over my Averon."

And Kai answered, pointing to his cave:

"Thither, dishonoured and forgot, thy yesterday slunk away. And who
amid the dusty heap of the forgotten days shall grovel to find thy
yesterday?"

Then answered the King of Averon and of the mountains and Lord, if
there be aught beyond them, of all such lands as are:

"I will go down on my knees in yon dark cave and search with my hands
amid the dust, if so I may find my yesterday again and certain hours
that are gone."

And the King pointed to his piles of gold that stood where elephants
were met together, and beyond them to the scornful camels. And Kai
answered:

"The gods have offered me the gleaming worlds and all as far as the
Rim, and whatever lies beyond it as far as the gods may see--and thou
comest to me with elephants and camels."

Then said the King:

"Across the orchards of my home there hath passed one hour whereof thou
knowest well, and I pray to thee, who wilt take no gifts borne upon
elephants or camels, to give me of thy mercy one second back, one grain
of dust that clings to that hour in the heap that lies within thy
cave."