p of the oars of the
boatman, the rattle of the anchor-chains of ships in the bay, and the
fierce vociferations of the negroes who waded up to their waists to
unload the cargoes.

And when she came home, and took her old place at her father's knees,
with his hand between hers pressed close against her cheek, she told him
another sweet and startling story. There was only one thing in the world
that did not die at night, and it was water. That was because water was
the way from heaven to earth. It went up into the mountains and over
them into the air until it was lost in the clouds. And God and His
angels came and went on the water between heaven and earth. That was why
it was always moving and never sleeping, and had no night and no day.
And the angels were always singing. That was why the waters were always
making a noise, and were never silent like the grass. Sometimes their
song was joyful, and sometimes it was sad, and sometimes the evil
spirits were struggling with the angels, and that was when the waters
were terrible. Every time the sea made a little noise on the shore, an
angel had stepped on to the earth. The angel was glad.

Israel had begun to listen to Naomi's fancies with a doubting heart.
Where had they come from? Was it his duty to wipe out these beautiful
dream-stories of the maid born blind and newly come upon the joy of
hearing with his own sadder tales of what the world was and what life
was, and death and heaven? The question was soon decided for him.

Two days after Naomi had been taken to Marteel she was missed again.
Israel hurried away to the sea, and there he came upon her. Alone,
without help, she had found a boat on the beach and had pushed off on
to the water. It was a double-pronged boat, light as a nutshell, made
of ribs of rush, covered with camel-skin, and lined with bark. In this
frail craft she was afloat, and already far out in the bay not rowing,
but sitting quietly, and drifting away with the ebbing tide. The wind
was rising, and the line of the foreshore beyond the boat was white with
breakers. Israel put off after her and rescued her. The motionless eyes
began to fill when she heard his voice.

"My darling, my darling!" cried Israel; "where did you think you were
going?"

"To heaven," she answered.

And truly she had all but gone there.

Israel had no choice left to him now. He must sadden the heart of this
creature of joy that he might keep her body safe from peril. Naomi w