``Iknowwhyhelooksatyouso，\'\'heansweredforhim。``Heisstartled。Yesterdaywewenttoahair-dresser\'sshopdownbelowthere，andwesawamanwhowasalmostexactlylikeyou——only——\'\'headded，lookingup，``hiseyesweregrayandyoursarebrown。\'\'
``Hewasmytwinbrother，\'\'saidtheguide，puffingathispipecheerfully。``Myfatherthoughthecouldmakehair-dressersofusboth，andItrieditforfouryears。ButIalwayswantedtobeclimbingthemountainsandtherewerenotholidaysenough。SoIcutmyhair，andwashedthepomadeoutofit，andbrokeaway。
Idon\'tlooklikeahair-dressernow，doI？\'\'
Hedidnot。Notatall。ButMarcoknewhim。Hewastheman。
Therewasnooneonthemountain-topbutthemselves，andthesunwasjustshowingarimofgoldabovethefarthestandhighestgiant\'sshoulders。Oneneednotbeafraidtodoanything，sincetherewasnoonetoseeorhear。Marcoslippedthesketchoutoftheslitinhissleeve。Helookedatitandhelookedattheguide，andthenheshowedittohim。
``Thatisnotyourbrother。Itisyou！\'\'hesaid。
Theman\'sfacechangedalittle——morethananyotherfacehadchangedwhenitsownerhadbeenspokento。Onamountain-topasthesunrisesoneisnotafraid。
``TheLampislighted，\'\'saidMarco。``TheLampislighted。\'\'
``Godbethanked！\'\'burstforththeman。Andhetookoffhishatandbaredhishead。Thentherimbehindthemountain\'sshoulderleapedforthintoagoldentorrentofsplendor。
AndTheRatstoodup，restinghisweightonhiscrutchesinuttersilence，andstaredandstared。
``Thatisthree！\'\'saidMarco。
XXIII
THESILVERHORN
Duringthenextweek，whichtheyspentinjourneyingtowardsVienna，theygavetheSigntothreedifferentpersonsatplaceswhichwereontheway。InavillageacrossthefrontierinBavariatheyfoundagiantofanoldmansittingonabenchunderatreebeforehismountain``Gasthaus\'\'orinn；andwhenthefourwordswereuttered，hestoodupandbaredhisheadastheguidehaddone。WhenMarcogavetheSigninsomequietplacetoamanwhowasalone，henoticedthattheyalldidthisandsaidtheir``Godbethanked\'\'devoutly，asifitwerepartofsomereligiousceremony。Inasmalltownafewmilesawayhehadtosearchsomehoursbeforehefoundastalwartyoungshoemakerwithbrightredhairandahorseshoe-shapedscaronhisforehead。Hewasnotinhisworkshopwhentheboysfirstpassedit，because，astheyfoundoutlater，hehadbeenclimbingamountainthedaybefore，andhadbeendetainedinthedescentbecausehiscompanionhadhurthimself。
WhenMarcowentinandaskedhimtomeasurehimforapairofshoes，hewasquitefriendlyandtoldthemallaboutit。
``Therearesomegoodfellowswhoshouldnotclimb，\'\'hesaid。
``Whentheyfindthemselvesstandingonabitofrockjuttingoutoveremptiness，theirheadsbegintowhirlround——andthen，iftheydon\'tturnheadoverheelsafewthousandfeet，itisbecausesomecomradeisnearenoughtodragthemback。Therecanbenoceremonythenandtheysometimesgethurt——asmyfrienddidyesterday。\'\'
``Didyounevergethurtyourself？\'\'TheRatasked。
``WhenIwaseightyearsoldIdidthat，\'\'saidtheyoungshoemaker，touchingthescaronhisforehead。``Butitwasnotmuch。Myfatherwasaguideandtookmewithhim。Hewantedmetobeginearly。Thereisnothinglikeit——climbing。Ishallbeatitagain。Thiswon\'tdoforme。ItriedshoemakingbecauseI
wasinlovewithagirlwhowantedmetostayathome。Shemarriedanotherman。Iamgladofit。Onceaguide，alwaysaguide。\'\'HekneltdowntomeasureMarco\'sfoot，andMarcobentalittleforward。
``TheLampislighted，\'\'hesaid。
Therewasnooneintheshop，butthedoorwasopenandpeoplewerepassinginthenarrowstreet；sotheshoemakerdidnotlifthisredhead。Hewentonmeasuring。
``Godbethanked！\'\'hesaid，inalowvoice。``Doyouwanttheseshoesreally，ordidyouonlywantmetotakeyourmeasure？\'\'
``Icannotwaituntiltheyaremade，\'\'Marcoanswered。``Imustgoon。\'\'
``Yes，youmustgoon，\'\'answeredtheshoemaker。``ButI\'lltellyouwhatI\'lldo——I\'llmakethemandkeepthem。SomegreatdaymightcomewhenIshallshowthemtopeopleandswaggeraboutthem。\'\'Heglancedroundcautiously，andthenended，stillbendingoverhismeasuring。``TheywillbecalledtheshoesoftheBeareroftheSign。AndIshallsay，`Hewasonlyalad。
Thiswasthesizeofhisfoot。\'\'\'Thenhestoodupwithagreatsmile。
``There\'llbeclimbingenoughtobedonenow，\'\'hesaid，``andI
looktoseeyouagainsomewhere。\'\'
Whentheboyswentaway，theytalkeditover。
``Thehair-dresserdidn\'twanttobeahair-dresser，andtheshoemakerdidn\'twanttomakeshoes，\'\'saidTheRat。``Theybothwantedtobemountain-climbers。TherearemountainsinSamaviaandmountainsonthewaytoit。Youshowedthemtomeonthemap。
``Yes；andsecretmessengerswhocanclimbanywhere，andcrossdangerousplaces，andreconnoiterfrompointsnooneelsecanreach，canfindoutthingsandgivesignalsothermencannot，\'\'
saidMarco。
``That\'swhatIthoughtout，\'\'TheRatanswered。``Thatwaswhathemeantwhenhesaid，`Therewillbeclimbingenoughtobedonenow。\'\'\'
Strangeweretheplacestheywenttoandcuriouslyunlikeeachotherwerethepeopletowhomtheycarriedtheirmessage。Themostsingularofallwasanoldwomanwholivedinsoremoteaplacethattheroadwhichwoundroundandroundthemountain，woundrounditformilesandmiles。Itwasnotabadroadanditwasanamazingonetotravel，draggedinasmallcartbyamule，whenonecouldbedragged，andclamberingslowlywithrestsbetweenwhenonecouldnot：thetree-coveredprecipicesonelookeddown，thetossingwhitenessofwaterfalls，orthegreenfoamingofrushingstreams，andtheimmensityoffarm-andvillage-scatteredplainsspreadingthemselvestothefeetofothermountainsshuttingtheminwerebreath-takingbeautiestolookdownon，astheroadmountedandwoundroundandroundandhigherandhigher。
``Howcananyonelivehigherthanthis？\'\'saidTheRatastheysatonthethickmossbythewaysideafterthemuleandcarthadleftthem。``Lookatthebarecragsloomingupabovethere。Letuslookatheragain。Herpicturelookedasifshewereahundredyearsold。\'\'
Marcotookouthishiddensketch。Itseemedsurelyoneofthestrangestthingsintheworldthatacreatureasoldasthisoneseemedcouldreachsuchaplace，or，havingreachedit，couldeverdescendtotheworldagaintogiveaidtoanypersonorthing。
Heroldfacewascrossedandrecrossedwithathousandwrinkles。
Herprofilewassplendidyetandshehadbeenabeautyinherday。Hereyeswerelikeaneagle\'s——andnotanoldeagle\'s。Andshehadalongneckwhichheldheroldheadhigh。
``Howcouldshegethere？\'\'exclaimedTheRat。
``Thosewhosentusknow，thoughwedon\'t，\'\'saidMarco。``WillyousithereandrestwhileIgoonfurther？\'\'
``No！\'\'TheRatansweredstubbornly。``Ididn\'ttrainmyselftostaybehind。Butweshallcometobare-rockclimbingsoonandthenIshallbeobligedtostop，\'\'andhesaidthelastbitterly。
Heknewthat，ifMarcohadcomealone，hewouldhaveriddeninnocartbutwouldhavetrudgedupwardandonwardsturdilytotheendofhisjourney。
