REST
The good magician found his old enemy bleeding in the snow, and bound
by thongs magic-strengthened, which he was powerless to break in
his weakened condition. Having seen that the enemy was broken and
scattered, and that every mountaineer ran, inspired by no purpose
except the saving of his own life, he lifted Bright Robe in his arms
and carried him into one of the few lodges that remained standing. He
loosened the thongs and poured water between the swollen lips.
“What now?” asked Bright Robe, with the courage of despair.
For a little while the good magician sat silent, in the darkness, as if
he had not heard.
“Though I defeated you before, and loosed you in the wilderness in the
shape of a little owl,” he said, at last, “yet you outwitted me at the
end of the five years. And though your magic possessed but half its
former strength when you regained your old shape, yet you managed to
hide from me for nine years and have led invaders into my country. Now,
even were I to let you go away without punishment, your strength would
be no more than that of the least of the magicians, for magic is a
thing that weakens under defeat. It is a vanity, failing in adversity,
but growing ever stronger and more vain with success. By it, one may
win fear, and if he uses it for the protection of his people, it brings
him respect and friendship; but the greatest magician cannot win love
by his magic.”
Bright Robe lay very still, listening and wondering. “I have no fear of
you,” continued Wise-as-a-she-wolf, “and, seeing you bleeding there,
overthrown in your evil doing by a lad whom I love, I find but little
hate of you in my heart. You must live for ever, in weakness or in
strength, in wickedness or in virtue, even as I, and that is punishment
beyond any man’s deserving.”
“Yes, chief. If the water of everlasting life were held to my lips
again, how gladly would I spill it on the ground,” said Bright Robe.
“And yet we fought and bled, suffered weariness and cold and
loneliness, to win that drink,” replied the good magician.
“I left a woman and child--a child of my blood--to starve in an empty
lodge, that I might drink of that accursed water,” whispered Bright
Robe. “Strike me, old enemy,” he cried. “Beat me to nothingness. I
would go, even now, and make my peace with those two.”
“Your spirit would still be bound to this old earth,” replied
Wise-as-a-she-wolf, “though I should strike with all my magic and
scatter your body to the winds.”
For a long time they sat silent in the darkness of the lodges. It was
Bright Robe who spoke first.
“I, too, have lost fear,” he said, “though I have been a coward at
heart since my mother bore me. For nine years I have been no better
than a slave of Black Eagle’s, because of fear. Fear of you, and fear
of the shadow in my heart, have driven me so hard that even the thirst
for blood is dead in me and I have no more desire for evil power. I
care not what you do with me.”
“When you recover from your wounds,” said Wise-as-a-she-wolf, “I fear
you will thirst again for power and blood and mischief. But I pity you,
Bright Robe, for the age of sleeping and waking and remembrance that
are before you. So I will deal with you as mercifully as I may.”
“There is no more lust of life in me. You cannot give me death. Then
what do I care how you deal with me?” said Bright Robe.
For two days the hunting and slaying of the mountaineers by the
islanders continued, and not one of those savage invaders returned to
his own country. But as the cold continued as intense as ever, and it
was thought that the ice would remain in the Narrow Sea until spring,
Jumping Wolf marched his men westward and encamped them on the coast.
Wise-as-a-she-wolf took word of the victory to Run-all-day, and was so
cordially received by that honest chief and his family that his heart
lightened. He had brought the wounded Bright Robe with him, and he told
Run-all-day of Featherfoot’s encounter with, and overthrow of, that
magician. Also, he narrated his own adventures in the south; and the
chief growled with rage when he heard of the little arrow tipped with
poison.
“Now you may rest, master, since your enemy is delivered into your
hands,” said Run-all-day. “Our people are strong now, and live under
the laws, and even the southward clans are at peace with their
neighbours. So surely the time has come for you to rest, master.”
“I have one more journey to make,” replied the good magician. “One more
long journey to the southward, and then I will lay aside the moccasins
of the wind, and sit at home and help you in your wise government of
the people.”
The chief looked at him in wonder.
“Help me!” he exclaimed. “Why, master, I am your servant, though the
strongest chief in the island. Whatever I have done for the good of
the people has been through your friendship and guidance. Yes, and in
little matters, Red Willow has given good counsel.”
Wise-as-a-she-wolf looked at the woman, who sat nearby, with downcast
eyes.
“Your magic is greater than mine,” he said.
She raised her eyes and looked at him--at the strongest of magicians,
with something of motherly tenderness.
“To fill a heart, even one heart, with love and trust, is a greater
matter than flying through the air,” he said.
“You are loved. You are called the good magician,” replied Red Willow.
“And I am feared,” said Wise-as-a-she-wolf. “Yes, I am feared, even by
those who think of me most kindly. But the time was when--”
They waited, gazing upon their guest.
“We are listening, master,” said the chief.
“I have forgotten it,” answered the other. “It was nothing. But I, too,
was once young and the chief of a village.”
When Bright Robe had nearly recovered from his wounds,
Wise-as-a-she-wolf bound him with thongs, lifted him in his arms, and
flew southward. Night and day, the good magician ran above the sea,
and many lands glimmered into his vision and faded again. At last he
descended to the beach of an island, where mountains towered high,
robed in green to their summits. Between the white beaches and the
climbing slopes stood hundreds of cocoanut trees, their long stems
bent and their crests for ever shaken by the wind. The music of the
surf drummed around the island, day and night, night and day. Birds of
bright plumage and harsh voices flew above the hillside forests. No
other land was to be seen from any point of this island, but everywhere
the uneasy ocean and the straight horizon.
