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the remotenesses of space； and about the customs of the immortals that
inhabit them； somehow fascinating us； enchanting us； charming us in spite
of the pitiful scene that was now under our eyes； for the wives of the
little dead men had found the crushed and shapeless bodies and were
crying over them； and sobbing and lamenting； and a priest was kneeling
there with his hands crossed upon his breast； praying； and crowds and
crowds of pitying friends were massed about them； reverently uncovered；
with their bare heads bowed； and many with the tears running downa
scene which Satan paid no attention to until the small noise of the
weeping and praying began to annoy him； then he reached out and took the
heavy board seat out of our swing and brought it down and mashed all
those people into the earth just as if they had been flies； and went on
talking just the same。
An angel； and kill a priest！ An angel who did not know how to do wrong；
and yet destroys in cold blood hundreds of helpless poor men and women
who had never done him any harm！ It made us sick to see that awful deed；
and to think that none of those poor creatures was prepared except the
priest； for none of them had ever heard a mass or seen a church。 And we
were witnesses； we had seen these murders done and it was our duty to
tell； and let the law take its course。
But he went on talking right along； and worked his enchantments upon us
again with that fatal music of his voice。 He made us forget everything；
we could only listen to him； and love him； and be his slaves； to do with
us as he would。 He made us drunk with the joy of being with him； and of
looking into the heaven of his eyes； and of feeling the ecstasy that
thrilled along our veins from the touch of his hand。
Chapter 3
The Stranger had seen everything； he had been everywhere； he knew
everything； and he forgot nothing。 What another must study； he learned
at a glance； there were no difficulties for him。 And he made things live
before you when he told about them。 He saw the world made； he saw Adam
created； he saw Samson surge against the pillars and bring the temple
down in ruins about him； he saw Caesar's death； he told of the daily life
in heaven； he had seen the damned writhing in the red waves of hell； and
he made us see all these things； and it was as if we were on the spot and
looking at them with our own eyes。 And we felt them； too； but there was
no sign that they were anything to him beyond mere entertainments。 Those
visions of hell； those poor babes and women and girls and lads and men
shrieking and supplicating in anguishwhy； we could hardly bear it； but
he was as bland about it as if it had been so many imitation rats in an
artificial fire。
And always when he was talking about men and women here on the earth and
their doingseven their grandest and sublimestwe were secretly
ashamed； for his manner showed that to him they and their doings were of
paltry poor consequence； often you would think he was talking about
flies； if you didn't know。 Once he even said； in so many words； that our
people down here were quite interesting to him； notwithstanding they were
so dull and ignorant and trivial and conceited； and so diseased and
rickety； and such a shabby； poor； worthless lot all around。 He said it
in a quite matter…of…course way and without bitterness； just as a person
might talk about bricks or manure or any other thing that was of no
consequence and hadn't feelings。 I could see he meant no offense； but in
my thoughts I set it down as not very good manners。
〃Manners！〃 he said。 〃Why； it is merely the truth； and truth is good
manners； manners are a fiction。 The castle is done。 Do you like it？〃
Any one would have been obliged to like it。 It was lovely to look at； it
was so shapely and fine； and so cunningly perfect in all its particulars；
even to the little flags waving from the turrets。 Satan said we must put
the artillery in place now； and station the halberdiers and display the
cavalry。 Our men and horses were a spectacle to see； they were so little
like what they were intended for； for； of course； we had no art in making
such things。 Satan said they were the worst he had seen； and when he
touched them and made them alive； it was just ridiculous the way they
acted； on account of their legs not being of uniform lengths。 They
reeled and sprawled around as if they were drunk； and endangered
everybody's lives around them； and finally fell over and lay helpless and
kicking。 It made us all laugh； though it was a shameful thing to see。
The guns were charged with dirt； to fire a salute； but they were so
crooked and so badly made that they all burst when they went off； and
killed some of the gunners and crippled the others。 Satan said we would
have a storm now； and an earthquake； if we liked； but we must stand off a
piece； out of danger。 We wanted to call the people away； too； but he
said never mind them； they were of no consequence； and we could make
more； some time or other； if we needed them。
A small storm…cloud began to settle down black over the castle； and the
miniature lightning and thunder began to play； and the ground to quiver；
and the wind to pipe and wheeze； and the rain to fall； and all the people
flocked into the castle for shelter。 The cloud settled down blacker and
blacker； and one could see the castle only dimly through it； the
lightning blazed out flash upon flash and pierced the castle and set it
on fire； and the flames shone out red and fierce through the cloud； and
the people came flying out； shrieking； but Satan brushed them back；
paying no attention to our begging and crying and imploring； and in the
midst of the howling of the wind and volleying of the thunder the
magazine blew up； the earthquake rent the ground wide； and the castle's
wreck and ruin tumbled into the chasm； which swallowed it from sight； and
closed upon it； with all that innocent life； not one of the five hundred
poor creatures escaping。 Our hearts were broken； we could not keep from
crying。
〃Don't cry；〃 Satan said； 〃they were of no value。〃
〃But they are gone to hell！〃
〃Oh； it is no matter； we can make plenty more。〃
It was of no use to try to move him； evidently he was wholly without
feeling； and could not understand。 He was full of bubbling spirits； and
as gay as if this were a wedding instead of a fiendish massacre。 And he
was bent on making us feel as he did； and of course his magic
accomplished his desire。 It was no trouble to him； he did whatever he
pleased with us。 In a little while we were dancing on that grave； and he
was playing to us on a strange； sweet instrument which he took out of his
pocket； and the musicbut there is no music like that； unless perhaps in
heaven； and that was where he brought it from； he said。 It made one mad；
for pleasure； and we could not take our eyes from him； and the looks that
went out of our eyes came from our hearts； and their dumb speech was
worship。 He brought the dance from heaven； too； and the bliss of
paradise was in it。
Presently he said he must go away on an errand。 But we could not bear
the thought of it； and clung to him； a