above　a　kirtle　that　came　barely　to　their　very　pretty　knees。
  〃Food　and　drink；〃　ordered　Rador。
  They　dropped　back　through　the　curtains。
  〃Do　you　like　them？〃　he　asked　us。
  〃Some　chickens！〃　said　Larry。　　〃They　delight　the　heart；〃　he
  translated　for　Rador。
  The　green　dwarf's　next　remark　made　me　gasp。
  〃They　are　yours；〃　he　said。
  Before　I　could　question　him　further　upon　this　extraordi…
  nary　statement　the　pair　re…entered；　bearing　a　great　platter　on
  which　were　small　loaves；　strange　fruits；　and　three　immense
  flagons　of　rock　crystaltwo　filled　with　a　slightly　sparkling
  yellow　liquid　and　the　third　with　a　purplish　drink。　　I　became
  acutely　sensible　that　it　had　been　hours　since　I　had　either
  eaten　or　drunk。　　The　yellow　flagons　were　set　before　Larry　and
  me；　the　purple　at　Rador's　hand。
  The　girls；　at　his　signal；　again　withdrew。　　I　raised　my　glass
  to　my　lips　and　took　a　deep　draft。　　The　taste　was　unfamiliar
  but　delightful。
  Almost　at　once　my　fatigue　disappeared。　　I　realized　a　clarity
  of　mind；　an　interesting　exhilaration　and　sense　of　irresponsi…
  bility；　of　freedom　from　care；　that　were　oddly　enjoyable。
  Larry　became　immediately　his　old　gay　self。
  The　green　dwarf　regarded　us　whimsically；　sipping　from
  his　great　flagon　of　rock　crystal。
  〃Much　do　I　desire　to　know　of　that　world　you　came　from；〃
  he　said　at　last〃through　the　rocks；〃　he　added；　slyly。
  〃And　much　do　we　desire　to　know　of　this　world　of　yours；
  O　Rador；〃　I　answered。
  Should　I　ask　him　of　the　Dweller；　seek　from　him　a　clue　to
  Throckmartin？　　Again；　clearly　as　a　spoken　command；　came
  the　warning　to　forbear；　to　wait。　　And　once　more　I　obeyed。
  〃Let　us　learn；　then；　from　each　other。〃　The　dwarf　was
  laughing。　　〃And　firstare　all　above　like　youdrawn　out〃
  he　made　an　expressive　gesture〃and　are　there　many　of
  you？〃
  〃There　are〃　I　hesitated；　and　at　last　spoke　the　Polynesian
  that　means　tens　upon　tens　multiplied　indefinitely〃there
  are　as　many　as　the　drops　of　water　in　the　lake　we　saw　from
  the　ledge　where　you　found　us；〃　I　continued；　〃many　as　the
  leaves　on　the　trees　without。　　And　they　are　all　like　us
  varyingly。〃
  He　considered　skeptically；　I　could　see；　my　remark　upon
  our　numbers。
  〃In　Muria；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃the　men　are　like　me　or　like
  Lugur。　　Our　women　are　as　you　see　themlike　Yolara　or
  those　two　who　served　you。〃　He　hesitated。　　〃And　there　is　a
  third；　but　only　one。〃
  Larry　leaned　forward　eagerly。
  〃Brown…haired　with　glints　of　ruddy　bronze；　golden…eyed；
  and　lovely　as　a　dream；　with　long；　slender；　beautiful　hands？〃
  he　cried。
  〃Where　saw　you　HER？〃　interrupted　the　dwarf；　starting　to
  his　feet。
  〃Saw　her？〃　Larry　recovered　himself。　　〃Nay；　Rador；　per…
  haps；　I　only　dreamed　that　there　was　such　a　woman。〃
  〃See　to　it；　then；　that　you　tell　not　your　dream　to　Yolara；〃
  said　the　dwarf　grimly。　　〃For　her　I　meant　and　her　you　have
  pictured　is　Lakla；　the　hand…maiden　to　the　Silent　Ones；　and
  neither　Yolara　nor　Lugur；　nay；　nor　the　Shining　One；　love
