he had secretly pined for
some swift issue from perplexity and delay. In such a moment was it
that the voice of darkness gained his ear, and, like a will-o'-the-wisp,
lured him to calamity. Verily, it is not easy to be God. Only builders
of the Tower of Babel know the awfulness of its overthrow.

Balder's spirit lay prostrate among the ruins, too stunned and
bewildered to see the reason or justice of his fall. Such a state is
dangerous, for, the better part of the mind being either occupied with
its disaster or stupefied by it, the superficial part is readily moved
to folly or extravagance,--to deeds and thoughts which a saner moment
would scout and ridicule. Well is it, then, if the blind steps are
guided to better foothold than they know how to choose. Angels are
said to be particularly watchful over those who sleep; perhaps, also,
during the darkness which follows on moral perversion.

XV.

CHARON'S FERRY.

After lying motionless for half an hour, Balder suddenly sat upright
and settled his hat on his head. A new purpose had come to him which,
arriving later than it might have done, made him wish to act upon it
without delay.

The old mariner had by this time bailed out his boat, and, having
shipped a mast in the forward thwart, was dropping down stream. As he
neared the promontory Balder hailed him:--

"Hullo! skipper, take me across?"

The skipper, without replying, steered shorewards, the other
clambering down the rock to meet him. After a brief parley, during
which the old fellow closely scrutinized his intending passenger from
head to foot, a bargain was struck, and they put forth, tacking
diagonally across stream. For Balder, having charged his imagination
with castles, warlike chieftains, and beautiful princesses, had
finally arrived at the conclusion that the stone house was an
enchanter's castle; the figure he had seen, an imprisoned lady;
himself, a knight-errant bound to rescue her and give the wicked
enchanter his deserts. This idea possessed his brain for the moment
more vividly than do realities most men. The plumed helmet was on his
head, he glittered with shining arms and sword, his heart warmed and
throbbed with visions of conflict and bold emprise. The commonplace
assumed an aspect of grandeur and magnificence in harmony with his
chivalric mania. The leaky craft in which he sat became a majestic
barge; the skipper, some wrinkled Charon who doubtless had ferried
many a brave knight