hough they lived in the unvisited depths of
the wood and came not near the habitations of men unless they were
fierce with famine. But he had heard several times a strange snarling
cry some way off in the wood, and once or twice he had thought he was
being softly followed. So he determined to go no further, but to climb
up into a tree, if he could find one, and there to spend an uneasy
night.

He felt about for some time, but could discover nothing but small
saplings, when he suddenly saw through the trees a light shine, and it
came across him that he had stumbled as it were by accident upon the
village. So he went forward slowly towards the light--there was no
track here--often catching his feet among brambles and low plants,
till the gloom lifted somewhat and he felt a freer air, and saw that
he was in a clearing in the wood. Then he discerned, in front of him,
a space of deeper darkness against the sky, what he thought to be the
outline of the roofs of buildings; then the light shone out of a
window near the ground; but presently he came to a stop, for he saw
the light flash and gleam in the ripples of a water that lay in his
path and blocked his way.

Then he called aloud once or twice; something seemed to stir in the
house, and presently the light in the window was obscured by the head
and shoulders of a man, who pressed to the opening; but there was no
answer. Then Paullinus spoke very clearly, and said that he was a
Roman, a traveller who had lost his way. Then a harsh voice told him
to walk round the water to the left and wait awhile; which Paullinus
did.

Soon he heard steps come out of the house and come to the water's
edge. Then he heard sounds as though some one were walking on a hollow
board--then with a word of warning there fell the end of a plank near
him on the bank, and he was bidden to come across. He did so, though
the bridge was narrow and he was half afraid of falling; but in a
moment he was at the other side, a dark figure beside him. He was
bidden to wait again, and the figure went out over the water and
seemed to pull in the plank that had served as a bridge; and then the
man returned and bade him to come forward. Paullinus followed the
figure, and in a moment he could see the dark eaves of a long, low
house before him, very rudely but strongly built; then a door was
opened showing a lighted room within, and he was bidden to step
forward and enter.

He found himself in a large, bare chambe