touchhehadcarriedhishearerfar。TheRatwasdeadlyquiet。Evenhiseyeshadnotmoved。Hespokealmostasifhewereinasortoftrance。
``It\'sreal，\'\'hesaid。``I\'mtherenow。Ashighasyou——goon——goon。Iwanttoclimbhigher。\'\'
AndMarco，understanding，wenton。
``Thedaywasoverandthestarswereoutwhenhereachedtheplaceweretheledgewas。Hesaidhethoughtthatduringthelastpartoftheclimbheneverlookedontheearthatall。Thestarsweresoimmensethathecouldnotlookawayfromthem。
Theyseemedtobedrawinghimup。Andalloverheadwaslikevioletvelvet，andtheyhungtherelikegreatlampsofradiance。
Canyouseethem？Youmustseethem。Myfathersawthemallnightlong。Theywerepartofthewonder。\'\'
``Iseethem，\'\'TheRatanswered，stillinhistrance-likevoiceandwithoutstirring，andMarcoknewhedid。
``Andthere，withthehugestarswatchingit，wasthehutontheledge。Andtherewasnoonethere。Thedoorwasopen。Andoutsideitwasalowbenchandtableofstone。Andonthetablewasamealofdatesandrice，waiting。Notfarfromthehutwasadeepspring，whichranawayinaclearbrook。Myfatherdrankandbathedhisfacethere。Thenhewentoutontheledge，andsatdownandwaited，withhisfaceturneduptothestars。Hedidnotliedown，andhethoughthesawthestarsallthetimehewaited。Hewassurehedidnotsleep。Hedidnotknowhowlonghesattherealone。Butatlasthedrewhiseyesfromthestars，asifhehadbeencommandedtodoit。Andhewasnotaloneanymore。Ayardorsoawayfromhimsattheholyman。Heknewitwasthehermitbecausehiseyesweredifferentfromanyhumaneyeshehadeverbeheld。Theywereasstillasthenightwas，andasdeepastheshadowscoveringtheworldthousandsoffeetbelow，andtheyhadafar，farlook，andastrangelightwasinthem。\'\'
``Whatdidhesay？\'\'askedTheRathoarsely。
``Heonlysaid，`Rise，myson。Iawaitedthee。GoandeatthefoodIpreparedforthee，andthenwewillspeaktogether。\'Hedidn\'tmoveorspeakagainuntilmyfatherhadeatenthemeal。
Heonlysatonthemossandlethiseyesrestontheshadowsovertheabyss。Whenmyfatherwentback，hemadeagesturewhichmeantthatheshouldsitnearhim。
``Thenhesatstillforseveralminutes，andlethiseyesrestonmyfather，untilhefeltasifthelightinthemweresetinthemidstofhisownbodyandhissoul。Thenhesaid，`Icannottelltheeallthouwouldstknow。ThatImaynotdo。\'Hehadawonderfulgentlevoice，likeadeepsoftbell。`Buttheworkwillbedone。Thylifeandthyson\'slifewillsetitonitsway。\'
``Theysatthroughthewholenighttogether。Andthestarshungquitenear，asiftheylistened。Andthereweresoundsinthebushesofstealthy，paddingfeetwhichwanderedaboutasiftheownersofthemlistenedtoo。Andthewonderful，low，peacefulvoiceoftheholymanwentonandon，tellingofwonderswhichseemedlikemiraclesbutwhichweretohimonlythe`workingoftheLaw。\'\'\'
``WhatistheLaw？\'\'TheRatbrokein。
``Thereweretwomyfatherwrotedown，andIlearnedthem。ThefirstwasthelawofTheOne。I\'lltrytosaythat，\'\'andhecoveredhiseyesandwaitedthroughamomentofsilence。
ItseemedtoTheRatasiftheroomheldanextraordinarystillness。
``Listen！\'\'camenext。``Thisisit：
```Thereareamyriadworlds。ThereisbutOneThoughtoutofwhichtheygrew。ItsLawisOrderwhichcannotswerve。Itscreaturesarefreetochoose。OnlytheycancreateDisorder，whichinitselfisPainandWoeandHateandFear。Thesetheyalonecanbringforth。TheGreatOneisaGoldenLight。Itisnotremotebutnear。Holdthyselfwithinitsglowandthouwiltbeholdallthingsclearly。First，withallthybreathingbeing，knowonething！Thatthineownthought——whensothoustandest——isonewithThatwhichthoughttheWorlds！\'\'\'
``What？\'\'gaspedTheRat。``MYthought——thethings_I_think！\'\'
``Yourthoughts——boys\'thoughts——anybody\'sthoughts。\'\'
``You\'regivingmethejim-jams！\'\'
