Page:GB Lancaster--law-bringer.djvu/137

Rh elder man. And it was a severe shock. Dick, walking fast through the forest-trail, acknowledged it. His punishment for the many wrong-doings of his life was the punishment of the young god Frey who sat in Odin's seat and saw too far and too clear for his comfort. Dick had elected to sit in Odin's seat of wisdom, and he saw to the heart of this thing, swift and sure. Looking on Tempest as plain man it was quite likely true, for all things are possible to a plain man. Looking on him as Dick had learned to look the thing was unthinkable—a blasphemy. With a queer quirk of the mind he remembered Miss Chubb's favourite expletive.

"It's fierce," he heard her saying. Then laughed.

"By all means let us believe in the gods until we see their graves," he said.

Through the white silence about him came the clang of the wild geese flying north, ever north to those long rivers he knew so well. Their "honk-honk" dropped down from sheer overhead as they passed; a wedge driven fast and far through the crystal air, with eager necks and high-beating hearts. Down in the trail the man who had learnt too much felt his heart leap up to them with longing. They took their straight-way; unknowing; unafraid. No wrong-doing bore their white wings down; no shame slacked their impulses. They forswore no good and learnt the grief thereof. They passed by no God and learnt the fear. These things were reserved for mankind; for Dick; for Tempest; for Jennifer. Because to them had been given the inestimable privilege of a soul.

Down in the narrow trail among the dark pines Dick smothered a sigh that was half a curse, and went on with the softening snow slipping under his feet.

On the outskirts of Grey Wolf he met a freighter suffering from over-indulgence in toilet vinegar and vanilla-essence.

"It gives a chap the good feel," he explained, as Dick helped him into the barracks and applied drastic remedies. "A man must drink something."

"My friend," said Dick. "There you speak a great truth. But usually the last thing that man drinks is repentance. Now, I should advise you to get into the absti-