thing we can bring him now, when the best part
of the day is over?" "Yes, I do," he replied. "I have a good hope that
he will; for I remember how he said, 'Return, ye backsliding children,
return ye even unto me.'" "But how can one who is so trembling and
fearful as I am ever traffic for him?" "You can, if you will but hold
on; for he has once spoken of his servants 'as faint yet pursuing.'"
"Well," said the other, "I wish that I had your courage; but I do believe
that I should not dare to meet such another crowd as that we have just
passed through; I really thought that they would tear us in pieces." "Our
king will never let that be," said the other, "if only we trust in him."
"But are you sure," replied he, "that our king does see us in this town?"

Just as he said this, and before his companion had time to answer him
again, they heard a louder noise than ever, of men dancing, and singing,
and crowding, and music playing, and horns blowing, as if all the mad
sports of the city were coming upon them in one burst. At the front of
all they could see their old companion; for the band had turned round by
a different street, and now were just beginning to come down that one up
which they were passing. Then he who had been affrighted before, turned
white as snow; and he looked this way and that, to see what he could do.

Now it so happened, that just by where they stood was a great shop, and
in its windows there seemed to shine precious stones and jewels, and fine
crystals, and gold and ivory. And, as he looked, his eyes fell full upon
the shop, and he said to his fellow,--"Look here; surely here is what we
want: let us turn in here and traffic for our master, and then we shall
escape all this rout which is coming upon us." "No, no!" said the other;
"we must push on to the market; that is our appointed place; there our
lord bids us trade: we must not turn aside from the trouble which our
lateness has brought upon us--we must not offer to our master that which
costs us nothing. Play the man, and we shall soon be in the market."

"But we shall be torn in pieces," said the other. "Look at the great
crowd: and even now it seems that our old companion sees me, and is
beginning to lead the rabble upon us." "Never fear," said he who led the
way; "our king will keep us. 'I will not be afraid for ten thousands of
the people who have set themselves against us round about.'"

Then I saw that he to whom he spoke did not s