``Hesaidit，\'\'answeredMarco。``AnditwasthenhespokeaboutthebrokenLink——andaboutthegreatestbooksintheworld——thatinalltheirdifferentways，theywereonlysayingoverandoveragainonethingthousandsoftimes。Justthisthing——`Hatenot，Fearnot，Love。\'AndhesaidthatwasOrder。Andwhenitwasdisturbed，sufferingcame——povertyandmiseryandcatastropheandwars。\'\'
``Wars！\'\'TheRatsaidsharply。``TheWorldcouldn\'tdowithoutwar——andarmiesanddefences！WhataboutSamavia？\'\'
``Myfatheraskedhimthat。Andthisiswhatheanswered。I
learnedthattoo。Letmethinkagain，\'\'andhewaitedashehadwaitedbefore。Thenheliftedhishead。``Listen！Thisisit：
```OutoftheblacknessofDisorderanditsoutpouringofhumanmisery，therewillarisetheOrderwhichisPeace。WhenManlearnsthatheisonewiththeThoughtwhichitselfcreatesallbeauty，allpower，allsplendor，andallrepose，hewillnotfearthathisbrothercanrobhimofhisheart\'sdesire。HewillstandintheLightanddrawtohimselfhisown。\'\'\'
``Drawtohimself？\'\'TheRatsaid。``Drawwhathewants？I
don\'tbelieveit！\'\'
``Nobodydoes，\'\'saidMarco。``Wedon\'tknow。Hesaidwestoodinthedarkofthenight——withoutstars——anddidnotknowthatthebrokenchainswungjustaboveus。\'\'
``Idon\'tbelieveit！\'\'saidTheRat。``It\'stoobig！\'\'
Marcodidnotsaywhetherhebelieveditornot。Heonlywentonspeaking。
``Myfatherlisteneduntilhefeltasifhehadstoppedbreathing。JustatthestillestofthestillnesstheBuddhiststoppedspeaking。Andtherewasarustlingoftheundergrowthafewyardsaway，asifsomethingbigwaspushingitswaythrough——andtherewasthesoftpadoffeet。TheBuddhistturnedhisheadandmyfatherheardhimsaysoftly：`Comeforth，Sister。\'
``Andahugeleopardesswithtwocubswalkedoutontotheledgeandcametohimandthrewherselfdownwithaheavylungenearhisfeet。\'\'
``Yourfathersawthat！\'\'criedoutTheRat。``Youmeantheoldfellowknewsomethingthatmadewildbeastsafraidtotouchhimoranyonenearhim？\'\'
``Notafraid。Theyknewhewastheirbrother，andthathewasonewiththeLaw。HehadlivedsolongwiththeGreatThoughtthatalldarknessandfearhadlefthimforever。HehadmendedtheChain。\'\'
TheRathadreacheddeepwaters。Heleanedforward——hishandsburrowinginhishair，hisfacescowlingandtwisted，hiseyesboringintospace。Hehadclimbedtotheledgeatthemountain-top；hehadseentheluminousimmensityofthestars，andhehadlookeddownintotheshadowsfillingtheworldthousandsoffeetbelow。Wastheresomeremotedeepinhimfromwhosedarknessaslowlightwasrising？AllthatLoristanhadsaidheknewmustbetrue。Buttherestofit——？
Marcogotupandcameovertohim。Helookedlikehisfatheragain。
``IfthedescendantoftheLostPrinceisbroughtbacktoruleSamavia，hewillteachhispeopletheLawoftheOne。Itwasforthattheholymantaughtmyfatheruntilthedawncame。\'\'
``Whowill——whowillteachtheLostPrince——thenewKing——whenheisfound？\'\'TheRatcried。``Whowillteachhim？\'\'
``Thehermitsaidmyfatherwould。Hesaidhewouldalsoteachhisson——andthatsonwouldteachhisson——andhewouldteachhis。Andthroughsuchastheywere，thewholeworldwouldcometoknowtheOrderandtheLaw。\'\'
NeverhadTheRatlookedsostrangeandfierceathing。Awholeworldatpeace！Notactics——nobattles——noslaughteredheroes——noclashofarms，andfame！Itmadehimfeelsick。Andyet——
somethingsethischestheaving。
``Andyourfatherwouldteachhimthat——whenhewasfound！Sothathecouldteachhissons。YourfatherBELIEVESinit？\'\'
``Yes，\'\'Marcoanswered。Hesaidnothingbut``Yes。\'\'TheRatthrewhimselfforwardonthetable，facedownward。
``Then，\'\'hesaid，``hemustmakemebelieveit。Hemustteachme——ifhecan。\'\'
Theyheardaclumpingstepuponthestaircase，and，whenitreachedthelanding，itstoppedattheirdoor。Thentherewasasolidknock。
WhenMarcoopenedthedoor，theyoungsoldierwhohadescortedhimfromtheHof-Theaterwasstandingoutside。Helookedasuninterestedandstolidasbefore，ashehandedinasmallflatpackage。
