ng back
to their cups.

"What sort of advice is this, Pepper?" said the King. "Shall we try
elsewhere?"

The nag whinnied with unusual vehemence, and the King, taking this for
yea, and not observing that she limped as she went, rode on to the
Doves: the gentle gray-gowned Brothers who spent their days in pious
works and their nights in meditation. Between the twelve hours of
twilight and dawn they were pledged not to utter speech, but the King
arriving there at noon they welcomed him with kind words, and offered
him a bowl of rice and milk.

He thanked them, and when he had eaten and drink put to them his riddle.

"What should a King do in a Barn?"

They answered, "He should pray in it."

"This may be good advice," said the King. "Pepper, should we go
further?"

The little nag whinnied till her sides shook, which the King took, as
before, to be an affirmative. However, because it was Sunday he
remained with the Doves a day and a night, and during such time as
their lips were not sealed they urged him to become one of them, and
found a new settlement of Brothers in his Barn. He spent his night in
reflection, but by morning had come to no decision.

"To what better use could you dedicate it?" asked the Chief Brother,
who was known as the Ringdove because he was the leader.

"None that I can think of," said the King, "but I fear I am not good
enough."

"When you have passed our initiation," said the Ringdove, "you will be."

"Is it difficult?" asked William.

"No, it is very easy, and can be accomplished within a month. You have
only to ride south till you come to the hills, on the highest of which
you will see a Ring of beech-trees. Under the hills lies the little
village of Washington, and there you may dwell in comfort through the
week. But on each of the four Saturdays of the lunar month you must
mount the hill at sunset and keep a vigil among the beeches till
sunrise. And you must see that these Saturdays occur on the fourth
quarters of the moon--once when she is in her crescent, once at the
half, again at the full, and lastly when she is waning."

"And is this all?" said William. "It sounds very simple."

"Not quite all, but the rest is nearly as simple. You have but to
observe four rules. First, to tell no living soul of your resolve
during the month of initiation. Second, to keep your vigil always
between the two great beeches in the middle of the Ring. Third, to
issue forth at midnight and immer