herself told me later) at the moment that Tob's galley was reported
as having its flank against the marble of the royal quay, at that
precise moment did she start out from the palace. The gorgeous
procession was already marshalled, bedecked, and waiting only for
its chiefest ornament, and as soon as she had mounted to her steed,
trumpets gave the order, and the advance began.

Sitting in the doorway of the pavilion, I saw the soldiery who
formed the head of this vast concourse emerge from the great broad
street where it left the houses. They marched straight across to
give me the salute, and then ranged themselves on the farther side
of the square. Then came the Mariners' Guild, then more soldiers,
all making obeisance in their turn, and passing on to make room for
others. Following were the merchants, the tanners, the
spear-makers and all the other acknowledged Guilds, deliberately
attired (so it seemed to me) that they might make a pageant; and
whilst most walked on foot, there were some who proudly rode on
beasts which they had tamed into rendering them this menial
service.

But presently came the two wonders of all that dazzling
spectacle. From out of the eclipse of the houses there swung into
the open no less a beast than a huge bull mammoth. The sight had
sufficient surprise in it almost to make me start. Many a time
during my life had I led hunts to kill the mammoth, when a herd of
them had raided some village or cornland under my charge. I had
seen the huge brutes in the wild ground, shaggy, horrid, monstrous;
more fierce than even the cave-tiger or the cave-bear; most
dangerous beast of all that fight with man for dominion of the
earth, save only for a few of the greater lizards. And here was