Buttheydidnotreachthecrags，astheyhadthoughtmustbeinevitable。Suddenlyhalf-waytothesky，asitseemed，theycametoabendintheroadandfoundthemselvesmountingintoanewgreenworld——anastonishingmarvelofaworld，withgreenvelvetslopesandsoftmeadowsandthickwoodland，andcowsfeedinginvelvetpastures，and——asifithadbeensnoweddownfromthehugebaremountaincragswhichstillsoaredaboveintoheaven——amysterious，ancient，huddledvillagewhich，beingthussnoweddown，mighthavecaughtamongtherocksandrestedtherethroughalltime。
Thereitstood。Thereithuddleditself。Andthemonstersintheblueaboveitthemselveslookeddownuponitasifitwereanincrediblething——thisancient，steep-roofed，hanging-balconied，crumblingclusterofhumannests，whichseemedathousandmilesfromtheworld。MarcoandTheRatstoodandstaredatit。Thentheysatdownandstaredatit。
``Howdiditgethere？\'\'TheRatcried。
Marcoshookhishead。Hecertainlycouldseenoexplanationofitsbeingthere。Perhapssomeoftheoldestvillagescouldtellstoriesofhowitsfirstchaletshadgatheredthemselvestogether。
Anoldpeasantdrivingacowcamedownasteeppath。HelookedwithadullcuriosityatTheRatandhiscrutches；butwhenMarcoadvancedandspoketohiminGerman，hedidnotseemtounderstand，butshookhisheadsayingsomethinginasortofdialectMarcodidnotknow。
``Iftheyallspeaklikethat，weshallhavetomakesignswhenwewanttoaskanything，\'\'TheRatsaid。``Whatwillshespeak？\'\'
``ShewillknowtheGermanfortheSignorweshouldnothavebeensenthere，\'\'answeredMarco。``Comeon。\'\'
Theymadetheirwaytothevillage，whichhuddleditselftogetherevidentlywiththeobjectofkeepingitselfwarmwhenthroughthewintermonthsthesnowsstrovetoburyitandthewindsroareddownfromthehugemountaincragsandtriedtotearitfromamongitsrocks。Thedoorsandwindowswerefewandsmall，andglimpsesoftheinsideofthehousesshowedearthenfloorsanddarkrooms。Itwasplainthatitwascountedamorecomfortablethingtolivewithoutlightthantoletinthecold。
Itwaseasyenoughtoreconnoiter。Thefewpeopletheysawwereevidentlynotsurprisedthatstrangerswhodiscoveredtheirunexpectedexistenceshouldbecuriousandwanttolookatthemandtheirhouses。
Theboyswanderedaboutasiftheywerecasualexplorers，whohavingreachedtheplacebychancewereinterestedinalltheysaw。TheywentintothelittleGasthausandgotsomeblackbreadandsausageandsomemilk。ThemountaineerownerwasabrawnyfellowwhounderstoodsomeGerman。Hetoldthemthatfewstrangersknewofthevillagebutthatboldhuntersandclimberscameforsport。Intheforestsonthemountainsideswerebearsand，inthehighplaces，chamois。Nowandagain，somegreatgentlemencamewithpartiesofthedaringkind——verygreatgentlemenindeed，hesaid，shakinghisheadwithpride。Therewasonewhohadcastlesinothermountains，buthelikedbesttocomehere。Marcobegantowonderifseveralstrangethingsmightnotbetrueifgreatgentlemensometimesclimbedtothemysteriousplace。ButhehadnotbeensenttogivetheSigntoagreatgentleman。Hehadbeensenttogiveittoanoldwomanwitheyeslikeaneaglewhichwasyoung。
Hehadasketchinhissleeve，withthatofherface，ofhersteep-roofed，black-beamed，balconiedhouse。Iftheywalkedaboutalittle，theywouldbesuretocomeuponitinthistinyplace。Thenhecouldgoinandaskherforadrinkofwater。
TheyroamedaboutforanhouraftertheylefttheGasthaus。Theywentintothelittlechurchandlookedatthegraveyardandwonderedifitwasnotburiedoutofallsightinthewinter。
Aftertheyhaddonethis，theysaunteredoutandwalkedthroughthehuddledclustersofhouses，examiningeachoneastheydrewnearitandpassed。
``Iseeit！\'\'TheRatexclaimedatlast。``Itisthatveryold-
lookingonestandingalittlewayfromtherest。Itisnotastumbleddownasmostofthem。Andtherearesomeredflowersonthebalcony。\'\'
``Yes！That\'sit！\'\'saidMarco。
Theywalkeduptothelowblackdoorand，ashestoppedonthethreshold，Marcotookoffhiscap。Hedidthisbecause，sittinginthedoorwayonalowwoodenchair，theold，oldwomanwiththeeagleeyeswassittingknitting。
Therewasnooneelseintheroomandnooneanywherewithinsight。Whentheold，oldwomanlookedupathimwithheryoungeagle\'seyes，holdingherheadhighonherlongneck，Marcoknewheneednotaskforwaterorforanythingelse。
``TheLampislighted，\'\'hesaid，inhislowbutstrongandclearyoungvoice。
Shedroppedherknittinguponherkneesandgazedathimamomentinsilence。SheknewGermanitwasclear，foritwasinGermansheansweredhim。
``Godbethanked！\'\'shesaid。``Comein，youngBeareroftheSign，andbringyourfriendinwithyou。Ilivealoneandnotasouliswithinhearing。\'\'
Shewasawonderfuloldwoman。NeitherMarconorTheRatwouldlivelongenoughtoforgetthehourstheyspentinherstrangedarkhouse。Shekeptthemandmadethemspendthenightwithher。
``Itisquitesafe，\'\'shesaid。``Ilivealonesincemymanfellintothecrevasseandwaskilledbecausehisropebrokewhenhewastryingtosavehiscomrade。SoIhavetworoomstospareandsometimesclimbersaregladtosleepinthem。MineisagoodwarmhouseandIamwellknowninthevillage。Youareveryyoung，\'\'sheaddedshakingherhead。``Youareveryyoung。Youmusthavegoodbloodinyourveinstobetrustedwiththis。\'\'
``Ihavemyfather\'sblood，\'\'answeredMarco。
``YouarelikesomeoneIoncesaw，\'\'theoldwomansaid，andhereagleeyessetthemselvesharduponhim。``Tellmeyourname。\'\'
Therewasnoreasonwhyheshouldnottellittoher。
``ItisMarcoLoristan，\'\'hesaid。
``What！Itisthat！\'\'shecriedout，notloudbutlow。
ToMarco\'samazementshegotupfromherchairandstoodbeforehim，showingwhatatalloldwomanshereallywas。Therewasastartled，evenanagitated，lookinherface。Andsuddenlysheactuallymadeasortofcurtseytohim——bendingherkneeaspeasantsdowhentheypassashrine。
``Itisthat！\'\'shesaidagain。``Andyettheydareletyougoonajourneylikethis！Thatspeaksforyourcourageandfortheirs。\'\'
ButMarcodidnotknowwhatshemeant。Herstrangeobeisancemadehimfeelawkward。Hestoodupbecausehistraininghadtoldhimthatwhenawomanstandsamanalsorises。
``Thenamespeaksforthecourage，\'\'hesaid，``becauseitismyfather\'s。\'\'
Shewatchedhimalmostanxiously。
``Youdonotevenknow！\'\'shebreathed——anditwasanexclamationandnotaquestion。
``IknowwhatIhavebeentoldtodo，\'\'heanswered。``Idonotaskanythingelse。\'\'
``Whoisthat？\'\'sheasked，pointingtoTheRat。
``Heisthefriendmyfathersentwithme，\'\'saidMarcosmiling。
``Hecalledhimmyaide-de-camp。Itwasasortofjokebecausewehadplayedsoldierstogether。\'\'
Itseemedasifshewereobligedtocollectherthoughts。Shestoodwithherhandathermouth，lookingdownattheearthfloor。
``Godguardyou！\'\'shesaidatlast。``Youarevery——veryyoung！\'\'
``Butallhisyears，\'\'TheRatbrokein，``hehasbeenintrainingforjustthisthing。Hedidnotknowitwastraining，butitwas。Asoldierwhohadbeentrainedforthirteenyearswouldknowhiswork。\'\'
HewassoeagerthatheforgotshecouldnotunderstandEnglish。
MarcotranslatedwhathesaidintoGermanandadded：``Whathesaysistrue。\'\'
Shenoddedherhead，stillwithquestioningandanxiouseyes。
``Yes。Yes，\'\'shemuttered。``Butyouareveryyoung。\'\'Thensheaskedinahesitatingway：
``WillyounotsitdownuntilIdo？\'\'
``No，\'\'answeredMarco。``Iwouldnotsitwhilemymotherorgrandmotherstood。\'\'
