one place the same old Mission.
You will promise to stop there till I come back, at any rate?'

Worn out by continual dropping-fire, I promised, starry Heaven
being my helper. 'Let's go to bed after that,' I pleaded. 'I've
soared in an airy disquisition and I've come to earth in a gross
sort of pledge.'

'No, you're to go on,' Dick told me.

'What about yourself?'

'O, I'm led out on a string. I'm given trotting exercise by
Africa within her own confines. I'm kept hanging about on her
veld, while she delays my donkeys. Meanwhile she shows me
out-of-the-way holes and corners where there's nobody to do the
work she wants done. She appeals to my shame and pity, she has made
a study of weak spots of mine. Has she not method? I meant to leave
the wagon last week, but I'm lucky if I get off tomorrow. What
with bad roads, spongy crossings, and indifferent donkeys, she's
landed me in a pledge to-night a pledge to keep me hanging on.
I'm in honor bound now to try to turn her night into day, just
like a cock in one of her kraals. While all the time I want to be
flitting North like one of her swallows this month of all months
in the year.'

In the morning I renewed my pledge at a rock's altar a rock that
lichen had stained bright orange. I professed resignation, as did
the other two beside me. Then after breakfast, we shook hands. I
gave Dick a motto about Africa:

She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss,
For 'ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!

I gave Delia a prayer to say for her westward return. 'Turn our
captivity ... as the rivers in the south.' Then I knelt by the
grey flat stone and prayed audibly, 'Give me a blessing; for Thou
hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water.'

Soon I was striding away. There was little time to reach home by
the hour when home wanted me. Pity and shame, pity pointing east
and west, while shame spurns and aspires these two beams seem to
make up my own Cyrenian's burden the burden of the Southern Cross
for me. On the other hand, regret and adoration seem to supply
the same office for Dick, if I may judge by his letters. As for
Miss Moore, by far the most deserving of us three admittedly,
doubtless her faith is firmly rooted wherever she is, and her
sympathy spreads east or west, whichever way her duty calls her.
Nevertheless she would be still glad should the Voice call and
the Wind blow westward again, at least that is my own conviction.
In our several ways