l state of mind. The
good food and drink had marvelously restored us, giving us new strength
in body and soul, so that we now hoped where we had previously been
inclined to despair. And so, being impelled to brighter thoughts than
had filled our hearts for some days, we slept more composedly, and had
none of those evil visions which had disturbed our sleep on former
occasions.

Nevertheless evil was drawing near to us while we slept.

It was about half-way through the afternoon, when I woke with a sudden
feeling that all was not well. It was not the feeling which I had
experienced the previous day, namely, that I was being watched, but a
curious sensation of coming ill. How it came into my mind I know not;
all I know is that I suddenly awoke and came into possession of all my
senses with startling swiftness, so that while I had been sound asleep
one moment I was wide awake the next, and looking and listening with
very eager and acute perception. Also, my heart was beating hard in my
breast, as a man's heart will when he suddenly fronts some great danger.
And then I knew that evil was at hand, and as I held up my head and
looked round I saw it draw near.

The place in which we lay was a corner amongst the rocks on the side of
the mountain. Before us lay a wide expanse of smooth stone, the top of a
great rock that had its base in the woods below. Behind us rose a high
wall of rock, and beyond that was the sun, now sinking towards the
western horizon. Where we lay everything was in deep shadow, but the
table-like piece of rock in front was bathed in brilliant sunlight, and
when I woke and looked round my eyes fell upon it, and on a sight which
was like to freeze my heart within me.

Some ridge of rock or mountain high above us was outlined on the bright
stretch of reflected sunlight at our feet, and on this as I looked
appeared two shadows--the shadows of human beings, standing motionless
on the ridge, and evidently looking out from that commanding position
across the wide plain that lay far below.

I recognized one of the shadows instantly. It was the figure of a man
cloaked in some long clinging garment, that enveloped him from head to
foot. As he turned his head I saw the peculiar cowl, with its peaked
top, which had confronted me the previous day.

The other shadow seemed to be that of a naked man, of slender, sinewy
limbs, who carried a bow, and whose head was ornamented with long,
waving feathers. Now he stood