ld trace clearly every feature of the grave and beautiful
face and radiant eyes. I saw not by the starlight, but by a silvery
radiance which rayed a little way into the blackness around the dark
hair and face. Valmika, as elder, first spoke:

"Holy sir, be welcome. Will you come in and rest?"

"I cannot stay now. I must pass over the mountains ere dawn; but you may
come a little way with me--such of you as will."

We assented gladly, Kedar and I, Valmika remained. Then Ananda prayed
to go. We bade him stay, fearing for him the labor of climbing and the
chill of the snows. But Varunna said: "Let the child come. He is hardy,
and will not tire if he holds my hand."

So we set out together, and faced the highlands that rose and rose
above us. We knew the way well, even at night. We waited in silence for
Varunna to speak; but for nigh an hour we mounted without words, save
for Ananda's shouts of delight and wonder at the heavens spread above
valleys that lay behind us. Then I grew hungry for an answer to my
thoughts, and I spake:

"Master, Valmika was saying, ere you came, how good it was to be here
rather than in the city, where they are full of strife. And Kedar
thought their lives would flow on into fiery pain, and no speech would
avail. Ananda, speaking as a child, indeed, said if one went down among
they would listen to his story of the happy life. But, Master, do not
many speak and interpret the sacred writings, and how few are they who
lay to heart the words of the gods! They seem, indeed, to go on through
desire into pain, and even here upon the hills we are not free, for
Kedar felt the hot glow of their passion, and I heard in my heart their
sobs of despair. Master, it was terrible, for they seemed to come from
the wide earth over, and out of ages far away.

"In the child's words is the truth," said Varunna, "for it is
better to aid even in sorrow than to withdraw from pain to a happy
solitude. Yet only the knowers of Brahma can interpret the sacred
writings truly, and it is well to be free ere we speak of freedom. Then
we have power and many hearken."

"But who would leave joy for sorrow? And who, being one with Brahma,
would return to give counsel?"

"Brother," said Varunna, "here is the hope of the world. Though many
seek only for the eternal joy, yet the cry you heard has been heard by
great ones who have turned backwards, called by these beseeching voices.
The small old path stretching far away leads