  her　overmuch；　stranger。〃
  〃Does　she　dwell　here？〃　Larry's　face　was　alight。
  The　dwarf　hesitated；　glanced　about　him　anxiously。
  〃Nay；〃　he　answered；　〃ask　me　no　more　of　her。〃　He　was
  silent　for　a　space。　　〃And　what　do　you　who　are　as　leaves　or
  drops　of　water　do　in　that　world　of　yours？〃　he　said；　plainly
  bent　on　turning　the　subject。
  〃Keep　off　the　golden…eyed　girl；　Larry；〃　I　interjected。　　〃Wait
  till　we　find　out　why　she's　tabu。〃
  〃Love　and　battle；　strive　and　accomplish　and　die；　or　fail　and
  die；〃　answered　Larryto　Radorgiving　me　a　quick　nod　of
  acquiescence　to　my　warning　in　English。
  〃In　that　at　least　your　world　and　mine　differ　little；〃　said　the
  dwarf。
  〃How　great　is　this　world　of　yours；　Rador？〃　I　spoke。
  He　considered　me　gravely。
  〃How　great　indeed　I　do　not　know；〃　he　said　frankly　at　last。
  〃The　land　where　we　dwell　with　the　Shining　One　stretches
  along　the　white　waters　for〃　He　used　a　phrase　of　which　I
  could　make　nothing。　　〃Beyond　this　city　of　the　Shining　One
  and　on　the　hither　shores　of　the　white　waters　dwell　the　mayia
  ladalathe　common　ones。〃　He　took　a　deep　draft　from　his
  flagon。　　〃There　are；　first；　the　fair…haired　ones；　the　children
  of　the　ancient　rulers；〃　he　continued。　　〃There　are；　second；　we
  the　soldiers；　and　last；　the　mayia　ladala；　who　dig　and　till　and
  weave　and　toil　and　give　our　rulers　and　us　their　daughters；
  and　dance　with　the　Shining　One！〃　he　added。
  〃Who　rules？〃　I　asked。
  〃The　fair…haired；　under　the　Council　of　Nine；　who　are
  under　Yolara；　the　Priestess　and　Lugur；　the　Voice；〃　he
  answered；　〃who　are　in　turn　beneath　the　Shining　One！〃　There
  was　a　ring　of　bitter　satire　in　the　last。
  〃And　those　three　who　were　judged？〃this　from　Larry。
  〃They　were　of　the　mayia　ladala；〃　he　replied；　〃like　those
  two　I　gave　you。　　But　they　grow　restless。　　They　do　not　like　to
  dance　with　the　Shining　Onethe　blasphemers！〃　He　raised
  his　voice　in　a　sudden　great　shout　of　mocking　laughter。
  In　his　words　I　caught　a　fleeting　picture　of　the　racean
  ancient；　luxurious；　close…bred　oligarchy　clustered　about　some
  mysterious　deity；　a　soldier　class　that　supported　them；　and
  underneath　all　the　toiling；　oppressed　hordes。
  〃And　is　that　all？〃　asked　Larry。
  〃No；〃　he　answered。　　〃There　is　the　Sea　of　Crimson
  where〃
  Without　warning　the　globe　beside　us　sent　out　a　vicious
  note；　Rador　turned　toward　it；　his　face　paling。　　Its　surface
  crawled　with　whisperingsangry；　peremptory！
  〃I　hear！〃　he　croaked；　gripping　the　table。　　〃I　obey！〃
  He　turned　to　us　a　face　devoid　for　once　of　its　malice。
  〃Ask　me　no　more　questions；　strangers；〃　he　said。　　〃And
  now；　if　you　are　done；　I　will　show　you　where　you　may　sleep
  and　bathe。〃
  He　arose　abruptly。　　We　followed　him　through　the　hang…
  ings；　passed　through　a　corridor　and　into　another　smaller
  chamber；　roofless；　the　sides　walled　with　screens　of　dark　grey。
  Two　cushioned　couches　were　there　and　a　curtained　door
  leading　into　an　open；　outer　enclosure　in　which　a　fountain
  played　within　a　wide　pool。
