than that he should pursue them across the marsh.

Then Shaun said farewell to his followers, saying:

"You have followed me well since ever we forsook the gods of Old to
worship greater gods. Farewell. It may be that your prayers at evening
shall avail when you pray to the god of the plain, but I must go
onward, for there be gods beyond."

So Shaun went down into the marsh, and for three days struggled through
it, and on the third night saw the four gods not very far away, yet
could not discern Their faces. All the next day Shaun toiled on to see
Their faces by starlight, but ere the night came up or one star shone,
at set of sun, Shaun fell down before the feet of his four gods. The
stars came out, and the faces of the four shone bright and clear, but
Shaun saw them not, for the labour of toiling and seeing was over for
Shaun; and lo! They were Asgool, Trodath, Skun, and Rhoog--The gods of
Old.

Then said the King:

"It is well that the sorrow of search cometh only to the wise, for the
wise are very few."

Also the King said:

"Tell me this thing, O prophet. Who are the true gods?"

The master prophet answered: