into the forest. At times also, in the presence of danger, fear spread
through the band, and many of the weaker ones were trampled on and
sorely hurt.

Then, too, as they passed through the rocky defiles, some of them lost
sight of the banners, and then the others would wait for them, or
perchance leave them behind, to struggle on as best they might without
chart or guide.

And there were those who spoke in this wise: "Many paths lead over the
mountain, and sooner or later all come to the desert and the river. It
does not matter where we walk; the question is, How? We cannot know
step by step the way he went. Let us walk by faith, as he walked. If
our spirit is like his, we shall not lack for guidance when we come to
the crossing of the ways." And so they fared on. But many doubted
their own promptings. "Tell me, am I right?" each one asked of his
neighbor; and his neighbor asked it again of him. And those who were
in doubt followed those who were sure.

So it came to pass that these who walked by faith likewise gathered
themselves into great companies, and each company followed some leader.
Some of these leaders had the gift of woodcraft, and saw clearly into
the very nature of things. But some were only headstrong, and these
proved to be but blind leaders of the blind.

Then one said, "We must not be filled with our own conceit, but must
humbly imitate him. We must try to work as he worked; to rest as he
rested; to sleep as he slept. The deeds we do should be those he did,
and those only. For on his Chart he has told us, not the way he went
past rocks and trees, but the actions with which his days were filled."