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was as though the lamp which had burnt low was filled suddenly with a
new and purer oil。
〃'Man；' said mine adversary； and I thought that in his cold eyes there
was something like a smile； 'did you think to touch Murgh and live？
Did you think to wrestle with him as in a book of one of your prophets
a certain Jacob wrestled with an angel； and conquereduntil it was
his turn to pass the Gate of the Gods？'
〃Now I stared at this dweller in Cathay； who spoke my tongue and knew
the tale of Jacob in the ancient Book； then answered：
〃'Sir Murgh； or Sir Gate； or whatever your name may be； I thought to
do nothing。 You drew me to you； you challenged me and； since by the
rule of my Order I may refuse no challenge from one who is not a
Christian； I came on to do my best。 But before ever I laid hand on you
I was cast down by a wind。 That is all the story； save that it has
pleased you to let me live； who evidently could have slain me； for
which I thank you。'
〃'You are wrong； Sir Andrew；' he answered； 'I did not draw you to me。
Men come to Murgh at their appointed hour； Murgh does not come to
them。 You sought him before your hour； and therefore he refused you。
Yet you will meet him again； as all flesh must when its hour comes；
and because you are bold and have not cringed before my strength； for
your comfort I will show you when and how。 Stand by me； but lay no
hand on me or my robe； and look into my glass while for a moment； for
your sake； I stay the stream of time and show you what lies beneath
its foam that blinds the eyes of men。'
〃He waved his arms and the black doves and the white doves ceased to
appear and disappear； and the eternal soughings of their wings was
silent。 He pointed to the water at his feet and I saw； not a picture；
but a scene so real that I could have sworn it was alive about me。
Yes； those who took part in it stood in front of me as though the pool
were solid ground that their feet pressed。 /You/ were one of them；
son； /you/ were one of them；〃 and the old knight paused； supporting
himself against the mantel…shelf as though that recollection overcame
him。
〃What did you see？〃 whispered Hugh。
〃By God's holy name； I saw the Blythburgh Marshes deep in snow that
was red； blood…red with the light of sunrise。 Oh！ I could not be
mistook； and there ran the wintry river； there the church tower
soared； there were the frowning； tree…clad banks。 There was the rough
moorland over which the east wind piped； for the dead bracken bent
before it； and not twenty paces from me leaped a hare； disturbed
suddenly from its form by a hungry fox； whose red head peeped through
the reeds。 Yes； yes； I saw the brute's white teeth gleam as it licked
its disappointed lips； and I felt glad that its prey had beaten it！
When you look upon that scene； Hugh； as one day you shall； remember
the hare and the head of the hungry fox； and by these judge my truth。〃
〃A fox and a hare！〃 broke in Hugh。 〃I'd show you such to…morrow； was
there no more？〃
〃Ay； much。 For instance； a hollow in the Marsh； an open grave； and an
axe； yes； an axe that had delved it where the bog was soft beneath the
snow。 Grey Dick held the axe in one hand and his black bow in the
other； while Red Eve； your Eve； stood at its edge and stared into it
like one in a dream。 Then at the head of the grave an old； old man
clad in mail beneath his priestly robes； and that man /myself/； Hugh；
grown very ancient； but still myself； and no other。
〃And at the foot of the grave /you/； Hugh de Cressi； you and no other；
wayworn and fierce； but also clad in mail； and wearing a knight's
crest upon your shield。 You with drawn sword in hand； and facing you；
also with drawn sword； rage and despair on his dark face； a stately；
foreign…looking man； whom mine eyes have never seen； but whom I should
know again midst a million； a man who； I think； was doomed to fill the
grave。
〃Lastly； standing on a little mound near to the bank of the swirling
river； where jagged sheets of ice ground against each other like the
teeth of the wicked in hell； strangely capped and clad in black； his
arms crossed upon his breast and a light smile in his cold eyes； he
who was called Murgh in Cathay； he who named himself Gateway of the
Gods！
〃For a moment I saw； then all was gone； and I found myselfI know not
whywalking toward the mighty arch whereon sat the iron dragons。 In
its shadow I turned and looked back。 There at the head of the pool the
man was seated in his chair； and to right and to left of him came the
black doves and the white doves in countless multitudes； all the
thousands of them that had been stayed in their flight pouring down
upon him at onceor so I thought。 They wheeled about his head； they
hid his face from me； and II departed into the shadow of the arch；
and I saw him and them no more。〃
CHAPTER IV
THE PENANCE
The tale was done； and these two stood staring at one another from
each side of the glowing hearth； whose red light illumined their
faces。 At length the heavy silence was broken by Sir Andrew。
〃I read your heart； Hugh；〃 he said； 〃as Murgh read mine； for I think
that he gave me not only strength； but something of his wisdom also；
whereby I was able to win safe back to England and to this hour to
walk unharmed by many a pit。 I read your heart； and in its book is
written that you think me mad； one who pleases his old age with tales
of marvel that others told him； or which his own brain fashioned。〃
〃Not so； Father；〃 answered Hugh uneasily； for in truth some such
thoughts were passing through his mind。 〃Onlyonly the thing is very
strange； and it happened so long ago； before Eve and I were born；
before those that begot us were born either； perchance。〃
〃Yes； more than fifty years agoit may be sixtyI forget。 In sixty
years the memory plays strange tricks with men； no doubt； so how can I
blame you if you believewhat you do believe？ And yet； Hugh；〃 he went
on after a pause； and speaking with passion； 〃this was no dream of
which I tell you。 Why do you suppose that among all those that have
grown up about me I have chosen you out to love； you and your Eve？ Not
because a chance made me your godsire and her my pupil。 I say that
from your infancy your faces haunted me。 Ay； and when you had turned
childhood's corner and once I met the pair of you walking hand in
hand； then of a sudden I knew that it was you two and no others whom
that god or devil had showed to me standing by the open grave upon the
banks of Blythe。 I knew it of Dick the Archer also； and can I be
mistaken of such a man as that who has no fellow in England？ But you
think I dreamed it all； and perhaps I should not have spoken； though
something made me speak。 Well； in a day to come you may change your
mind； since whatever dangers threaten you will not die yet； Hugh。 Tell
me now； what is this Frenchman like who would marry Eve？ I have never
seen him。〃
Hugh； who was glad to get back to the things of earth； described Acour
as best he could。
〃Ah！〃 said Sir Andrew。 〃Much such a man as stood face to face with you
by the grave while Murgh watched； and you are not l