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But I walked behind him。〃
〃And then；〃 asked Peter； seeing that the stranger was silent； 〃what
happened to him after that？〃
〃That was only last Sunday；〃 said the stranger。
There was silence again for some seconds。
Then Peter said； 〃Well； anyhow； at least he didn't die！〃
The stranger crossed his hands upon his knees。 〃Peter Simon Halket；〃 he
said； 〃it is easier for a man to die than to stand alone。 He who can stand
alone can； also； when the need be； die。〃
Peter looked up wistfully into the stranger's face。 〃I should not like to
die myself；〃 he said； 〃not yet。 I shall not be twenty…one till next
birthday。 I should like to see life first。〃
The stranger made no answer。
Presently Peter said； 〃Are all the men of your company poor men？〃
The stranger waited a while before he answered； then he said；〃There have
been rich men who have desired to join us。 There was a young man once； and
when he heard the conditions； he went away sorrowful； for he had great
possessions。〃
There was silence again for a while。
〃Is it long since your company was started？〃 asked Peter。
〃There is no man living who can conceive of its age；〃 said the stranger。
〃Even here on this earth it began； when these hills were young； and these
lichens had hardly shown their stains upon the rocks； and man still raised
himself upwards with difficulty because the sinews in his thighs were weak。
In those days； which men reck not of now； man； when he hungered； fed on the
flesh of his fellow man and found it sweet。 Yet even in those days it came
to pass that there was one whose head was higher than her fellows and her
thought keener； and； as she picked the flesh from a human skull； she
pondered。 And so it came to pass the next night； when men were gathered
around the fire ready to eat； that she stole away； and when they went to
the tree where the victim was bound； they found him gone。 And they cried
one to another； 'She； only she； has done this； who has always said； 'I like
not the taste of man…flesh； men are too like me； I cannot eat them。' 'She
is mad；' they cried； 'let us kill her！' So； in those dim； misty times that
men reck not of now； that they hardly believe in； that woman died。 But in
the heads of certain men and women a new thought had taken root； they said；
'We also will not eat of her。 There is something evil in the taste of
human flesh。' And ever after； when the fleshpots were filled with man…
flesh； these stood aside； and half the tribe ate human flesh and half not；
then； as the years passed； none ate。
〃Even in those days； which men reck not of now； when men fell easily open
their hands and knees； they were of us on the earth。 And； if you would
learn a secret； even before man trod here； in the days when the dicynodont
bent yearningly over her young； and the river…horse which you find now
nowhere on earth's surface； save buried in stone； called with love to his
mate； and the birds whose footprints are on the rocks flew in the sunshine
calling joyfully to one anothereven in those days when man was not； the
fore…dawn of this kingdom had broken on the earth。 And still as the sun
rises and sets and the planets journey round； we grow and grow。〃
The stranger rose from the fire； and stood upright： around him； and behind
him； the darkness stood out。
〃All earth is ours。 And the day shall come； when the stars； looking down
on this little world； shall see no spot where the soil is moist and dark
with the blood of man shed by his fellow man； the sun shall rise in the
East and set in the West and shed his light across this little globe； and
nowhere shall he see man crushed by his fellows。 And they shall beat their
swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks： nation shall
not lift up sword against nation； neither shall they learn war any more。
And instead of the thorn shall come up the fir…tree； and instead of the
brier shall come up the myrtle tree： and man shall nowhere crush man on
all the holy earth。 Tomorrow's sun shall rise；〃 said the stranger； 〃and it
shall flood these dark kopjes with light； and the rocks shall glint in it。
Not more certain is that rising than the coming of that day。 And I say to
you that even here； in the land where now we stand； where today the cries
of the wounded and the curses of revenge ring in the air； even here； in
this land where man creeps on his belly to wound his fellow in the dark；
and where an acre of gold is worth a thousand souls； and a reef of shining
dirt is worth half a people； and the vultures are heavy with man's flesh
even here that day shall come。 I tell you； Peter Simon Halket； that here
on the spot where now we stand shall be raised a temple。 Man shall not
gather in it to worship that which divides； but they shall stand in it
shoulder to shoulder； white man with black； and the stranger with the
inhabitant of the land； and the place shall be holy； for men shall say；
'Are we not brethren and the sons of one Father？'〃
Peter Halket looked upward silently。 And the stranger said： 〃Certain men
slept upon a plain； and the night was chill and dark。 And； as they slept；
at that hour when night is darkest； one stirred。 Far off to the eastward；
through his half…closed eyelids； he saw； as it were； one faint line； thin
as a hair's width； that edged the hill tops。 And he whispered in the
darkness to his fellows： 'The dawn is coming。' But they； with fast…closed
eyelids murmured； 'He lies； there is no dawn。'
〃Nevertheless； day broke。〃
The stranger was silent。 The fire burnt up in red tongues of flame that
neither flickered nor flared in the still night air。 Peter Halket crept
near to the stranger。
〃When will that time be？〃 he whispered； 〃in a thousand years' time？〃
And the stranger answered； 〃A thousand years are but as our yesterday's
journey； or as our watch tonight； which draws already to its close。 See；
piled； these rocks on which we now stand？ The ages have been young and
they have grown old since they have lain here。 Half that time shall not
pass before that time comes； I have seen its dawning already in the hearts
of men。〃
Peter moved nearer； so that he almost knelt at the stranger's feet： his
gun lay on the ground at the other side of the fire。
〃I would like to be one of your men；〃 he said。 〃I am tired of belonging to
the Chartered Company。〃
The stranger looked down gently。 〃Peter Simon Halket；〃 he said； 〃can you
bear the weight？〃
And Peter said； 〃Give me work； that I may try。〃
There was silence for a time； then the stranger said； 〃Peter Simon Halket；
take a message to England〃Peter Halket started〃Go to that great people
and cry aloud to it： 'Where is the sword was given into your hand； that
with it you might enforce justice and deal out mercy？ How came you to give
it up into the hands of men whose search is gold； whose thirst is wealth；
to whom men's souls and bodies are counters i