when he looked around it were bravely enough.

"Men, I have neither the strength of the one nor the brains of the other
of ye. I am but a watchmaker; I live because of my skill with the little
wheels.

"I have no quarrel with either of ye." He got to his feet, and started
to the door. "But I cannot take the pledge with ye.

"I have seen a wondrous thing, and I love it. And, though I know not
why--I feel that Jon has willed it for Jeos to see a new race of men, a
race even better than ours."

I leaped to my feet. "Better than ours! Mean ye to say, stripling, that
there can be a better man than Strokor?"

I full expected him to shrink from me in fear; I was able to crush him
with one blow. But he stood his ground; nay, stepped forward and laid a
hand easily upon my shoulder.

"Strokor--ye are more than a man; ye are two men in one. There is no
finer--I say it fair. And yet, I doubt not that there can be, and will
be, a better!"

And with that such a curious expression came into his face, such a glow
of some strange land of warmth, that I let my hand drop and suffered him
to depart in peace--such was my wonder.

Besides, any miserable lout could have destroyed the lad.