``YoumusthavedroppeditnearyourseatattheOpera，\'\'hesaid。``Iwastogiveitintoyourownhands。Itisyourpurse。\'\'
Afterhehadclumpeddownthestaircaseagain，MarcoandTheRatdrewaquickbreathatoneandthesametime。
``IhadnoseatandIhadnopurse，\'\'Marcosaid。``Letusopenit。\'\'
Therewasaflatlimpleathernote-holderinside。Initwasapaper，attheheadofwhichwerephotographsoftheLovelyPersonandhercompanion。Beneathwereafewlineswhichstatedthattheywerethewellknownspies，EugeniaKarovnaandPaulVarel，andthatthebearermustbeprotectedagainstthem。ItwassignedbytheChiefofthePolice。Onaseparatesheetwaswrittenthecommand：``Carrythiswithyouasprotection。\'\'
``Thatishelp，\'\'TheRatsaid。``Itwouldprotectus，eveninanothercountry。TheChancellorsentit——butyoumadethestrongcall——andit\'shere！\'\'
Therewasnostreetlamptoshineintotheirwindowswhentheywentatlasttobed。Whentheblindwasdrawnup，theywerenearertheskythantheyhadbeenintheMaryleboneRoad。Thelastthingeachofthemsaw，ashewenttosleep，wasthestars——andintheirdreams，theysawthemgrowlargerandlarger，andhanglikelampsofradianceagainsttheviolet——velvetskyabovealedgeofaHimalayanMountain，wheretheylistenedtothesoundofalowvoicegoingonandonandon。
XXII
ANIGHTVIGIL
OnahillinthemidstofagreatAustrianplain，aroundwhichhighAlpswaitwatchingthroughtheagesstandsavenerablefortress，almostmorebeautifulthananythingonehaseverseen。
Perhaps，ifitwerenotforthegreatplainfloweringbroadlyaboutitwithitswide-spreadbeautiesofmeadow-land，andwood，anddimtonedbuildingsgatheredaboutfarms，anditsdreamofasmallancientcityatitsfeet，itmight——thoughitistobedoubted——seemsomethinglessamarvelofmedievalpicturesqueness。Butoutoftheplainrisesthelowhill，andsurroundingitatastatelydistancestandsguardthegiantmajestyofAlps，withshouldersinthecloudsandgod-likeheadsabovethem，lookingon——alwayslookingon——sometimesthemselvesetherealcloudsofsnow-whiteness，sometimesmonsterbarecragswhichpiercetheblue，andwhoseunchangingsilenceseemstoknowthesecretoftheeverlasting。Andonthehillwhichthisaugustcircleholdsinitsembrace，asthoughitenclosedatreasure，standstheold，old，toweredfortressbuiltasacitadelforthePrinceArchbishops，whowerekingsintheirdomaininthelongpastcenturieswhenthesplendorandpowerofecclesiasticalprinceswasamongthegreatestuponearth。
Andasyouapproachthetown——andasyouleaveit——andasyouwalkthroughitsstreets，thebroadcalmempty-lookingones，orthenarrowthoroughfareswhosehousesseemsoneartoeachother，whetheryouclimbordescend——orcrossbridges，orgazeatchurches，orstepoutonyourbalconyatnighttolookatthemountainsandthemoon——alwaysitseemsthatfromsomepointyoucanseeitgazingdownatyou——thecitadelofHohen-Salzburg。
ItwastoSalzburgtheywentnext，becauseatSalzburgwastobefoundthemanwholookedlikeahair-dresserandwhoworkedinabarber\'sshop。Strangeasitmightseem，tohimalsomustbecarriedtheSign。
``Theremaybepeoplewhocometohimtobeshaved——soldiers，ormenwhoknowthings，\'\'TheRatworkeditout，``andhecanspeaktothemwhenheisstandingclosetothem。Itwillbeeasytogetnearhim。Youcangoandhaveyourhaircut。\'\'
ThejourneyfromMunichwasnotalongone，andduringthelatterpartofittheyhadthewooden-seatedthird-classcarriagetothemselves。Eventhedrowsyoldpeasantwhonoddedandsleptinonecornergotoutwithhisbundlesatlast。ToMarcothemountainswerelong-knownwonderswhichcouldnevergrowold。
Theyhadalwaysandalwaysbeensoold！Surelytheyhadbeenthefirstoftheworld！Surelytheyhadbeenstandingtherewaitingwhenitwassaid``LettherebeLight。\'\'TheLighthadknownitwouldfindthemthere。Theyweresosilent，andyetitseemedasiftheysaidsomeamazingthing——somethingwhichwouldtakeyourbreathfromyouifyoucouldhearit。Andtheyneverchanged。
