built of black brick； which had doors in it that seemed to be of dark
stone or iron。 Whither these doors led I do not know； since the wall
cut off the sight of any buildings that may have lain beyond。 In the
centre of this courtyard was a pool of still； black water； and at the
head of the pool a chair of black marble。〃
Sir Andrew paused； and Hugh said：
〃A plain place for a temple； Father； without adornments or images。 But
perhaps this was the outer court； and the temple stood within。〃
〃Ay； son； the plainest temple that ever I saw； who have seen many in
all lands； though what was beyond it I do not know。 And yetterrible；
terrible； terrible！I tell you that those black walls and that black
water were more fearsome to look on than any churchyard vault grim
with bones； or a torture…pit where victims quiver out their souls
midst shrieks and groanings。 And yet I could see nothing of which to
be afraid； and hear nothing save that soughing of invisible wings
whereof I have spoken。 An empty chair； a pool of water； some walls and
doors； and； above； the quiet sky。 What was there to fear in such
things as these？ Still； so greatly did I fear that I sank to my knees
and began to pray once more； this time to the blessed Saviour himself；
since I was sure that none else could help me。
〃When I looked up again the chair was no longer empty。 Hugh； a man sat
in it； of whom I thought at first only one thingthat he must be very
strong； though not bigger than other men。 Strength seemed to flow from
him。 I should not have wondered if he had placed his hands upon the
massive sides of that stone chair and torn it asunder。〃
〃What was he like； Father？ Samson or Goliath？〃
〃I never saw either； son； so cannot say。 But what was he like？ Oh； I
cannot say that either； although still I see him in my heart。 My
mortal lips will not tell the likeness of that man； perhaps because he
seemed to be like all men； and yet different from all。 He had an iron
brow； beneath which shone deep； cold eyes。 He was clean…shaven； or
perchance his face grew no hair。 His lips were thick and still and his
features did not change like those of other men。 He looked as though
he could not change； as though he had been thus for infinite ages； and
yet remained neither young nor old。 As for his dress； he wore a cloak
of flaming red； such a cloak as your Eve loves to wear； and white
sandals on his feet。 There was no covering on his shaven head； which
gleamed like a skull。 His breast was naked； but across it hung one row
of black jewels。 From the sheen of them I think they must have been
pearls； which are sometimes found of that colour in the East。 He had
no weapon nor staff； and his hands hung down on either side of the
chair。
〃For a long while I watched him； but if he saw me he took no note。 As
I watched I perceived that birds were coming to and leaving him in
countless numbers； and thought that it must be their wings which made
the constant soughing sound that filled all the still and dreadful
air。〃
〃What kind of birds were they； Father？〃
〃I am not sure； but I think doves； at least； their flight was straight
and swift like to that of doves。 Yet of this I am not sure either；
since I saw each of them for but a second。 As they reached the man
they appeared out of nothingness。 They were of two colours； snow…white
and coal…black。 The white appeared upon his right side； the black upon
his left side。 Each bird in those never…ceasing streams hovered for an
instant by his head； the white over his right shoulder； the black over
his left shoulder； as though they whispered a message to his ear； and
having whispered were gone upon their errand。〃
〃What was that errand； Father？〃
〃How can I know； as no one ever told me？ Yet I will hazard a guess
that it had to do with the mystery of life and death。 Souls that were
born into the world； and souls departing from the world； perchance；
making report to one of God's ministers clothed in flesh。 But who can
say？ At least I watched those magic fowls till my eyes grew dizzy； and
a sort of slumber began to creep into my brain。
〃How long I stayed thus I do not remember； for I had lost all sense of
time。 In the end； however； I was awakened by a cold； soft voice； the
sound of which seemed to flow through my veins like ice； that
addressed me in our own rough English tongue； spoken as you and I
learned it at our nurses' knees。
〃'To what god were you praying just now； Andrew Arnold？'
〃'Oh； sir；' I answered； 'how do you； who dwell in Cathay； where I am a
stranger； know my language and my name？'
〃He lifted his cold eyes and looked at me； and I felt them pierce into
the depths of my soul。 'In the same way that I know your heart；' he
said。 'But do not ask questions。 Answer them； that I may learn whether
you are a true man or a liar。'
〃'I was praying to Christ；' I faltered； 'the Saviour of us all。'
〃'A great God； Andrew Arnold； and a pure； though His followers are few
in the world as yet。 But do you think that He can save you from Me； as
you were asking Him to do？'
〃'He can save my soul；' I replied； plucking up courage； who would not
deny the Lord even in a devil's den。
〃'Ah！ your soul。 Well； I have nothing to do with souls； except to
count them as they pass through my dominion； and you are quite right
to pray to one of the lords of that into which you go。 Now； man； what
is your business with me； and why do you visit one of whom you are so
much afraid？'
〃'O Murgh！' I began； then ceased； for I knew not what to answer。
〃'So they have told you my name？ Now I will tell you one of its
meanings。 It is 〃Gate of the Gods。〃 Why did you dare to visit Gate of
the Gods？ You fear to answer。 Listen！ You came forth to see some
painted idol； or some bedizened priest muttering rites he does not
understand to that which is not； and lo！ you have found that which is
behind all idols and all priests。 You sought an incensed and a golden
shrine and you have found only the black and iron portals which every
man must pass but which few desire to enter until they are called。
Well； you are young and strong； come try a fall with Murgh； and when
he has thrown you； rise and choose which of those ways you will；' and
he swept his hand toward the doors around him。 'Then forget this world
and enter into that which you have chosen。'
〃Now； because I could not help myself； I rose from my knees and
advanced； or was drawn toward that dreadful man。 As I came he； too；
rose from his chair； stretching out his arms as a wrestler does； and I
knew that within the circle of those arms lay my death。 Still I； who
in my youth was held brave； went on and rushed； striving to clasp him。
Next moment； before ever I touched himoh； well was it for me that I
touched him not！some strength seized me and whirled me round and
round as a dead leaf is whirled by the wind； and tossed me up and cast
me down and left me prone and nerveless。
〃'Rise；' said the cold voice above me； 'for you are unhurt。'
〃So I rose； and felt even then that I who thought that every bone in
my body must be broken； was stronger than I had ever been before。 It
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