that was timeless and unconcerned. They took fright at the
spectacle, and once or twice a woman screamed hysterically, and
was bundled away with a companion's hand clapped on her mouth, so
that the ear of their master should not be affronted.

"He has his own troubles," they said. "It is a combat of the gods
that is taking place."

So much for the women; but the men also were uneasy. They prowled
up and down, tramping from the spy-hole to the kitchen, and from
the kitchen to the turreted roof. And from the roof they would
look down on the motionless figure below, and speculate on many
things, including the staunchness of man, the qualities of their
master, and even the possibility that the new gods might be as
powerful as the old. From these peepings and discussions they
would return languid and discouraged.

"If," said one irritable guard, "if we buzzed a spear at the
persistent stranger, or if one slung at him with a jagged
pebble!"

"What!" his master demanded wrathfully, "is a spear to be thrown
at an unarmed stranger? And from this house!" And he soundly
cuffed that indelicate servant.

"Be at peace all of you," he said, "for hunger has a whip, and he
will drive the stranger away in the night."

The household retired to wretched beds; but for the master of the
house there was no sleep. He marched his halls all night, going