from nature, and lives by crafty and
twisted thought."

Speaking in this manner he chanced to lift his eyes from the ground and
saw, far away, a solitary figure which melted into the folding earth and
reappeared again in a different place. So peculiar and erratic were the
movements of this figure that the Philosopher had great difficulty in
following it, and, indeed, would have been unable to follow, but that
the other chanced in his direction. When they came nearer he saw it
was a young boy, who was dancing hither and thither in any and every
direction. A bushy mound hid him for an instant, and the next they were
standing face to face staring at each other. After a moment's silence
the boy, who was about twelve years of age, and as beautiful as the
morning, saluted the Philosopher.

"Have you lost your way, sir?" said he.

"All paths," the Philosopher replied, "are on the earth, and so one can
never be lost--but I have lost my dinner."

The boy commenced to laugh.

"What are you laughing at, my son?" said the Philosopher.

"Because," he replied, "I am bringing you your dinner. I wondered what
sent me out in this direction, for I generally go more to the east."

"Have you got my dinner?" said the Philosopher anxiously.

"I have," said the boy: "I ate my own dinner at home, and I put your
dinner in my pocket. I thought," he explained, "that I might be hungry
if I went far away."

"The gods directed you," said the Philosopher.

"They often do," said the boy, and he pulled a small parcel from his
pocket.

The Philosopher instantly sat down, and the boy handed him the parcel.
He opened this and found bread and cheese.

"It's a good dinner," said he, and commenced to eat.

"Would you not like a piece also, my son?"

"I would like a little piece," said the boy, and he sat down before the
Philosopher, and they ate together happily.

When they had finished the Philosopher praised the gods, and then said,
more to himself than to the boy:

"If I had a little drink of water I would want nothing else."

"There is a stream four paces from here," said his companion. "I will
get some water in my cap," and he leaped away.

In a few moments he came back holding his cap tenderly, and the
Philosopher took this and drank the water.

"I want nothing more in the world," said he, "except to talk with you.
The sun is shining, the wind is pleasant, and the grass is soft. Sit
down beside me again for a little time."

So