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the great…grandfather of all the trout in the river was
hooked。 Up and down the pool he played for half an hour；
until at last the fight was over； and for want of a net Luke
beached him on the gravel bank at the foot of the pool。
〃Seven pounds if it's an ounce；〃 said he。 〃This is my
lucky day。 Now all I need is some good meat to provision the
camp。〃
He glanced down the river； and on the second point below
the pool he saw a great black bullmoose with horns five feet
wide。
Quietly； swiftly； the canoe went gliding down the stream；
and ever as it crept along； the moose loped easily before it；
from point to point； from bay to bay； past the little cabin；
down the River of the Way Out； now rustling unseen through a
bank of tall alders； now standing out for a moment bold and
black on a beach of white sandso all day long the moose loped
down the stream and the white canoe followed。 Just as the
setting sun was poised above the trees； the great bull stopped
and stood with head lifted。 Luke pushed the canoe as near as he
dared； and looked down for the rifle。 He had left it at the
cabin！ The moose tossed his huge antlers； grunted； and stepped
quietly over the bushes into the forest。
Luke paddled on down the stream。 It occurred to him；
suddenly； that it was near evening。 He wondered a little how
he should reach home in time for his engagement。 But it did
not seem strange； as he went swiftly on with the river； to see
the first houses of the town； and the lumber…yards； and the
schooners at the wharf。
He made the canoe fast at the dock； and went up the Main
Street。 There was the old shop； but the sign over it read；
〃Wilson and Woods Company； The Big Store。〃 He went on to the
house with the white iron images in the front yard。 Diana was
still returning from the chase。 The fountain still squirted
from the point of the little boy's parasol。
On the veranda sat a stout man in a rocking chair； reading the
newspaper。 At the side of the house two little girls with
pig…tails were playing croquet。 Some one in the parlour was
executing 〃After the Ball is Over〃 on a mechanical piano。
Luke accosted a stranger who passed him。 〃Excuse me； but
can you tell me whether this is Mr。 Matthew Wilson's house？〃
〃It used to be；〃 said the stranger； 〃but old man Wilson
has been dead these ten years。〃
〃And who lives here now？〃 asked Luke。
〃Mr。 Woods： he married Wilson's daughter；〃 said the
stranger； and went on his way。
〃Well；〃 said Luke to himself； 〃this is just a little
queer。 Woods was my name for a while； when I lived here； but
now； I suppose； I'm Luke Dubois again。 Dashed if I can
understand it。 Somebody must have been dreaming。〃
So he went back to the white canoe； and paddled away up
the river； and nobody in Scroll…Saw City ever set eyes on him
again。
THE OTHER WISE MAN
You know the story of the Three Wise Men of the East； and how
they travelled from far away to offer their gifts at the
manger…cradle in Bethlehem。 But have you ever heard the story
of the Other Wise Man； who also saw the star in its rising；
and set out to follow it； yet did not arrive with his brethren
in the presence of the young child Jesus？ Of the great desire
of this fourth pilgrim； and how it was denied； yet
accomplished in the denial； of his many wanderings and the
probations of his soul； of the long way of his seeking and the
strange way of his finding the One whom he soughtI would
tell the tale as I have heard fragments of it in the Hall of
Dreams； in the palace of the Heart of Man。
I
In the days when Augustus Caesar was master of many kings and
Herod reigned in Jerusalem； there lived in the city of
Ecbatana； among the mountains of Persia； a certain man named
Artaban。 His house stood close to the outermost of the walls
which encircled the royal treasury。 From his roof he could look
over the seven…fold battlements of black and white and crimson
and blue and red and silver and gold； to the hill where the
summer palace of the Parthian emperors glittered like a jewel in
a crown。
Around the dwelling of Artaban spread a fair garden； a
tangle of flowers and fruit…trees； watered by a score of
streams descending from the slopes of Mount Orontes； and made
musical by innumerable birds。 But all colour was lost in the
soft and odorous darkness of the late September night； and all
sounds were hushed in the deep charm of its silence； save the
plashing of the water； like a voice half…sobbing and
half…laughing under the shadows。 High above the trees a dim
glow of light shone through the curtained arches of the upper
chamber； where the master of the house was holding council
with his friends。
He stood by the doorway to greet his guestsa tall； dark
man of about forty years； with brilliant eyes set near together
under his broad brow； and firm lines graven around his fine； thin
lips； the brow of a dreamer and the mouth of a soldier； a man of
sensitive feeling but inflexible willone of those who； in
whatever age they may live； are born for inward conflict and a
life of quest。
His robe was of pure white wool； thrown over a tunic of
silk； and a white； pointed cap； with long lapels at the sides；
rested on his flowing black hair。 It was the dress of the
ancient priesthood of the Magi； called the fire…worshippers。
〃Welcome！〃 he said； in his low； pleasant voice； as one
after another entered the room〃welcome； Abdus； peace be with
you； Rhodaspes and Tigranes； and with you my father； Abgarus。
You are all welcome。 This house grows bright with the joy of
your presence。〃
There were nine of the men； differing widely in age； but
alike in the richness of their dress of many…coloured silks；
and in the massive golden collars around their necks； marking
them as Parthian nobles； and in the winged circles of gold
resting upon their breasts； the sign of the followers of
Zoroaster。
They took their places around a small black altar at the
end of the room； where a tiny flame was burning。 Artaban；
standing beside it； and waving a barsom of thin tamarisk
branches above the fire； fed it with dry sticks of pine and
fragrant oils。 Then he began the ancient chant of the Yasna；
and the voices of his companions joined in the hymn to
Ahura…Mazda：
We worship the Spirit Divine；
all wisdom and goodness possessing；
Surrounded by Holy Immortals；
the givers of bounty and blessing；
We joy in the work of His hands；
His truth and His power confessing。
We praise all the things that are pure；
for these are His only Creation
The thoughts that are true； and the words
and the deeds that have won approbation；
These are supported by Him；
and for these we make adoration。
Hear us； O Mazda！ Thou livest
in truth and in heavenly gladness；
Cleanse us from falsehood； and keep us
from evil and bondage to badness；
Pour out the light and the joy of Thy life
on our darkness and sadness。
Shine on our gardens and fields；
shine on our working and waving；
Shine on the whole race of man；
believing and unbelieving；
Shine on us n