son," I said to Meon, "shall I baptize thee?"

'"Not yet," said he. "Wait till we are well ashore and at home. No God
in any Heaven shall say that I came to him or left him because I was wet
and cold. I will send Padda to my people for a boat. Is that witchcraft,
Eddi?"

'"Why, no. Surely Padda will go and pull them to the beach by the skirts
of their gowns as he pulled me in Wittering Church to ask me to sing.
Only then I was afraid, and did not understand," said Eddi.

'"You are understanding now," said Meon, and at a wave of his arm off
went Padda to the mainland, making a wake like a war-boat till we lost
him in the rain. Meon's people could not bring a boat across for some
hours; even so it was ticklish work among the rocks in that tideway.
But they hoisted me aboard, too stiff to move, and Padda swam behind us,
barking and turning somersaults all the way to Manhood End!'

'Good old Padda!' murmured Dan.

'When we were quite rested and re-clothed, and his people had been
summoned--not an hour before--Meon offered himself to be baptized.'

'Was Padda baptized too?' Una asked.

'No, that was only Meon's joke. But he sat blinking on his ox-hide in
the middle of the hall. When Eddi (who thought I wasn't looking) made a
little cross in holy water on his wet muzzle, he kissed Eddi's hand. A
week before Eddi wouldn't have touched him. That was a miracle, if you
like! But seriously, I was more glad than I can tell you to get Meon. A
rare and splendid soul that never looked back--never looked back!' The
Arch-bishop half closed his eyes.

'But, sir,' said Puck, most respectfully, 'haven't you left out what
Meon said afterwards?' Before the Bishop could speak he turned to the
children and went on: 'Meon called all his fishers and ploughmen and
herdsmen into the hall and he said: "Listen, men! Two days ago I asked
our Bishop whether it was fair for a man to desert his fathers' Gods
in a time of danger. Our Bishop said it was not fair. You needn't shout
like that, because you are all Christians now. My red war-boat's crew
will remember how near we all were to death when Padda fetched them over
to the Bishop's islet. You can tell your mates that even in that place,
at that time, hanging on the wet, weedy edge of death, our Bishop, a
Christian, counselled me, a heathen, to stand by my fathers' Gods. I
tell you now that a faith which takes care that every man shall keep
faith, even though he may save his soul by breaking