beg God's. And then he was just--the only just creature that God had
created. In his heart he knew that he had merited their revenge--there
was scarcely one of them at whom he had not hurled his rocks. He came
back walking in stately fashion till he stood fearlessly in the centre
of them. Looking up through the burdened branches at the calamity which
he did not understand, he commanded, "Leave off."

To his immense surprise, on the instant the snow ceased falling. It
settled gently like a tired bird into its nest. The serenity of the
stillness was unbroken.

"I am hungry," he said.

The animals hurried to their stores of food and waited on him.

"I have not slept."

The squirrels scraped fallen leaves into a bed, and the bear and the
wolf stood guard.

When he awoke it was a brilliant winter's morning. The sun was
charioteering in highest heaven. The forest was white as though
cotton-wool had blown through it. As far as eye could search, everything
glittered, sheathed in a film of glass. Snow bulged from branches like
pillows filled to bursting. Icicles hung down like fantastic swords.
Down the colonnaded avenues trees cast their shadows in heavy bars; the
spaces between them were golden splashes.

[Illustration: The Man yawned. "I am still tired. Fetch the horse, that
he may carry me back to my dwelling."]