``ThenImustsit——andforget，\'\'shesaid。
Shepassedherhandoverherfaceasthoughsheweresweepingawaythesuddenpuzzledtroubleinherexpression。Thenshesatdown，asifshehadobligedherselftobecomeagaintheoldpeasantshehadbeenwhentheyentered。
``AllthewayupthemountainyouwonderedwhyanoldwomanshouldbegiventheSign，\'\'shesaid。``Youaskedeachotherhowshecouldbeofuse。\'\'
NeitherMarconorTheRatsaidanything。
``WhenIwasyoungandfresh，\'\'shewenton。``Iwenttoacastleoverthefrontiertobefoster-mothertoachildwhowasbornagreatnoble——onewhowasnearthethrone。HelovedmeandIlovedhim。Hewasastrongchildandhegrewupagreathunterandclimber。Whenhewasnottenyearsold，mymantaughthimtoclimb。Healwayslovedthesemountainsbetterthanhisown。Hecomestoseemeasifhewereonlyayoungmountaineer。Hesleepsintheroomthere，\'\'withagestureoverhershoulderintothedarkness。``Hehasgreatpowerand，ifhechoosestodoathing，hewilldoit——justashewillattackthebiggestbearorclimbthemostdangerouspeak。Heisonewhocanbringthingsabout。Itisverysafetotalkinthisroom。\'\'
Thenallwasquiteclear。MarcoandTheRatunderstood。
NomorewassaidabouttheSign。Ithadbeengivenandthatwasenough。Theoldwomantoldthemthattheymustsleepinoneofherbedrooms。Thenextmorningoneofherneighborswasgoingdowntothevalleywithacartandhewouldhelpthemontheirway。TheRatknewthatshewasthinkingofhiscrutchesandhebecamerestless。
``Tellher，\'\'hesaidtoMarco，``howIhavetrainedmyselfuntilIcandowhatanyoneelsecan。AndtellherIamgrowingstrongereveryday。TellherI\'llshowherwhatIcando。Yourfatherwouldn\'thaveletmecomeasyouraideifIhadn\'tprovedtohimthatIwasn\'tacripple。Tellher。ShethinksI\'mnouse。\'\'
Marcoexplainedandtheoldwomanlistenedattentively。WhenTheRatgotupandswunghimselfaboutupanddownthesteeppathnearherhousesheseemedrelieved。Hisextraordinarydexterityandfirmswiftnessevidentlyamazedherandgaveheraconfidenceshehadnotfeltatfirst。
``Ifhehastaughthimselftobelikethatjustforloveofyourfather，hewillgototheend，\'\'shesaid。``Itismorethanonecouldbelieve，thatapairofcrutchescoulddosuchthings。\'\'
TheRatwaspacifiedandcouldafterwardsgivehimselfuptowatchingherascloselyashewishedto。Hewassoon``workingout\'\'certainthingsinhismind。WhathewatchedwasherwayofwatchingMarco。Itwasasifshewerefascinatedandcouldnotkeephereyesfromhim。Shetoldthemstoriesaboutthemountainsandthestrangerswhocametoclimbwithguidesortohunt。Shetoldthemaboutthestorms，whichsometimesseemedabouttoputanendtothelittleworldamongthecrags。Shedescribedthewinterwhenthesnowburiedthemandthestrongoneswereforcedtodigouttheweakandsomelivedfordaysunderthemassesofsoftwhiteness，gladtokeeptheircowsorgoatsintheirroomsthattheymightsharethewarmthoftheirbodies。Thevillageswereforcedtobegoodneighborstoeachother，forthemanwhowasnotreadytodigoutahiddenchimneyorburieddoorto-daymightbelefttofreezeandstarveinhissnowtombnextweek。Throughtheworstpartofthewinternocreaturefromtheworldbelowcouldmakewaytothemtofindoutwhethertheywerealldeadoralive。
Whileshetalked，shewatchedMarcoasifshewerealwaysaskingherselfsomequestionabouthim。TheRatwassurethatshelikedhimandgreatlyadmiredhisstrongbodyandgoodlooks。Itwasnotnecessaryforhimtocarryhimselfslouchinglyinherpresenceandhelookedglowingandnoble。Therewasasortofreverenceinhermannerwhenshespoketohim。SheremindedhimofLazarusmorethanonce。Whenshegavethemtheireveningmeal，sheinsistedonwaitingonhimwithacertainrespectfulceremony。Shewouldnotsitattablewithhim，andTheRatbegantorealizethatshefeltthathehimselfshouldbestandingtoservehim。
``ShethinksIoughttostandbehindyourchairasLazarusstandsbehindyourfather\'s，\'\'hesaidtoMarco。``Perhapsanaideoughttodoit。ShallI？Ibelieveitwouldpleaseher。\'\'
``ABeareroftheSignisnotaroyalperson，\'\'answeredMarco。
``Myfatherwouldnotlikeit——andIshouldnot。Weareonlytwoboys。\'\'
Itwasverywonderfulwhen，aftertheirsupperwasover，theyallthreesattogetherbeforethefire。
Theredglowofthebedofwood-coalandtheorangeyellowoftheflamefromthebiglogsfilledtheroomwithwarmlight，whichmadeamellowbackgroundforthefigureoftheoldwomanasshesatinherlowchairandtoldthemmoreandmoreenthrallingstories。
Hereagleeyesglowedandherlongneckheldherheadsplendidlyhighasshedescribedgreatfeatsofcourageandenduranceoralmostsuperhumandaringinaidingthoseinawesomeperil，and，whensheglowedmostinthetelling，theyalwaysknewthattheherooftheadventurehadbeenherfoster-childwhowasthebabybornagreatnobleandnearthethrone。Toher，hewasthemostsplendidandadorableofhumanbeings。Almostanemperor，butsowarmandtenderofheartthatheneverforgotthelong-pastdayswhenshehadheldhimonherkneeandtoldhimtalesofchamois-
andbear-hunting，andofthemountain-topsinmid-winter。Hewashersun-god。
``Yes！Yes！\'\'shesaid。```GoodMother，\'hecallsme。AndI
bakehimacakeonthehearth，asIdidwhenhewastenyearsoldandmymanwasteachinghimtoclimb。Andwhenhechoosesthatathingshallbedone——doneitis！Heisagreatlord。\'\'
Theflameshaddieddownandonlythebigbedofredcoalmadetheroomglow，andtheywerethinkingofgoingtobedwhentheoldwomanstartedverysuddenly，turningherheadasiftolisten。
MarcoandTheRatheardnothing，buttheysawthatshedidandtheysatsostillthateachheldhisbreath。Sotherewasutterstillnessforafewmoments。Utterstillness。
Thentheydidhearsomething——aclearsilversound，piercingthepuremountainair。
Theoldwomanspranguprightwiththefireofdelightinhereyes。
``Itishissilverhorn！\'\'shecriedoutstrikingherhandstogether。``Itishisowncalltomewhenheiscoming。Hehasbeenhuntingsomewhereandwantstosleepinhisgoodbedhere。
Helpmetoputonmorefaggots，\'\'toTheRat，``sothathewillseetheflameofthemthroughtheopendoorashecomes。\'\'
``Shallwebeintheway？\'\'saidMarco。``Wecangoatonce。\'\'
Shewasgoingtowardsthedoortoopenitandshestoppedamomentandturned。
``No，no！\'\'shesaid。``Hemustseeyourface。Hewillwanttoseeit。Iwanthimtosee——howyoungyouare。\'\'
Shethrewthedoorwideopenandtheyheardthesilverhornsendoutitsgaycallagain。ThebrushwoodandfaggotsTheRathadthrownonthecoalscrackledandsparkledandroaredintofineflames，whichcasttheirlightintotheroadandthrewoutinfinerelieftheoldfigurewhichstoodonthethresholdandlookedsotall。
Andinbutafewminuteshergreatlordcametoher。Andinhisgreenhunting-suitwithitsgreenhatandeagle\'sfeatherhewasassplendidasshehadsaidhewas。Hewasbigandroyal-
lookingandlaughingandhebentandkissedherasifhehadbeenherownson。
``Yes，goodMother，\'\'theyheardhimsay。``Iwantmywarmbedandoneofyourgoodsuppers。IsenttheotherstotheGasthaus。\'\'
Hecameintotheredlyglowingroomandhisheadalmosttouchedtheblackenedrafters。Thenhesawthetwoboys。
``Whoarethese，goodMother？\'\'heasked。
Sheliftedhishandandkissedit。
``TheyaretheBearersoftheSign，\'\'shesaidrathersoftly。``
