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that you should rend each other's flesh at the bidding of those who will
wet their beaks within both your vitals？Look up； see； they circle in the
air above you！'〃
Almost Peter Halket started and looked upward； but there was only the black
sky of Mashonaland over his head。
The stranger stood silent looking downward into the fire。 Peter Halket
half clasped his arms about his knees。
〃My master；〃 he cried； 〃how can I take this message？ The Dutchmen of South
Africa will not listen to me； they will say I am an Englishman。 And the
Englishmen will say： 'Who is this fellow who comes preaching peace； peace；
peace？ Has he not been a year in the country and he has not a share in a
single company？ Can anything he says be worth hearing？ If he were a man
of any sense he would have made five thousand pounds at least。' And they
will not listen to me。 Give me another labour！〃
And the stranger said： 〃Take a message to one man。 Find him； whether he
sleep or wake； whether he eat or drink； and say to him： 'Where are the
souls of the men that you have bought？'
〃And if he shall answer you and say： 'I bought no men's souls！ The souls
that I bought were the souls of dogs？' Then ask him this question； say to
him； 'Where are the'
〃And if he cry out； 'You lie； you lie！ I know what you are going to say。
What do I know of envoys？ Was I ever afraid of the British Government？ It
is all a lie！' Then question him no further。 But say： 'There was a
rushlight once。 It flickered and flared； and it guttered down； and went
outand no man heeded it： it was only a rushlight。
〃'And there was a light once； men set it on high within a lighthouse； that
it might yield light to all souls at sea； that afar off they might see its
steady light and find harbour； and escape the rocks。
〃'And that light flickered and flared； as it listed。 It went this way and
it went that； it burnt blue； and green； and red； now it disappeared
altogether； and then it burnt up again。 And men； far out at sea； kept
their eyes fixed where they knew the light should be： saying； 'We are
safe； the great light will lead us when we near the rocks。' And on dark
nights men drifted nearer and nearer； and in the stillness of the midnight
they struck on the lighthouse rocks and went down at its feet。
〃'What now shall be done to that light； in that it was not a rushlight； in
that it was set on high by the hands of men； and in that men trusted it？
Shall it not be put out？'
〃And if he shall answer； saying； 'What are men to me？ they are fools； all
fools！ Let them die！'tell him again this story： 'There was a streamlet
once： it burst forth from beneath the snow on a mountain's crown； and the
snow made a cove over it。 It ran on pure and blue and clear as the sky
above it； and the banks of snow made its cradle。 Then it came to a spot
where the snow ended； and two ways lay before it by which it might journey；
one； on the mountain ridges； past rocks and stones； and down long sunlit
slopes to the sea； and the other； down a chasm。 And the stream hesitated：
it twirled and purled； and went this way and went that。 It MIGHT have
been； that it would have forced its way past rocks and ridges and along
mountain slopes； and made a path for itself where no path had been； the
banks would have grown green； and the mountain daisy would have grown
beside it； and all night the stars would have looked at their faces in it；
and down the long sunny slopes the sun would have played on it by day； and
the wood dove would have built her nest in the trees beside it； and
singing； singing； always singing； it would have made its way at last to the
great sea； whose far…off call all waters hear。
〃'But it hesitated。It might have been； that； had but some hand been there
to move but one stone from its path； it would have forced its way past
rocks and ridges； and found its way to the great seait might have been！
But no hand was there。 The streamlet gathered itself together； and （it
might be； that it was even in its haste to rush onwards to the sea！）it
made one leap into the abyss。
〃'The rocks closed over it。 Nine hundred fathoms deep； in a still； dark
pool it lay。 The green lichen hung from the rocks。 No sunlight came
there； and the stars could not look down at night。 The pool lay still and
silent。 Then； because it was alive and could not rest； it gathered its
strength together； through fallen earth and broken debris it oozed its way
silently on； and it crept out in a deep valley； the mountains closed it
around。 And the streamlet laughed to itself； 'Ha； ha！ I shall make a
great lake here； a sea！' And it oozed； and it oozed； and it filled half
the plain。 But no lake cameonly a great marshbecause there was no way
outwards； and the water rotted。 The grass died out along its edges； and
the trees dropped their leaves and rotted in the water； and the wood dove
who had built her nest there flew up to the mountains； because her young
ones died。 And the toads sat on the stones and dropped their spittle in
the water； and the reeds were yellow that grew along the edge。 And at
night； a heavy； white fog gathered over the water； so that the stars could
not see through it； and by day a fine white mist hung over it； and the
sunbeams could not play on it。 And no man knew that once the marsh had
leapt forth clear and blue from under a hood of snow on the mountain's top：
aye； and that the turning of one stone might have caused that it had run on
and on； and mingled its song with the sea's song for ever。'〃
The stranger was silent for a while。
Then he said； 〃Should he answer you and say； 'What do I care！ What are
coves and mountain tops to me？ Gold is real； and the power to crush men
within my hand'； tell him no further。
〃But if by some chance he should listen； then； say this one thing to him；
clearly in the ear； that he may not fail to hear it： 'The morning may
break grey； and the midday be dark and stormy； but the glory of the
evening's sunset may wash out for ever the remembrance of the morning's
dullness； and the darkness of the noon。 So that all men shall say； 'Ah；
for the beauty of that day！'For the stream that has once descended there
is no path upwards。It is never too late for the soul of a man。'
〃And if he should laugh； and say： 'You fool； a man may remake himself
entirely before twenty； he may reshape himself before thirty； but after
forty he is fixed。 Shall I； who for forty…three years have sought money
and power； seek for anything else now？ You want me to be Jesus Christ； I
suppose！ How can I be myself and another man？' Then answer him： 'Deep in
the heart of every son of man lies an angel； but some have their wings
folded。 Wake yours！ He is larger and stronger than another man's； mount
up with him！'
〃But if he curses you； and says； 'I have eight millions of money； and I
care neither for God nor man！'then make no answer； but stoop and write