and the sunshine. The magicians came to hear
me--women and men--each wearing a Magic Knife. Their Priestess was their
Ears and their Mouth.

'I spoke. I spoke many words that went smoothly along like sheep in
order when their shepherd, standing on a mound, can count those coming,
and those far off getting ready to come. I asked for Magic Knives for my
people. I said that my people would bring meat, and milk, and wool, and
lay them in the short grass outside the Trees, if the Children of the
Night would leave Magic Knives for our people to take away. They
were pleased. Their Priestess said, "For whose sake have you come?" I
answered, "The sheep are the people. If The Beast kills our sheep, our
people die. So I come for a Magic Knife to kill The Beast."

'She said, "We do not know if our God will let us trade with the people
of the Naked Chalk. Wait till we have asked."

'When they came back from the Question-place (their Gods are our Gods),
their Priestess said, "The God needs a proof that your words are true."
I said, "What is the proof?" She said, "The God says that if you have
come for the sake of your people you will give him your right eye to be
put out; but if you have come for any other reason you will not give it.
This proof is between you and the God. We ourselves are sorry."

'I said, "This is a hard proof. Is there no other road?"

'She said, "Yes. You can go back to your people with your two eyes in
your head if you choose. But then you will not get any Magic Knives for
your people."

'I said, "It would be easier if I knew that I were to be killed."

'She said, "Perhaps the God knew this too. See! I have made my knife
hot."

'I said, "Be quick, then!" With her knife heated in the flame she put
out my right eye. She herself did it. I am the son of a Priestess. She
was a Priestess. It was not work for any common man.'

'True! Most true,' said Puck. 'No common man's work that. And,
afterwards?'

'Afterwards I did not see out of that eye any more. I found also that a
one eye does not tell you truly where things are. Try it!'

At this Dan put his hand over one eye, and reached for the flint
arrow-head on the grass. He missed it by inches. 'It's true,' he
whispered to Una. 'You can't judge distances a bit with only one eye.'

Puck was evidently making the same experiment, for the man laughed at
him.

'I know it is so,' said he. 'Even now I am not always sure of my blow.
I stayed with the Children o