Thecloudschanged，theywreathedthem，andhidthem，andtraileddownthem，andpouredoutstormtorrentsonthem，andthunderedagainstthem，anddartedforkedlightningsroundthem。Butthemountainsstoodthereafterwardsasifsuchthingshadnotbeenandwerenotintheworld。Windsroaredandtoreatthem，centuriespassedoverthem——centuriesofmillionsoflives，ofchangingofkingdomsandempires，ofbattlesandworld-widefamewhichgrewanddiedandpassedaway；andtemplescrumbled，andkings\'tombswereforgotten，andcitieswereburiedandothersbuiltoverthemafterhundredsofyears——andperhapsafewstonesfellfromamountainside，orafissurewasworn，whichthepeoplebelowcouldnotevensee。Andthatwasall。Theretheystood，andperhapstheirsecretwasthattheyhadbeenthereforeverandever。ThatwaswhatthemountainssaidtoMarco，whichwaswhyhedidnotwanttotalkmuch，butsatandgazedoutofthecarriagewindow。
TheRathadbeenverysilentallthemorning。Hehadbeensilentwhentheygotup，andhehadscarcelyspokenwhentheymadetheirwaytothestationatMunichandsatwaitingfortheirtrain。ItseemedtoMarcothathewasthinkingsohardthathewaslikeapersonwhowasfarawayfromtheplacehestoodin。Hisbrowsweredrawntogetherandhiseyesdidnotseemtoseethepeoplewhopassedby。Usuallyhesaweverythingandmadeshrewdremarksonalmostallhesaw。Butto-dayhewassomehowotherwiseabsorbed。Hesatinthetrainwithhisforeheadagainstthewindowandstaredout。HemovedandgaspedwhenhefoundhimselfstaringattheAlps，butafterwardshewasevenstrangelystill。
Itwasnotuntilafterthesleepyoldpeasanthadgatheredhisbundlesandgotoutatastationthathespoke，andhediditwithoutturninghishead。
``Youonlytoldmeoneofthetwolaws，\'\'hesaid。``Whatwastheotherone？\'\'
Marcobroughthimselfbackfromhisdreamofreachingthehighestmountain-topandseeingcloudsfloatbeneathhisfeetinthesun。
Hehadtocomebackalongway。
``Areyouthinkingofthat？Iwonderedwhatyouhadbeenthinkingofallthemorning，\'\'hesaid。
``Icouldn\'tstopthinkingofit。Whatwasthesecondone？\'\'
saidTheRat，buthedidnotturnhishead。
``ItwascalledtheLawofEarthlyLiving。Itwasforeveryday，\'\'saidMarco。``Itwasfortheorderingofcommonthings——thesmallthingswethinkdon\'tmatter，aswellasthebigones。Ialwaysrememberthatonewithoutanytrouble。Thiswasit：
```Letpassthroughthymind，myson，onlytheimagethouwouldstdesiretoseebecomeatruth。Meditateonlyuponthewishofthyheart——seeingfirstthatitissuchascanwrongnomanandisnotignoble。Thenwillittakeearthlyformanddrawneartothee。
```ThisistheLawofThatwhichCreates。\'\'\'
ThenTheRatturnedround。Hehadashrewdlyreasoningmind。
``Thatsoundsasifyoucouldgetanythingyouwanted，ifyouthinkaboutitlongenoughandintherightway，\'\'hesaid。
``Butperhapsitonlymeansthat，ifyoudoit，you\'llbehappyafteryou\'redead。Myfatherusedtoshoutwithlaughingwhenhewasdrunkandtalkedaboutthingslikethatandlookedathisrags。\'\'
Hehuggedhiskneesforafewminutes。Hewasrememberingtherags，andthefog-darkenedroomintheslums，andtheloud，hideouslaughter。
``Whatifyouwantsomethingthatwillharmsomebodyelse？\'\'hesaidnext。``Whatifyouhatesomeoneandwishyoucouldkillhim？\'\'
``Thatwasoneofthequestionsmyfatheraskedthatnightontheledge。Theholymansaidpeoplealwaysaskedit，\'\'Marcoanswered。``Thiswastheanswer：
```Lethimwhostretchethforthhishandtodrawthelightningtohisbrotherrecallthatthroughhisownsoulandbodywillpassthebolt。\'\'\'
``Wonderifthere\'sanythinginit？\'\'TheRatpondered。``It\'dmakeachapcarefulifhebelievedit！Revengingyourselfonamanwouldbelikeholdinghimagainstalivewiretokillhimandgettingallthevoltsthroughyourself。\'\'