  〃Your　bath；〃　said　Rador。　　He　dropped　the　curtain　and
  came　back　into　the　room。　　He　touched　a　carved　flower　at　one
  side。　　There　was　a　tiny　sighing　from　overhead　and　instantly
  across　the　top　spread　a　veil　of　blackness；　impenetrable　to
  light　but　certainly　not　to　air；　for　through　it　pulsed　little
  breaths　of　the　garden　fragrances。　　The　room　filled　with　a　cool
  twilight；　refreshing；　sleep…inducing。　　The　green　dwarf　pointed
  to　the　couches。
  〃Sleep！〃　he　said。　　〃Sleep　and　fear　nothing。　　My　men　are　on
  guard　outside。〃　He　came　closer　to　us；　the　old　mocking
  gaiety　sparkling　in　his　eyes。
  〃But　I　spoke　too　quickly；〃　he　whispered。　　〃Whether　it　is
  because　the　Afyo　Maie　fears　their　tonguesor〃　he
  laughed　at　Larry。　　〃The　maids　are　NOT　yours！〃　Still　laughing
  he　vanished　through　the　curtains　of　the　room　of　the　foun…
  tain　before　I　could　ask　him　the　meaning　of　his　curious　gift；
  its　withdrawal；　and　his　most　enigmatic　closing　remarks。
  〃Back　in　the　great　old　days　of　Ireland；〃　thus　Larry　break…
  ing　into　my　thoughts　raptly；　the　brogue　thick；　〃there　was
  Cairill　mac　CairillCairill　Swiftspear。　　An'　Cairill　wronged
  Keevan　of　Emhain　Abhlach；　of　the　blood　of　Angus　of　the
  great　people　when　he　was　sleeping　in　the　likeness　of　a　pale
  reed。　　Then　Keevan　put　this　penance　on　Cairillthat　for　a
  year　Cairill　should　wear　his　body　in　Emhain　Abhlach；　which
  is　the　Land　of　Faery　and　for　that　year　Keevan　should　wear
  the　body　of　Cairill。　　And　it　was　done。
  〃In　that　year　Cairill　met　Emar　of　the　Birds　that　are　one
  white；　one　red；　and　one　blackand　they　loved；　and　from　that
  love　sprang　Ailill　their　son。　　And　when　Ailill　was　born　he
  took　a　reed　flute　and　first　he　played　slumber　on　Cairill；　and
  then　he　played　old　age　so　that　Cairill　grew　white　and　with…
  ered；　then　Ailill　played　again　and　Cairill　became　a　shadow
  then　a　shadow　of　a　shadowthen　a　breath；　and　the　breath
  went　out　upon　the　wind！〃　He　shivered。　　〃Like　the　old
  gnome；〃　he　whispered；　〃that　they　called　Songar　of　the
  Lower　Waters！〃
  He　shook　his　head　as　though　he　cast　a　dream　from　him。
  Then；　all　alert
  〃But　that　was　in　Iceland　ages　agone。　　And　there's　nothing
  like　that　here；　Doc！〃　He　laughed。　　〃It　doesn't　scare　me　one
  little　bit；　old　boy。　　The　pretty　devil　lady's　got　the　wrong　　slant。
  When　　you've　　had　　a　　pal　　standing　　　beside　　　you　　　one　　　moment
  full　of　life；　and　joy；　and　power；　and　potentialities；　telling
  what　he's　going　to　do　to　make　the　world　hum　when　he　gets
  through　the　slaughter；　just　running　over　with　zip　and　pep　of
  life；　Docand　the　next　instant；　right　in　the　middle　of　a
  laugha　piece　of　damned　shell　takes　off　half　his　head　and
  with　it　joy　and　power　and　all　the　rest　of　it〃his　face
  twitched〃well；　old　man；　in　the　face　of　THAT　mystery　a
  disappearing　act　such　as　the　devil　lady　treated　us　to　doesn't
  make　much　of　a　dent。　　Not　on　me。　　But　by　the　brogans　of
  Brian　Boruif　we　could　have　had　some　of　that　stuff　to　turn
  on　during　the　war