Wise-as-a-she-wolf broke the thongs from Bright Robe’s limbs. “Here you
will find food and drink and shelter,” he said, “and somewhere on the
mountain is a small stream that flows with the water of forgetfulness.”
“Have you drunk of that stream?” asked Bright Robe.
“No. There are things that I do not wish to forget,” replied the other.
Bright Robe looked at the sea, and the windy palms, and the towering
mountains. A shadow stole across his keen eyes.
“And this--for ever,” he whispered.
“If you drink often enough of the water of forgetfulness,” said the
good magician, “then life will stretch no farther than from day to day.”
He turned, hesitated, then faced the motionless Bright Robe again.
“There is a village beyond the mountain. Be wise, for I do not forget.”
Then he sprang high into the blustering wind.
THE END.
Selections from
The Page Company’s
Books for Young People
THE BLUE BONNET SERIES
_Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.50
A TEXAS BLUE BONNET
By CAROLINE E. JACOBS.
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BLUE BONNET’S RANCH PARTY
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BLUE BONNET IN BOSTON; OR, BOARDING-SCHOOL DAYS AT MISS NORTH’S.
By CAROLINE E. JACOBS AND LELA HORN RICHARDS.
“It is bound to become popular because of its wholesomeness and its
many human touches.”--_Boston Globe._
BLUE BONNET KEEPS HOUSE; OR, THE NEW HOME IN THE EAST.
By CAROLINE E. JACOBS AND LELA HORN RICHARDS.
“It cannot fail to prove fascinating to girls in their teens.”--_New
York Sun._
BLUE BONNET--DÉBUTANTE
By LELA HORN RICHARDS.
An interesting picture of the unfolding of life for Blue Bonnet.
THE YOUNG PIONEER SERIES
By HARRISON ADAMS
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THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE OHIO; OR, CLEARING THE WILDERNESS.
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THE PIONEER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES; OR, ON THE TRAIL OF THE IROQUOIS.
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interesting but instructive as well and shows the sterling
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THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI; OR, THE HOMESTEAD IN THE WILDERNESS.
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Sun._
THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSOURI; OR, IN THE COUNTRY OF THE SIOUX.
“Vivid in style, vigorous in movement, full of dramatic situations,
true to historic perspective, this story is a capital one for
boys.”--_Watchman Examiner, New York City._
THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE YELLOWSTONE; OR, LOST IN THE LAND OF WONDERS.
“There is plenty of lively adventure and action and the story is well
told.”--_Duluth Herald, Duluth, Minn._
THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE COLUMBIA; OR, IN THE WILDERNESS OF THE GREAT
NORTHWEST.
“The story is full of spirited action and contains much valuable
historical information.”--_Boston Herald._
THE HADLEY HALL SERIES
By LOUISE M. BREITENBACH
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ALMA AT HADLEY HALL
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book for girls.”--_Detroit Free Press._
ALMA’S SOPHOMORE YEAR
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books.”--_Boston Herald._
ALMA’S JUNIOR YEAR
“The diverse characters in the boarding-school are strongly drawn,
the incidents are well developed and the action is never dull.”--_The
Boston Herald._
ALMA’S SENIOR YEAR
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natural atmosphere breathes from every chapter.”--_Boston Transcript._
THE GIRLS OF FRIENDLY TERRACE SERIES
By HARRIET LUMMIS SMITH
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THE GIRLS OF FRIENDLY TERRACE
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perfectly the girl character.”--_Boston Globe._
PEGGY RAYMOND’S VACATION
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PEGGY RAYMOND’S SCHOOL DAYS
The book is delightfully written, and contains lots of exciting
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FAMOUS LEADERS SERIES
By CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON
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FAMOUS CAVALRY LEADERS
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readers with historical personages in a pleasant, informal way.”--_New
York Sun._
“It is a book that will stir the heart of every boy and will prove
interesting as well to the adults.”--_Lawrence Daily World._
FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS
“Mr. Johnston has done faithful work in this volume, and his relation
of battles, sieges and struggles of these famous Indians with the
whites for the possession of America is a worthy addition to United
States History.”--_New York Marine Journal._
FAMOUS SCOUTS
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and young men, and while it entertains them it will also present
valuable information in regard to those who have left their impress
upon the history of the country.”--_The New London Day._
FAMOUS PRIVATEERSMEN AND ADVENTURERS OF THE SEA
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stirring the blood with thrilling force and bringing new zest to the
never-ending interest in the dramas of the sea.”--_The Pittsburgh Post._
FAMOUS FRONTIERSMEN AND HEROES OF THE BORDER
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making a book of wide appeal to all who love the history of actual
adventure.”--_Cleveland Leader._
FAMOUS DISCOVERERS AND EXPLORERS OF AMERICA
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of which the world has known and of discoveries which have changed the
face of the old world as well as of the new.”--_Brooklyn Daily Eagle._
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:
Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.
Perceived typographical errors have been corrected.
Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.
Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.
New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the
public domain.