Asuddenanxietyrevealeditselfinhisface。
``Doesyourfatherbelieveit？\'\'heasked。``Doeshe？\'\'
``Heknowsitistrue，\'\'Marcosaid。
``I\'llownup，\'\'TheRatdecidedafterfurtherreflection——``I\'llownupI\'mgladthatthereisn\'tanyoneleftthatI\'veagrudgeagainst。Thereisn\'tanyone——now。\'\'
Thenhefellagainintosilenceanddidnotspeakuntiltheirjourneywasatanend。Astheyarrivedearlyintheday，theyhadplentyoftimetowanderaboutthemarvelouslittleoldcity。
Butthroughthewidestreetsandthroughthenarrowones，underthearchwaysintothemarketgardens，acrossthebridgeandintothesquarewherethe``glockenspiel\'\'playeditsoldtinklingtune，everywheretheCitadellookeddownandalwaysTheRatwalkedoninhisdream。
Theyfoundthehair-dresser\'sshopinoneofthenarrowstreets。
Therewerenograndshopsthere，andthisparticularshopwasamodestone。Theywalkedpastitonce，andthenwentback。Itwasashopsohumblethattherewasnothingremarkableintwocommonboysgoingintoittohavetheirhaircut。Anoldmancameforwardtoreceivethem。Hewasevidentlygladoftheirmodestpatronage。HeundertooktoattendtoTheRathimself，but，havingarrangedhiminachair，heturnedaboutandcalledtosomeoneinthebackroom。
``Heinrich，\'\'hesaid。
IntheslitinMarco\'ssleevewasthesketchofthemanwithsmoothcurledhair，wholookedlikeahair-dresser。Theyhadfoundacornerinwhichtotaketheirfinallookatitbeforetheyturnedbacktocomein。Heinrich，whocameforthfromthesmallbackroom，hadsmoothcurledhair。Helookedextremelylikeahair-dresser。Hehadfeatureslikethoseinthesketch——hisnoseandmouthandchinandfigurewerelikewhatMarcohaddrawnandcommittedtomemory。But——
HegaveMarcoachairandtiedtheprofessionalwhitecoveringaroundhisneck。Marcoleanedbackandclosedhiseyesamoment。
``ThatisNOTtheman！\'\'hewassayingtohimself。``HeisNOT
theman。\'\'
Howheknewhewasnot，hecouldnothaveexplained，buthefeltsure。Itwasastrongconviction。Butforthesuddenfeeling，nothingwouldhavebeeneasierthantogivetheSign。Andifhecouldnotgiveitnow，wherewastheonetowhomitmustbespoken，andwhatwouldbetheresultifthatonecouldnotbefound？Andifthereweretwowhoweresomuchalike，howcouldhebesure？
Eachownerofeachofthepicturedfaceswasalinkinapowerfulsecretchain；andifalinkweremissed，thechainwouldbebroken。EachtimeHeinrichcamewithinthelineofhisvision，herecordedeveryfeatureafreshandcompareditwiththerememberedsketch。Eachtimetheresemblancebecamemoreclose，buteachtimesomepersistentinnerconvictionrepeated，``No；
theSignisnotforhim！\'\'
Itwasdisturbing，also，tofindthatTheRatwasallatonceasrestlessashehadpreviouslybeensilentandpreoccupied。Hemovedinhischair，tothegreatdiscomfortoftheoldhair-dresser。Hekeptturninghisheadtotalk。HeaskedMarcototranslatediversquestionshewishedhimtoaskthetwomen。
TheywerequestionsabouttheCitadel——abouttheMonchsberg——theResidenz——theGlockenspiel——themountains。Headdedonequerytoanotherandcouldnotsitstill。
``Theyounggentlemanwillgetanearsnipped，\'\'saidtheoldmantoMarco。``Anditwillnotbemyfault。\'\'
``WhatshallIdo？\'\'Marcowasthinking。``Heisnottheman。\'\'
HedidnotgivetheSign。Hemustgoawayandthinkitout，thoughwherehisthoughtswouldleadhimhedidnotknow。Thiswasamoredifficultproblemthanhehadeverdreamedoffacing。
Therewasnoonetoaskadviceof。OnlyhimselfandTheRat，whowasnervouslywrigglingandtwistinginhischair。
``Youmustsitstill，\'\'hesaidtohim。``Thehair-dresserisafraidyouwillmakehimcutyoubyaccident。\'\'
``ButIwanttoknowwholivesattheResidenz？\'\'saidTheRat。
``Thesemencantellusthingsifyouaskthem。\'\'
``Itisdonenow，\'\'saidtheoldhair-dresserwitharelievedair。``Perhapsthecuttingofhishairmakestheyounggentlemannervous。Itissometimesso。\'\'
