place where life is sacred."

"Depart!" roared the King, while his nobles crowded around him,
murmuring and bending threatening looks upon the Hermit and the lad.
"Not till yonder animal is slain. Ho, have at her!"

With prick of spur he urged his horse forward. But quick as thought
the Hermit with his staff drew a circle around himself and John and the
doe, which still lay panting at his feet, wrapped in the gray mantle.

"Dare not to cross this line!" he cried. "This ground is holy. Years
ago in the Father's name I consecrated it. 'Tis holy as any cathedral,
and 'tis sanctuary for man and beast. Hear what the Lord says to you:
'They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.'"

The Hermit raised his hand and spoke a word to the horses that were
being urged forward. With a shrill whinny they rose on their hind
legs, pawing the air, and refused to advance.

"What witchcraft is this!" cried the King, spurring his steed cruelly.
But the animal, like the dogs, obeyed the Hermit's will rather than the
King's.

"No witchcraft," said the Hermit, still guarding the deer with his
upraised staff. "It is the Lord's will. You, who have ever disobeyed
His holy word, perhaps know not how dear to Him were the birds and
beasts. His first companions. His childhood friends. And to this
day, for He Himself hath said it, not a sparrow falleth without His
knowledge and pity. O wicked man! How then can you delight to kill?"