`TheLampislighted。\'\'\'
Thenhiswholelookchanged。Hislaughingfacebecamequitegraveandforamomentlookedevenanxious。Marcoknewitwasbecausehewasstartledtofindthemonlyboys。Hemadeastepforwardtolookatthemmoreclosely。
``TheLampislighted！AndyoutwobeartheSign！\'\'heexclaimed。Marcostoodoutinthefireglowthathemightseehimwell。Hesalutedwithrespect。
``MynameisMarcoLoristan，Highness，\'\'hesaid。``Andmyfathersentme。\'\'
Thechangewhichcameuponhisfacethenwasevengreaterthanatfirst。Forasecond，Marcoevenfeltthattherewasaflashofalarminit。Butalmostatoncethatpassed。
``Loristanisagreatmanandagreatpatriot，\'\'hesaid。``Ifhesentyou，itisbecauseheknowsyouaretheonesafemessenger。HehasworkedtoolongforSamavianottoknowwhathedoes。\'\'
Marcosalutedagain。Heknewwhatitwasrighttosaynext。
``IfwehaveyourHighness\'spermissiontoretire，\'\'hesaid，``wewillleaveyouandgotobed。Wegodownthemountainatsunrise。\'\'
``Wherenext？\'\'askedthehunter，lookingathimwithcuriousintentness。
``ToVienna，Highness，\'\'Marcoanswered。
Hisquestionerheldouthishand，stillwiththeintentinterestinhiseyes。
``Goodnight，finelad，\'\'hesaid。``SamaviahasneedtovauntitselfonitsSign-bearer。Godgowithyou。\'\'
Hestoodandwatchedhimashewenttowardtheroominwhichheandhisaide-de-campweretosleep。TheRatfollowedhimclosely。Atthelittlebackdoortheold，oldwomanstood，havingopeneditforthem。AsMarcopassedandbadehergoodnight，hesawthatsheagainmadethestrangeobeisance，bendingthekneeashewentby。
XXIV
``HOWSHALLWEFINDHIM？\'\'
InViennatheycameuponapageant。Incelebrationofacentury-pastvictorytheEmperordroveinstateandceremonytoattendatthegreatcathedralandtodohonortotheancientbannersandlaurel-wreathedstatueofalong-deadsoldier-prince。
Thebroadpavementsofthehugechiefthoroughfarewerecrowdedwithacheeringpopulacewatchingthemartialpompandsplendorasitpassedbywithmarchingfeet，prancinghorses，andglitterofscabbardandchain，whichallseemedsomehowpartofmusicintriumphantbursts。
TheRatwasenormouslythrilledbythemagnificenceoftheimperialplace。Itsimmensespaces，thesquaresandgardens，reignedoverbystatuesofemperors，andwarriors，andqueensmadehimfeelthatallthingsonearthwerepossible。Thepalacesandstatelypilesofarchitecture，whosesurmountingequestrianbronzesrampedhighintheairclearcutandbeautifulagainstthesky，seemedtosweepoutofhisworldallatmospherebutthatofsplendidcitiesdownwhosebroadavenuesemperorsrodewithwavingbanners，tramping，janglingsoldierybeforeandbehind，andgoldentrumpetsblaringforth。Itseemedasifitmustalwaysbelikethis——thatlancesandcavalryandemperorswouldneverceasetorideby。``Ishouldliketostayherealongtime，\'\'hesaidalmostasifhewereinadream。``Ishouldliketoseeitall。\'\'
Heleanedonhiscrutchesinthecrowdandwatchedtheglitterofthepassingpageant。NowandthenheglancedatMarco，whowatchedalsowithasteadyeyewhich，TheRatsaw，nothingwouldescape：HowabsorbedhealwayswasintheGame！Howimpossibleitwasforhimtoforgetitortorememberitonlyasaboywould！Oftenitseemedthathewasnotaboyatall。AndtheGame，TheRatknewinthesedays，wasagamenomorebutathingofdeepanddeadlyearnest——athingwhichtouchedkingsandthrones，andconcernedtherulingandswayingofgreatcountries。
Andthey——twoladspushedaboutbythecrowdastheystoodandstaredatthesoldiers——carriedwiththemthatwhichwasevennowlightingtheLamp。ThebloodinTheRat\'sveinsranquicklyandmadehimfeelhotasherememberedcertainthoughtswhichhadforcedthemselvesintohismindduringthepastweeks。Ashisbrainhadthetrickof``workingthingsout，\'\'ithad，duringthelastfortnightatleast，beenfollowingawonderfulevenifratherfantasticandfeverishfancy。Ameretriflehadsetitatwork，but，itslaboroncebegun，thingswhichmighthaveonceseemedtobetriflesappearedsonolonger。WhenMarcowasasleep，TheRatlayawakethroughthrilledandsometimesalmostbreathlessmidnighthours，lookingbackwardandrecallingeverydetailoftheirlivessincetheyhadknowneachother。Sometimesitseemedtohimthatalmosteverythingheremembered——theGamefromfirsttolastaboveall——hadpointedtobutonething。Andthenagainhewouldallatoncefeelthathewasafoolandhadbetterkeephisheadsteady。Marco，heknew，hadnowildfancies。Hehadlearnedtoomuchandhismindwastoowellbalanced。Hedidnottryto``workoutthings。\'\'Heonlythoughtofwhathewasunderorderstodo。
``But，\'\'saidTheRatmorethanonceinthesemidnighthours，``ifitevercomestoadrawwhetherheistobesavedorIam，heistheonethatmustcometonoharm。Killingcan\'ttakelong——andhisfathersentmewithhim。\'\'
Thisthoughtpassedthroughhismindasthetrampingfeetwentby。Asasuddensplendidburstofapproachingmusicbrokeuponhisear，aqueerlooktwistedhisface。Herealizedthecontrastbetweenthisdayandthatfirstmorningbehindthechurchyard，whenhehadsatonhisplatformamongtheSquadandlookedupandsawMarcointhearchattheendofthepassage。Andbecausehehadbeengood-lookingandhadheldhimselfsowell，hehadthrownastoneathim。Yes——blindgutter-bredfoolthathe\'dbeen：——hisfirstgreetingtoMarcohadbeenastone，justbecausehewaswhathewas。Astheystoodhereinthecrowdinthisfar-offforeigncity，itdidnotseemasifitcouldbetruethatitwashewhohaddoneit。
HemanagedtoworkhimselfclosertoMarco\'sside。``Isn\'titsplendid？\'\'hesaid，``IwishIwasanemperormyself。I\'dhavethesefellowsoutlikethiseveryday。\'\'Hesaiditonlybecausehewantedtosaysomething，tospeak，asareasonforgettingclosertohim。HewantedtobenearenoughtotouchhimandfeelthattheywerereallytogetherandthatthewholethingwasnotasortofmagnificentdreamfromwhichhemightawakentofindhimselflyingonhisheapofragsinhiscorneroftheroominBoneCourt。
Thecrowdswayedforwardinitseagernesstoseetheprincipalfeatureofthepageant——theEmperorinhiscarriage。TheRatswayedforwardwiththeresttolookasitpassed。
Ahandsomewhite-hairedandmustachedpersonageinsplendiduniformdecoratedwithjeweledordersandwithacascadeofemerald-greenplumesnoddinginhismilitaryhatgravelysalutedtheshoutingpeopleoneitherside。Byhimsatamanuniformed，decorated，andemerald-plumedalso，butmanyyearsyounger。
Marco\'sarmtouchedTheRat\'salmostatthesamemomentthathisowntouchedMarco。Underthenoddingplumeseachsawtherathertiredandcynicalpaleface，asketchofwhichwashiddenintheslitinMarco\'ssleeve。
``IstheonewhositswiththeEmperoranArchduke？\'\'Marcoaskedthemannearesttohiminthecrowd。Themanansweredamiablyenough。No，hewasnot，buthewasacertainPrince，adescendantoftheonewhowastheherooftheday。HewasagreatfavoriteoftheEmperor\'sandwasalsoagreatpersonage，whosepalacecontainedpicturescelebratedthroughoutEurope。
``Hepretendsitisonlypictureshecaresfor，\'\'hewenton，shrugginghisshouldersandspeakingtohiswife，whohadbeguntolisten，``butheisacleverone，whoamuseshimselfwiththingsheprofessesnottoconcernhimselfabout——bigthings。