TheRatstoodclosetoMarco\'schairandaskedquestionsuntilHeinrichalsohaddonehiswork。Marcocouldnotunderstandhiscompanion\'schangeofmood。Herealizedthat，ifhehadwishedtogivetheSign，hehadbeenallowednoopportunity。Hecouldnothavegivenit。Therestlessquestioninghadsodirectedtheolderman\'sattentiontohissonandMarcothatnothingcouldhavebeensaidtoHeinrichwithouthisobservingit。
``Icouldnothavespokenifhehadbeentheman，\'\'Marcosaidtohimself。
Theirveryexitfromtheshopseemedalittlehurried。Whentheywerefairlyinthestreet，TheRatmadeaclutchatMarco\'sarm。
``Youdidn\'tgiveit？\'\'hewhisperedbreathlessly。``Ikepttalkingandtalkingtopreventyou。\'\'
Marcotriednottofeelbreathless，andhetriedtospeakinalowandlevelvoicewithnohintofexclamationinit。
``Whydidyousaythat？\'\'heasked。
TheRatdrewclosertohim。
``Thatwasnottheman！\'\'hewhispered。``Itdoesn\'tmatterhowmuchhelookslikehim，heisn\'ttherightone。\'\'
Hewaspaleandswingingalongswiftlyasifhewereinahurry。
``Let\'sgetintoaquietplace，\'\'hesaid。``Thosequeerthingsyou\'vebeentellingmehavegotholdofme。HowdidIknow？HowcouldIknow——unlessit\'sbecauseI\'vebeentryingtoworkthatsecondlaw？I\'vebeensayingtomyselfthatweshouldbetoldtherightthingstodo——fortheGameandforyourfather——andsothatIcouldbetherightsortofaide-de-camp。I\'vebeenworkingatit，and，whenhecameout，Iknewhewasnotthemaninspiteofhislooks。AndIcouldn\'tbesureyouknew，andI
thought，ifIkeptontalkingandinterruptingyouwithsillyquestions，youcouldbepreventedfromspeaking。\'\'
``There\'saplacenotfarawaywherewecangetalookatthemountains。Let\'sgothereandsitdown，\'\'saidMarco。``Iknewitwasnottherightone，too。It\'stheHelpoveragain。\'\'
``Yes，it\'stheHelp——it\'stheHelp——itmustbe，\'\'mutteredTheRat，walkingfastandwithapale，setface。``Itcouldnotbeanythingelse。\'\'
Theygotawayfromthestreetsandthepeopleandreachedthequietplacewheretheycouldseethemountains。Theretheysatdownbythewayside。TheRattookoffhiscapandwipedhisforehead，butitwasnotonlythequickwalkingwhichhadmadeitdamp。
``Thequeernessofitgavemeakindoffright，\'\'hesaid。
``Whenhecameoutandhewasnearenoughformetoseehim，asuddenstrongfeelingcameoverme。ItseemedasifIknewhewasn\'ttheman。ThenIsaidtomyself——`buthelookslikehim\'——andIbegantogetnervous。AndthenIwassureagain——andthenIwantedtotrytostopyoufromgivinghimtheSign。Andthenitallseemedfoolishness——andthenextsecondallthethingsyouhadtoldmerushedbacktomeatonce——andI
rememberedwhatIhadbeenthinkingeversince——andI
said——`Perhapsit\'stheLawbeginningtowork，\'andthepalmsofmyhandsgotmoist。\'\'
Marcowasveryquiet。Hewaslookingatthefarthestandhighestpeaksandwonderingaboutmanythings。
``Itwastheexpressionofhisfacethatwasdifferent，\'\'hesaid。``Andhiseyes。Theyarerathersmallerthantherightman\'sare。Thelightintheshopwaspoor，anditwasnotuntilthelasttimehebentovermethatIfoundoutwhatIhadnotseenbefore。Hiseyesaregray——theotheronesarebrown。\'\'
``Didyouseethat！\'\'TheRatexclaimed。``Thenwe\'resure！
We\'resafe！\'\'
``We\'renotsafetillwe\'vefoundtherightman，\'\'Marcosaid。
``Whereishe？Whereishe？Whereishe？\'\'
Hesaidthewordsdreamilyandquietly，asifhewerelostinthought——butalsoratherasifheexpectedananswer。Andhestilllookedatthefar-offpeaks。TheRat，afterwatchinghimamomentorso，begantolookatthemalso。Theywerelikealoadstonetohimtoo。Therewassomethingstillingaboutthem，andwhenyoureyeshadresteduponthemafewmomentstheydidnotwanttomoveaway。
``Theremustbealedgeuptheresomewhere，\'\'hesaidatlast。
``Let\'sgoupandlookforitandsitthereandthinkandthink——
aboutfindingtherightman。\'\'
