s thick upon them all."

[Illustration]

[Illustration: The Passing of Men]

[Illustration]

THE PASSING OF MEN

One night the moon was shining brightly upon the curtain, which
had been drawn tight across the window. Within the room the
light was dim, so that there could be seen clearly the pictures
which the moon was drawing on the curtain, figures which
marched, advanced, receded. One might almost have thought these
the shadows of some moving boughs, had one not known the ways
the moon has at certain times.

It chanced that high up in the curtain there was a tiny hole,
and through this opening the moonlight streamed, falling upon
the table in a small, silvery ellipse, of a size which one might
cover ten times with one's hand. It was natural that in this
little well of pale and dreamlike radiance the Singing Mouse
should find it fit to manifest itself. I knew not when it came,
but as I looked, the spot had found a tenant. The small,
transparent paws of the Singing Mouse displayed no shadow as
they waved and swung across this pencil of the pale, mysterious
light. Yet its eyes shone opaline and brilliant as it sat, so
that I could hardly gaze without a shiver of surprise akin to
fear, fascinated as though I looked upon a thing unreal. Thus
surrounded, almost one might say thus penetrated, by the
translucent shaft of radiance which came through the window, the
Singing Mouse told me of the figures on the curtain, which now
began to have more distinct semblances.

"Do you see the figures there?" said the Singing Mouse. "Do you
see the marching men? Have you never heard the hoofs ring on the
roof when the wind blows high? Have you not seen their ranks
sweep swift across the sky when storms arise? Have you never
seen them marching through the long aisles of the wood at night?
These are the warriors of the past. Now earth has always loved
the warriors."

I looked, and indeed it was the truth. There was a panorama on
the curtain. History had unrolled her scroll. The warriors of
the nations and the times were passing.

I saw the men of Babylon, and those who came out of Egypt. Dark
were these of hair and visage, and their arms were the ancient
bow and spear. And there were those who rode light and cast back
their rapid archery. These faded, and in their stead marched
men close-knit in solid phalanx, with long spears offering
impenetrable front. In turn these passed away, and there came
men with haughty br