It\'shiswaytolookbored，andinterestedinnothing，butit\'ssaidhe\'sawizardforknowingdangeroussecrets。\'\'
``DoesheliveattheHofburgwiththeEmperor？\'\'askedthewoman，craninghernecktolookaftertheimperialcarriage。
``No，buthe\'softenthere。TheEmperorislonelyandboredtoo，nodoubt，andthisonehaswaysofmakinghimforgethistroubles。It\'sbeentoldmethatnowandthenthetwodressthemselvesroughly，likecommonmen，andgooutintothecitytoseewhatit\'sliketorubshoulderswiththerestoftheworld。
Idaresayit\'strue。Ishouldliketotryitmyselfonceinawhile，ifIhadtositonathroneandwearacrown。\'\'
Thetwoboysfollowedthecelebrationtoitsend。Theymanagedtogetnearenoughtoseetheentrancetothechurchwheretheservicewasheldandtogetaviewoftheceremoniesatthebanner-drapedandlaurel-wreathedstatue。Theysawthemanwiththepalefaceseveraltimes，buthewasalwayssoenclosedthatitwasnotpossibletogetwithinyardsofhim。Ithappenedonce，however，thathelookedthroughatemporarybreakinthecrowdingpeopleandsawadarkstrong-featuredandremarkablyintentboy\'sface，whosevividscrutinyofhimcaughthiseye。Therewassomethinginthefixednessofitsattentionwhichcausedhimtolookatitcuriouslyforafewseconds，andMarcomethisgazesquarely。
``Lookatme！Lookatme！\'\'theboywassayingtohimmentally。
``Ihaveamessageforyou。Amessage！\'\'
Thetiredeyesinthepalefacerestedonhimwithacertaingrowinglightofinterestandcuriosity，butthecrowdingpeoplemovedandthetemporarybreakclosedup，sothatthetwocouldseeeachothernomore。MarcoandTheRatwerepushedbackwardbythosetallerandstrongerthanthemselvesuntiltheywereontheoutskirtsofthecrowd。
``LetusgototheHofburg，\'\'saidMarco。``Theywillcomebackthere，andweshallseehimagainevenifwecan\'tgetnear。\'\'
TotheHofburgtheymadetheirwaythroughthelesscrowdedstreets，andtheretheywaitedasneartothegreatpalaceastheycouldget。Theyweretherewhen，theceremoniesatanend，theimperialcarriagesreturned，but，thoughtheysawtheirmanagain，theywereatsomedistancefromhimandhedidnotseethem。
Thenfollowedfoursingulardays。Theyweresingulardaysbecausetheywerefulloftantalizingincidents。Nothingseemedeasierthantoheartalkof，andseetheEmperor\'sfavorite，butnothingwasmoreimpossiblethantogetneartohim。Heseemedratherafavoritewiththepopulace，andthecommonpeopleoftheshopkeepingorlaboringclassesweregiventotalkingfreelyofhim——ofwherehewasgoingandwhathewasdoing。To-nighthewouldbesuretobeatthisgreathouseorthat，atthisballorthatbanquet。Therewasnodifficultyindiscoveringthathewouldbesuretogototheopera，orthetheatre，ortodrivetoSchonbrunnwithhisimperialmaster。MarcoandTheRatheardcasualspeechofhimagainandagain，andfromonepartofthecitytotheothertheyfollowedandwaitedforhim。Butitwaslikechasingawill-o\'-the-wisp。Hewasevidentlytoobrilliantandimportantapersontobeallowedtomoveaboutalone。Therewerealwayspeoplewithhimwhoseemedabsorbedinhislanguidcynicaltalk。Marcothoughtthatheneverseemedtocaremuchforhiscompanions，thoughtheyontheirpartalwaysseemedhighlyentertainedbywhathewassaying。Itwasnoticeablethattheylaughedagreatdeal，thoughhehimselfscarcelyevensmiled。
``He\'soneofthosechapswiththetrickofsayingwittythingsasifhedidn\'tseethefuninthemhimself，\'\'TheRatsummedhimup。``Chapslikethatarealwaysclevererthantheotherkind。\'\'
``He\'stoohighinfavorandtoorichnottobefollowedabout，\'\'
theyheardamaninashopsayoneday，``buthegetstiredofit。Sometimes，whenhe\'stooboredtostanditanylonger，hegivesitoutthathe\'sgoneintothemountainssomewhere，andallthetimehe\'sshutupalonewithhispicturesinhisownpalace。\'\'
ThatverynightTheRatcameintotheiratticlookingpaleanddisappointed。Hehadbeenouttobuysomefoodafteralongandarduousdayinwhichtheyhadcoveredmuchground，hadseentheirmanthreetimes，andeachtimeundercircumstanceswhichmadehimmoreinaccessiblethanever。Theyhadcomebacktotheirpoorquartersbothtiredandravenouslyhungry。
TheRatthrewhispurchaseontothetableandhimselfintoachair。
``He\'sgonetoBudapest，\'\'hesaid。``NOWhowshallwefindhim？\'\'
Marcowasratherpalealso，andforamomenthelookedpaler。
Thedayhadbeenahardone，andintheirhastetoreachplacesatalongdistancefromeachothertheyhadforgottentheirneedoffood。
Theysatsilentforafewmomentsbecausethereseemedtobenothingtosay。``Wearetootiredandhungrytobeabletothinkwell，\'\'Marcosaidatlast。``Letuseatoursupperandthengotosleep。Untilwe\'vehadarest，wemust`letgo。\'\'\'
``Yes。There\'snogoodintalkingwhenyou\'retired，\'\'TheRatansweredatriflegloomily。``Youdon\'treasonstraight。Wemust`letgo。\'\'\'
Theirmealwassimplebuttheyatewellandwithoutwords。
Evenwhentheyhadfinishedandundressedforthenight，theysaidverylittle。
``Wheredoourthoughtsgowhenweareasleep，\'\'TheRatinquiredcasuallyafterhewasstretchedoutinthedarkness。``Theymustgosomewhere。Let\'ssendthemtofindoutwhattodonext。\'\'
``It\'snotasstillasitwasontheGaisberg。Youcanhearthecityroaring，\'\'saidMarcodrowsilyfromhisdarkcorner。``Wemustmakealedge——forourselves。\'\'
Sleepmadeitforthem——deep，restful，healthysleep。Iftheyhadbeenmoreresentfuloftheirillluckandlostlabor，itwouldhavecomelesseasilyandhavebeenlessnatural。Intheirtalksofstrangethingstheyhadlearnedthatonegreatsecretofstrengthandunflaggingcourageistoknowhowto``letgo\'\'——toceasethinkingoverananxietyuntiltherightmomentcomes。Itwastheirhabitto``letgo\'\'forhourssometimes，andwanderaboutlookingatplacesandthings——galleries，museums，palaces，givingthemselvesupwithboyishpleasureandeagernesstoalltheysaw。Marcowastoointimatewiththethingsworthseeing，andTheRattoocuriousandfeverishlywide-awaketoallowoftheirmissingmuch。
TheRat\'simageoftheworldhadgrownuntilitseemedtoknownoboundarieswhichcouldholditswealthofwonders。Hewantedtogoonandonandseethemall。
WhenMarcoopenedhiseyesinthemorning，hefoundTheRatlyinglookingathim。Thentheybothsatupinbedatthesametime。
``Ibelieveweareboththinkingthesamething，\'\'Marcosaid。
Theyfrequentlydiscoveredthattheywerethinkingthesamethings。
``SodoI，\'\'answeredTheRat。``Itshowshowtiredwewerethatwedidn\'tthinkofitlastnight。\'\'
``Yes，wearethinkingthesamething，\'\'saidMarco。``Wehavebothrememberedwhatweheardabouthisshuttinghimselfupalonewithhispicturesandmakingpeoplebelievehehadgoneaway。\'\'
``He\'sinhispalacenow，\'\'TheRatannounced。
``Doyoufeelsureofthat，too？\'\'askedMarco。``Didyouwakeupandfeelsureofitthefirstthing？\'\'
``Yes，\'\'answeredTheRat。``AssureasifI\'dheardhimsayithimself。\'\'
``SodidI，\'\'saidMarco。
``That\'swhatourthoughtsbroughtbacktous，\'\'saidTheRat，``whenwe`letgo\'andsentthemofflastnight。\'\'Hesatuphugginghiskneesandlookingstraightbeforehimforsometimeafterthis，andMarcodidnotinterrupthismeditations。