ThereseemednothingfantasticinthistoMarco。Togointosomequietplaceandsitandthinkaboutthethinghewantedtorememberortofindoutwasanoldwayofhis。Tobequietwasalwaysthebestthing，hisfatherhadtaughthim。Itwaslikelisteningtosomethingwhichcouldspeakwithoutwords。
``ThereisalittletrainwhichgoesuptheGaisberg，\'\'hesaid。
``Whenyouareatthetop，aworldofmountainsspreadsaroundyou。Lazaruswentonceandtoldme。Andwecanlieoutonthegrassallnight。Letusgo，Aide-de-camp。\'\'
Sotheywent，eachonethinkingthesamethought，andeachboy-mindholdingitsownvision。Marcowasthecalmerofthetwo，becausehisbeliefthattherewasalwayshelptobefoundwasanaccustomedoneandhadceasedtoseemtopartakeofthesupernatural。Hebelievedquitesimplythatitwastheworkingofalaw，notthebreakingofone，whichgaveanswerandledhiminhisquests。TheRat，whohadknownnothingoflawsotherthanthoseadministeredbypolice-courts，wasatonceawedandfascinatedbythesuggestionofcrossingsomeborderlandoftheUnknown。ThelawoftheOnehadbaffledandoverthrownhim，withitssweepingawayoftheenmitiesofpassionswhichcreatedwarsandcalledforarmies。ButtheLawofEarthlyLivingseemedtoofferpracticalbenefitsifyoucouldholdontoyourselfenoughtoworkit。
``Youwouldn\'tgeteverythingfornothing，asfarasIcanmakeout，\'\'hehadsaidtoMarco。``You\'dhavetosweepalltherubbishoutofyourmind——sweepitasifyoudiditwithabroom——andthenkeeponthinkingstraightandbelievingyouweregoingtogetthings——andworkingforthem——andthey\'dcome。\'\'
Thenhehadlaughedashortuglylaughbecauseherecalledsomething。
``TherewassomethingintheBiblethatmyfatherusedtojeerabout——somethingaboutamangettingwhatheprayedforifhebelievedit，\'\'hesaid。
``Oh，yes，it\'sthere，\'\'saidMarco。``Thatifamanpraybelievingheshallreceivewhatheasksitshallbegivenhim。
Allthebookssaysomethinglikeit。It\'sbeensaidsooftenitmakesyoubelieveit。\'\'
``Hedidn\'tbelieveit，andIdidn\'t，\'\'saidTheRat。
``Nobodydoes——really，\'\'answeredMarco，ashehaddoneoncebefore。``It\'sbecausewedon\'tknow。\'\'
TheywentuptheGaisberginthelittletrain，whichpushedanddraggedandpantedslowlyupwardwiththem。IttookthemwithitstubbornlyandgraduallyhigherandhigheruntilithadleftSalzburgandtheCitadelbelowandhadreachedtheworldofmountainswhichroseandspreadandliftedgreatheadsbehindeachotherandbesideeachotherandbeyondeachotheruntilthereseemednootherlandonearthbutthatonmountainsidesandbacksandshouldersandcrowns。Andalsoonefelttheabsurdityoflivinguponflatground，wherelifemustbeaninsignificantthing。
Therewereonlyafewsight-seersinthesmallcarriages，andtheyweregoingtolookattheviewfromthesummit。Theywerenotinsearchofaledge。
TheRatandMarcowere。Whenthelittletrainstoppedatthetop，theygotoutwiththerest。Theywanderedaboutwiththemovertheshortgrassonthetreelesssummitandlookedoutfromthisviewpointandtheother。TheRatgrewmoreandmoresilent，andhissilencewasnotmerelyamatterofspeechlessnessbutofexpression。HeLOOKEDsilentandasifhewerenolongerawareoftheearth。Theyleftthesight-seersatlastandwanderedawaybythemselves。Theyfoundaledgewheretheycouldsitorlieandwhereeventheworldofmountainsseemedbelowthem。
Theyhadbroughtsomesimplefoodwiththem，andtheylaiditbehindajuttingbitofrock。Whenthesight-seersboardedthelaboringlittletrainagainandweredraggedbackdownthemountain，theirnightofvigilwouldbegin。
Thatwaswhatitwastobe。Anightofstillnessontheheights，wheretheycouldwaitandwatchandholdthemselvesreadytohearanythoughtwhichspoketothem。
TheRatwassothrilledthathewouldnothavebeensurprisedifhehadheardavoicefromtheplaceofthestars。ButMarcoonlybelievedthatinthisgreatstillnessandbeauty，ifheheldhisboy-soulquietenough，heshouldfindhimselfatlastthinkingofsomethingthatwouldleadhimtotheplacewhichheldwhatitwasbestthatheshouldfind。Thepeoplereturnedtothetrainanditsetoutuponitswaydownthesteepness。
Theyhearditlaboringonitsway，asthoughitwasforcedtomakeasmuchefforttoholditselfbackasithadmadetodragitselfupward。
Thentheywerealone，anditwasalonenesssuchasaneaglemightfeelwhenithelditselfpoisedhighinthecurveofblue。
Andtheysatandwatched。Theysawthesungodownand，shadebyshade，deepenandmakeradiantandthendrawawaywithitthelasttouchesofcolor——rose-gold，rose-purple，androse-gray。
Onemountain-topafteranotherhelditsblushafewmomentsandlostit。Ittooklongtogatherthemallbutatlengththeyweregoneandthemarvelofnightfell。
Thebreathoftheforestsbelowwassweetaboutthem，andsoundlessnessenclosedthemwhichwasofunearthlypeace。Thestarsbegantoshowthemselves，andpresentlythetwowhowaitedfoundtheirfacesturnedupwardtotheskyandtheybothwerespeakinginwhispers。
``Thestarslooklargehere，\'\'TheRatsaid。
``Yes，\'\'answeredMarco。``WearenotashighastheBuddhistwas，butitseemslikethetopoftheworld。\'\'
``Thereisalightonthesideofthemountainyonderwhichisnotastar，\'\'TheRatwhispered。
``Itisalightinahutwheretheguidestaketheclimberstorestandtospendthenight，\'\'answeredMarco。
``Itissostill，\'\'TheRatwhisperedagainafterasilence，andMarcowhisperedback：
``Itissostill。\'\'
Theyhadeatentheirmealofblackbreadandcheeseafterthesettingofthesun，andnowtheylaydownontheirbacksandlookedupuntilthefirstfewstarshadmultipliedthemselvesintomyriads。Theybeganalittlelowtalk，butthesoundlessnesswasstrongerthanthemselves。
``HowamIgoingtoholdontothatsecondlaw？\'\'TheRatsaidrestlessly。```Letpassthroughthymindonlytheimagethouwouldstseebecomeatruth。\'ThethingsthatarepassingthroughmymindarenotthethingsIwanttocometrue。Whatifwedon\'tfindhim——don\'tfindtherightone，Imean！\'\'
``Liestill——still——andlookupatthestars，\'\'whisperedMarco。
``TheygiveyouaSUREfeeling。\'\'
Therewassomethinginthecuriousserenityofhimwhichcalmedevenhisaide-de-camp。TheRatlaystillandlooked——andlooked——andthought。Andwhathethoughtofwasthedesireofhisheart。Thesoundlessnessenwrappedhimandtherewasnoworldleft。Thattherewasasparkoflightinthemountain-climbers\'rest-hutwasathingforgotten。
Theywereonlytwoboys，andtheyhadbeguntheirjourneyontheearliesttrainandhadbeenwalkingaboutalldayandthinkingofgreatandanxiousthings。
``Itissostill，\'\'TheRatwhisperedagainatlast。
``Itissostill，\'\'whisperedMarco。
Andthemountainsrisingbehindeachotherandbesideeachotherandbeyondeachotherinthenight，andalsothemyriadsofstarswhichhadsomultipliedthemselves，lookingdownknewthattheywereasleep——assleepthehumanthingswhichdonotwatchforever。
``Someoneissmoking，\'\'Marcofoundhimselfsayinginadream。
Afterwhichheawakenedandfoundthatthesmokewasnotpartofadreamatall。Itcamefromthepipeofayoungmanwhohadanalpenstockandwholookedasifhehadclimbedtoseethesunrise。Heworetheclothesofaclimberandagreenhatwithatuftattheback。Helookeddownatthetwoboys，surprised。
``Goodday，\'\'hesaid。``Didyousleepheresothatyoucouldseethesungetup？\'\'
``Yes，\'\'answeredMarco。
``Wereyoucold？\'\'
``Weslepttoosoundlytoknow。Andwebroughtourthickcoats。\'\'
``Islepthalf-waydownthemountains，\'\'saidthesmoker。``Iamaguideinthesedays，butIhavenotbeenonelongenoughtomissasunriseitisnoworktoreach。MyfatherandbrotherthinkIammadaboutsuchthings。Theywouldratherstayintheirbeds。Oh！heisawake，ishe？\'\'turningtowardTheRat，whohadrisenononeelbowandwasstaringathim。``Whatisthematter？Youlookasifyouwereafraidofme。\'\'
MarcodidnotwaitforTheRattorecoverhisbreathandspeak。