Thedaywasabrilliantone，and，thoughtheirattichadonlyonewindow，thesunshoneinthroughitastheyatetheirbreakfast。
Afterit，theyleanedonthewindow\'sledgeandtalkedaboutthePrince\'sgarden。Theytalkedaboutitbecauseitwasaplaceopentothepublicandtheyhadwalkedrounditmorethanonce。
Thepalace，whichwasnotalargeone，stoodinthemidstofit。
ThePrincewasgood-naturedenoughtoallowquietandwell-behavedpeopletosaunterthrough。Itwasnotafashionablepromenadebutapleasantretreatforpeoplewhosometimestooktheirworkorbooksandsatontheseatsplacedhereandthereamongtheshrubsandflowers。
``Whenweweretherethefirsttime，Inoticedtwothings，\'\'
Marcosaid。``ThereisastonebalconywhichjutsoutfromthesideofthepalacewhichlooksontheFountainGarden。ThatdaytherewerechairsonitasifthePrinceandhisvisitorssometimessatthere。Nearit，therewasaverylargeevergreenshrubandIsawthattherewasahollowplaceinsideit。Ifsomeonewantedtostayinthegardensallnighttowatchthewindowswhentheywerelightedandseeifanyonecameoutaloneuponthebalcony，hecouldhidehimselfinthehollowplaceandstaythereuntilthemorning。\'\'
``Isthereroomfortwoinsidetheshrub？\'\'TheRatasked。
``No。Imustgoalone，\'\'saidMarco。
XXV
AVOICEINTHENIGHT
Latethatafternoontherewanderedaboutthegardenstwoquiet，inconspicuous，ratherpoorlydressedboys。Theylookedatthepalace，theshrubs，andtheflower-beds，asstrangersusuallydid，andtheysatontheseatsandtalkedaspeoplewereaccustomedtoseeingboystalktogether。Itwasasunnydayandexceptionallywarm，andthereweremoresaunterersandsittersthanusual，whichwasperhapsthereasonwhytheportierattheentrancegatesgavesuchslightnoticetothepairthathedidnotobservethat，thoughtwoboyscamein，onlyonewentout。Hedidnot，infact，remember，whenhesawTheRatswingbyonhiscrutchesatclosing-time，thathehadenteredincompanywithadark-hairedladwhowalkedwithoutanyaid。Ithappenedthat，whenTheRatpassedout，theportierattheentrancewasmuchinterestedintheaspectofthesky，whichwascuriouslythreatening。Therehadbeenheavycloudshangingaboutalldayandnowandthenblottingoutthesunshineentirely，butthesunhadrefusedtoretirealtogether。Justnow，however，thecloudshadpiledthemselvesinthunderous，purplishmountains，andthesunhadbeenforcedtosetbehindthem。
``It\'sbeenasortofbattlesincemorning，\'\'theportiersaid。
``Therewillbesomecrashesandcataractsto-night。\'\'ThatwaswhatTheRathadthoughtwhentheyhadsatintheFountainGardenonaseatwhichgavethemagoodviewofthebalconyandthebigevergreenshrub，whichtheyknewhadthehollowinthemiddle，thoughitscircumferencewassoimposing。``Ifthereshouldbeabigstorm，theevergreenwillnotsaveyoumuch，thoughitmaykeepofftheworst，\'\'TheRatsaid。``Iwishtherewasroomfortwo。\'\'
HewouldhavewishedtherewasroomfortwoifhehadseenMarcomarchingtothestake。Asthegardensemptied，theboysroseandwalkedroundoncemore，asifontheirwayout。Bythetimetheyhadsaunteredtowardthebigevergreen，nobodywasintheFountainGarden，andthelastloiterersweremovingtowardthearchedstoneentrancetothestreets。
Whentheydrewnearonesideoftheevergreen，thetwoweretogether。WhenTheRatswungoutontheothersideofit，hewasalone！Noonenoticedthatanythinghadhappened；noonelookedback。SoTheRatswungdownthewalksandroundtheflower-bedsandpassedintothestreet。Andtheportierlookedattheskyandmadehisremarkaboutthe``crashes\'\'and``cataracts。\'\'
Asthedarknesscameon，thehollowintheshrubseemedaverysafeplace。Itwasnotintheleastlikelythatanyonewouldentertheclosedgardens；andifbyrarechancesomeservantpassedthrough，hewouldnotbeinsearchofpeoplewhowishedtowatchallnightinthemiddleofanevergreeninsteadofgoingtobedandtosleep。Thehollowwaswellinclosedwithgreenery，andtherewasroomtositdownwhenonewastiredofstanding。
Marcostoodforalongtimebecause，bydoingso，hecouldseeplainlythewindowsopeningonthebalconyifhegentlypushedasidesomeflexibleyoungboughs。HehadmanagedtodiscoverinhisfirstvisittothegardensthatthewindowsoverlookingtheFountainGardenwerethosewhichbelongedtothePrince\'sownsuiteofrooms。Thosewhichopenedontothebalconylightedhisfavoriteapartment，whichcontainedhisbest-lovedbooksandpicturesandinwhichhespentmostofhissecludedleisurehours。
Marcowatchedthesewindowsanxiously。IfthePrincehadnotgonetoBudapest，——ifhewerereallyonlyinretreat，andhidingfromhisgayworldamonghistreasures，——hewouldbelivinginhisfavoriteroomsandlightswouldshowthemselves。Andiftherewerelights，hemightpassbeforeawindowbecause，sincehewasinclosedinhisgarden，heneednotfearbeingseen。Thetwilightdeepenedintodarknessand，becauseoftheheavyclouds，itwasverydense。Faintgleamsshowedthemselvesinthelowerpartofthepalace，butnonewaslightedinthewindowsMarcowatched。Hewaitedsolongthatitbecameevidentthatnonewastobelightedatall。Atlastheloosedhisholdontheyoungboughsand，afterstandingafewmomentsinthought，satdownupontheearthinthemidstofhisemboweredtent。ThePrincewasnotinhisretreat；hewasprobablynotinVienna，andtherumorofhisjourneytoBudapesthadnodoubtbeentrue。Somuchtimelostthroughmakingamistake——butitwasbesttohavemadetheventure。Nottohavemadeitwouldhavebeentoloseachance。Theentrancewasclosedforthenightandtherewasnogettingoutofthegardensuntiltheywereopenedforthenextday。Hemuststayinhishiding-placeuntilthetimewhenpeoplebegantocomeandbringtheirbooksandknittingandsitontheseats。Thenhecouldstrolloutwithoutattractingattention。Buthehadthenightbeforehimtospendasbesthecould。Thatwouldnotmatteratall。Hecouldtuckhiscapunderhisheadandgotosleepontheground。Hecouldcommandhimselftowakenonceeveryhalf-hourandlookforthelights。
Hewouldnotgotosleepuntilitwaslongpastmidnight——solongpastthattherewouldnotbeonechanceinahundredthatanythingcouldhappen。Butthecloudswhichmadethenightsodarkweregivingforthlowrumblinggrowls。Atintervalsathreateninggleamoflightshotacrossthemandasuddenswishofwindrushedthroughthetreesinthegarden。Thishappenedseveraltimes，andthenMarcobegantohearthepatterofraindrops。Theywereheavyandbigdrops，butfewatfirst，andthentherewasanewandmorepowerfulrushofwind，ajaggeddartoflightinthesky，andatremendouscrash。Afterthatthecloudstorethemselvesopenandpouredforththeircontentsinfloods。Aftertheprotractedstruggleofthedayitallseemedtohappenatonce，asifahordeofhugelionshadatonemomentbeenletloose：flameafterflameoflightning，roarandcrashandsharpreportsofthunder，shrieksofhurricanewind，torrentsofrain，asifsometidal-waveoftheskieshadgatheredandrushedandburstupontheearth。Itwassuchastormaspeoplerememberforalifetimeandwhichinfewlifetimesisseenatall。
Marcostoodstillinthemidstoftherageandflooding，blindingroarofit。Afterthefirstfewminutesheknewhecoulddonothingtoshieldhimself。Downthegardenpathsheheardcataractsrushing。Heheldhiscappressedagainsthiseyesbecauseheseemedtostandinthemidstofdartingflames。Thecrashes，cannonreportsandthunderings，andthejaggedstreamsoflightcamesoclosetooneanotherthatheseemeddeafenedaswellasblinded。Hewonderedifheshouldeverbeabletohearhumanvoicesagainwhenitwasover。Thathewasdrenchedtotheskinandthatthewaterpouredfromhisclothesasifhewerehimselfacataractwassosmalladetailthathewasscarcelyawareofit。Hestoodstill，bracinghisbody，andwaited。IfhehadbeenaSamaviansoldierinthetrenchesandsuchastormhadbrokenuponhimandhiscomrades，theycouldonlyhavebracedthemselvesandwaited。Thiswaswhathefoundhimselfthinkingwhenthetumultanddownpourwereattheirworst。Thereweremenwhohadwaitedinthemidstofarainofbullets。
Itwasnotlongafterthisthoughthadcometohimthatthereoccurredthefirsttemporarylullinthestorm。Itsfuryperhapsreacheditsheightandbrokeatthatmoment。Ayellowflamehadtornitsjaggedwayacrosstheheavens，andanearth-rendingcrashhadthundereditselfintorumblingswhichactuallydiedawaybeforebreakingforthagain。Marcotookhiscapfromhiseyesanddrewalongbreath。Hedrewtwolongbreaths。Itwasashebegandrawingathirdandrealizingthestrangefeelingofthealmoststillnessabouthimthatheheardanewkindofsoundatthesideofthegardennearesthishiding-place。Itsoundedlikethecreakofadooropeningsomewhereinthewallbehindthelaurelhedge。Someonewascomingintothegardenbyaprivateentrance。Hepushedasidetheyoungboughsagainandtriedtosee，butthedarknesswastoodense。Yethecouldhearifthethunderwouldnotbreakagain。Therewasthesoundoffeetonthewetgravel，thefootstepsofmorethanonepersoncomingtowardwherehestood，butnotasifafraidofbeingheard；
merelyasiftheywereatlibertytocomeinbywhatentrancetheychose。Marcoremainedverystill。Asuddenhopegavehimashockofjoy。Ifthemanwiththetiredfacechosetohidehimselffromhisacquaintances，hemightchoosetogoinandoutbyaprivateentrance。Thefootstepsdrewnear，crushingthewetgravel，passedby，andseemedtopausesomewherenearthebalcony；andthemflamelituptheskyagainandthethunderburstforthoncemore。
Butthiswasitslastgrealpeal。Thestormwasatanend。Onlyfainterandfainterrumblingsandmutteringsandpalerandpalerdartsfollowed。Eventheyweresoonover，andthecataractsinthepathshadrushedthemselvessilent。Butthedarknesswasstilldeep。
Itwasdeeptoblacknessinthehollowoftheevergreen。Marcostoodinit，streamingwithrain，butfeelingnothingbecausehewasfullofthought。Hepushedasidehisgreeneryandkepthiseyesontheplaceintheblacknesswherethewindowsmustbe，thoughhecouldnotseethem。Itseemedthathewaitedalongtime，butheknewitonlyseemedsoreally。Hebegantobreathequicklybecausehewaswaitingforsomething。
Suddenlyhesawexactlywherethewindowswere——becausetheywerealllighted！
Hisfeelingofreliefwasgreat，butitdidnotlastverylong。
ItwastruethatsomethinghadbeengainedinthecertaintythathismanhadnotleftVienna。Butwhatnext？Itwouldnotbesoeasytofollowhimifhechoseonlytogooutsecretlyatnight。
Whatnext？Tospendtherestofthenightwatchingalightedwindowwasnotenough。To-morrownightitmightnotbelighted。
Buthekepthisgazefixeduponit。Hetriedtofixallhiswillandthought-poweronthepersoninsidetheroom。Perhapshecouldreachhimandmakehimlisten，eventhoughhewouldnotknowthatanyonewasspeakingtohim。Heknewthatthoughtswerestrongthings。Ifangrythoughtsinoneman\'smindwillcreateangerinthemindofanother，whyshouldnotsanemessagescrosstheline？
``Imustspeaktoyou。Imustspeaktoyou！\'\'hefoundhimselfsayinginalowintensevoice。``Iamoutsideherewaiting。
Listen！Imustspeaktoyou！\'\'
Hesaiditmanytimesandkepthiseyesfixeduponthewindowwhichopenedontothebalcony。Oncehesawaman\'sfigurecrosstheroom，buthecouldnotbesurewhoitwas。Thelastdistantrumblingsofthunderhaddiedawayandthecloudswerebreaking。
Itwasnotlongbeforethedarkmountainousbillowsbrokeapart，andabrilliantfullmoonshowedherselfsailingintherift，suddenlyfloodingeverythingwithlight。Partsofthegardenweresilverwhite，andthetreeshadowswerelikeblackvelvet。
AsilverylancepiercedevenintothehollowofMarco\'severgreenandstruckacrosshisface。
Perhapsitwasthissuddenchangewhichattractedtheattentionofthoseinsidethebalconiedroom。Aman\'sfigureappearedatthelongwindows。MarcosawnowthatitwasthePrince。Heopenedthewindowsandsteppedoutontothebalcony。
``Itisallover，\'\'hesaidquietly。Andhestoodwithhisfacelifted，lookingatthegreatwhitesailingmoon。
Hestoodverystillandseemedforthemomenttoforgettheworldandhimself。Itwasawonderful，triumphantqueenofamoon。
Butsomethingbroughthimbacktoearth。Alow，butstrongandclear，boy-voicecameuptohimfromthegardenpathbelow。
``TheLampislighted。TheLampislighted，\'\'itsaid，andthewordssoundedalmostasifsomeonewereutteringaprayer。Theyseemedtocalltohim，toarresthim，todrawhim。
Hestoodstillafewsecondsindeadsilence。Thenhebentoverthebalustrade。Themoonlighthadnotbrokenthedarknessbelow。
``Thatisaboy\'svoice，\'\'hesaidinalowtone，``butIcannotseewhoisspeaking。\'\'
``Yes，itisaboy\'svoice，\'\'itanswered，inawaywhichsomehowmovedhim，becauseitwassoardent。``ItisthesonofStefanLoristan。TheLampislighted。\'\'
``Wait。Iamcomingdowntoyou，\'\'thePrincesaid。
InafewminutesMarcoheardadooropengentlynotfarfromwherehestood。Thenthemanhehadbeenfollowingsomanydaysappearedathisside。
``Howlonghaveyoubeenhere？\'\'heasked。
``Beforethegatesclosed。Ihidmyselfinthehollowofthebigshrubthere，Highness，\'\'Marcoanswered。
``Thenyouwereoutinthestorm？\'\'
``Yes，Highness。\'\'
ThePrinceputhishandontheboy\'sshoulder。``Icannotseeyou——butitisbesttostandintheshadow。Youaredrenchedtotheskin。\'\'
``IhavebeenabletogiveyourHighness——theSign，\'\'Marcowhispered。``Astormisnothing。\'\'
Therewasasilence。Marcoknewthathiscompanionwaspausingtoturnsomethingoverinhismind。
``So-o？\'\'hesaidslowly，atlength。``TheLampislighted，AndYOUaresenttobeartheSign。\'\'SomethinginhisvoicemadeMarcofeelthathewassmiling。
``Whataraceyouare！Whatarace——youSamavianLoristans！\'\'
Hepausedasiftothinkthethingoveragain。
``Iwanttoseeyourface，\'\'hesaidnext。``Hereisatreewithashaftofmoonlightstrikingthroughthebranches。Letusstepasideandstandunderit。\'\'
Marcodidashewastold。Theshaftofmoonlightfelluponhisupliftedfaceandshoweditsyoungstrengthanddarkness，quitesplendidforthemomentinatriumphantglowofjoyinobstaclesovercome。Raindropshungonhishair，buthedidnotlookdraggled，onlyverywetandpicturesque。Hehadreachedhisman。
HehadgiventheSign。
ThePrincelookedhimoverwithinterestedcuriosity。
``Yes，\'\'hesaidinhiscool，ratherdraggingvoice。``YouarethesonofStefanLoristan。Alsoyoumustbetakencareof。Youmustcomewithme。IhavetrainedmyhouseholdtoremaininitsownquartersuntilIrequireitsservice。IhaveattachedtomyownapartmentsagoodsafelittleroomwhereIsometimeskeeppeople。
Youcandryyourclothesandsleepthere。Whenthegardensareopenedagain，therestwillbeeasy。\'\'
Butthoughhesteppedoutfromunderthetreesandbegantomovetowardsthepalaceintheshadow，Marconoticedthathemovedhesitatingly，asifhehadnotquitedecidedwhatheshoulddo。
HestoppedrathersuddenlyandturnedagaintoMarco，whowasfollowinghim。
``ThereissomeoneintheroomIjustnowleft，\'\'hesaid，``anoldman——whomitmightinteresttoseeyou。Itmightalsobeagoodthingforhimtofeelinterestinyou。Ichoosethatheshallseeyou——asyouare。\'\'
``Iamatyourcommand，Highness，\'\'Marcoanswered。Heknewhiscompanionwassmilingagain。
``Youhavebeenintrainingformorecenturiesthanyouknow，\'\'
hesaid；``andyourfatherhaspreparedyoutoencountertheunexpectedwithoutsurprise。\'\'
Theypassedunderthebalconyandpausedatalowstonedoorwayhiddenbehindshrubs。Thedoorwasabeautifulone，Marcosawwhenitwasopened，andthecorridordisclosedwasbeautifulalso，thoughithadanairofquietandaloofnesswhichwasnotsomuchsecretasprivate。Aperfectthoughnarrowstaircasemountedfromittothenextfloor。Afterascendingit，thePrinceledthewaythroughashortcorridorandstoppedatthedoorattheendofit。``Wearegoinginhere，\'\'hesaid。
Itwasawonderfulroom——theonewhichopenedontothebalcony。
Eachpieceoffurnitureinit，thehangings，thetapestries，andpicturesonthewallwereallsuchasmightwellhavefoundthemselvesadorningamuseum。Marcorememberedthecommonreportofhisescort\'sfavoriteamusementofcollectingwondersandfurnishinghishousewiththethingsothersexhibitedonlyasmarvelsofartandhandicraft。Theplacewasrichandmellowwithexquisitelychosenbeauties。
Inamassivechairupontheheartsatafigurewithbenthead。
Itwasatalloldmanwithwhitehairandmoustache。Hiselbowsresteduponthearmofhischairandheleanedhisforeheadonhishandasifhewereweary。
Marco\'scompanioncrossedtheroomandstoodbesidehim，speakinginaloweredvoice。Marcocouldnotatfirsthearwhathesaid。
Hehimselfstoodquitestill，waiting。Thewhite-hairedmanliftedhisheadandlistened。Itseemedasthoughalmostatoncehewassingularlyinterested。TheloweredvoicewasslightlyraisedatlastandMarcoheardthelasttwosentences：
``TheonlysonofStefanLoristan。Lookathim。\'\'
Theoldmaninthechairturnedslowlyandlooked，steadily，andwithquestioningcuriositytouchedwithgravesurprise。Hehadkeenandclearblueeyes。
ThenMarco，stillerectandsilent，waitedagain。ThePrincehadmerelysaidtohim，``anoldmanwhomitmightinteresttoseeyou。\'\'Hehadplainlyintendedthat，whatsoeverhappened，hemustmakenooutwardsignofseeingmorethanhehadbeentoldhewouldsee——``anoldman。\'\'Itwasforhimtoshownoastonishmentorrecognition。Hehadbeenbroughtherenottoseebuttobeseen。Thepowerofremainingstillunderscrutiny，whichTheRathadoftenenviedhim，stoodnowingoodsteadbecausehehadseenthewhiteheadandtallformnotmanydaysbefore，surmountedbybrilliantemeraldplumes，hungwithjeweleddecorations，intheroyalcarriage，escortedbybanners，andhelmets，andfollowingtroopswhosetrampingfeetkepttimetoburstsofmilitarymusicwhilethepopulacebaredtheirheadsandcheered。
``Heislikehisfather，\'\'thispersonagesaidtothePrince。
``ButifanyonebutLoristanhadsenthim——Hislookspleaseme。\'\'ThensuddenlytoMarco，``Youwerewaitingoutsidewhilethestormwasgoingon？\'\'
``Yes，sir，\'\'Marcoanswered。
Thenthetwoexchangedsomewordsstillintheloweredvoice。
``Youreadthenewsasyoumadeyourjourney？\'\'hewasasked。
``YouknowhowSamaviastands？\'\'
``Shedoesnotstand，\'\'saidMarco。``TheIarovitchandtheMaranovitchhavefoughtashyenasfight，untileachhastorntheotherintofragments——andneitherhasbloodorstrengthleft。\'\'
Thetwoglancedateachother。
``Agoodsimile，\'\'saidtheolderperson。``Youareright。Ifastrongpartyrose——andagreaterpowerchosenottointerfere——thecountrymightseebetterdays。\'\'Helookedathimafewmomentslongerandthenwavedhishandkindly。
``YouareafineSamavian，\'\'hesaid。``Iamgladofthat。Youmaygo。Goodnight。\'\'
Marcobowedrespectfullyandthemanwiththetiredfaceledhimoutoftheroom。
ItwasjustbeforehelefthiminthesmallquietchamberinwhichhewastosleepthatthePrincegavehimafinalcuriousglance。``Iremembernow，\'\'hesaid。``Intheroom，whenyouansweredthequestionaboutSamavia，IwassurethatIhadseenyoubefore。Itwasthedayofthecelebration。TherewasabreakinthecrowdandIsawaboylookingatme。Itwasyou。\'\'
``Yes，\'\'saidMarco，``Ihavefollowedyoueachtimeyouhavegoneoutsincethen，butIcouldnevergetnearenoughtospeak。
To-nightseemedonlyonechanceinathousand。\'\'
``Youaredoingyourworkmorelikeamanthanaboy，\'\'wasthenextspeech，anditwasmadereflectively。``Nomancouldhavebehavedmoreperfectlythanyoudidjustnow，whendiscretionandcomposurewerenecessary。\'\'Then，afteramoment\'spause，``Hewasdeeplyinterestedanddeeplypleased。Goodnight。\'\'
Whenthegardenshadbeenthrownopenthenextmorningandpeoplewerepassinginandoutagain，Marcopassedoutalso。Hewasobligedtotellhimselftwoorthreetimesthathehadnotwakenedfromanamazingdream。Hequickenedhispaceafterhehadcrossedthestreet，becausehewantedtogethometotheatticandtalktoTheRat。Therewasanarrowside-streetitwasnecessaryforhimtopassthroughifhewishedtomakeashortcut。Asheturnedintoit，hesawacuriousfigureleaningoncrutchesagainstawall。Itlookeddampandforlorn，andhewonderedifitcouldbeabeggar。Itwasnot。ItwasTheRat，whosuddenlysawwhowasapproachingandswungforward。Hisfacewaspaleandhaggardandhelookedwornandfrightened。Hedraggedoffhiscapandspokeinavoicewhichwashoarseasacrow\'s。
``Godbethanked！\'\'hesaid。``Godbethanked！\'\'aspeoplealwayssaiditwhentheyreceivedtheSign，alone。Buttherewasakindofanguishinhisvoiceaswellasrelief。
``Aide-de-camp！\'\'Marcocriedout——TheRathadbeggedhimtocallhimso。``Whathaveyoubeendoing？Howlonghaveyoubeenhere？\'\'
``EversinceIleftyoulastnight，\'\'saidTheRatclutchingtremblinglyathisarmasiftomakesurehewasreal。``Iftherewasnotroomfortwointhehollow，therewasroomforoneinthestreet。
Wasitmyplacetogooffdutyandleaveyoualone——wasit？\'\'
``Youwereoutinthestorm？\'\'
``Weren\'tyou？\'\'saidTheRatfiercely。``IhuddledagainstthewallaswellasIcould。WhatdidIcare？Crutchesdon\'tpreventafellowwaiting。Iwouldn\'thaveleftyouifyou\'dgivenmeorders。Andthatwouldhavebeenmutiny。Whenyoudidnotcomeoutassoonasthegatesopened，Ifeltasifmyheadgotonfire。HowcouldIknowwhathadhappened？I\'venotthenerveandbackboneyouhave。Igohalfmad。\'\'ForasecondorsoMarcodidnotanswer。Butwhenheputhishandonthedampsleeve，TheRatactuallystarted，becauseitseemedasthoughhewerelookingintotheeyesofStefanLoristan。
``Youlookjustlikeyourfather！\'\'heexclaimed，inspiteofhimself。``Howtallyouare！\'\'
``Whenyouarenearme，\'\'Marcosaid，inLoristan\'sownvoice，``whenyouarenearme，Ifeel——IfeelasifIwerearoyalprinceattendedbyanarmy。YouAREmyarmy。\'\'Andhepulledoffhiscapwithquickboyishnessandadded，``Godbethanked！\'\'