The Arrival of the Herd 9 



rose and pearl, agitated by the breath of dawn 

 and stirred by the growing warmth. Here and 

 there columns of fog rose, to be dissipated in 

 the clearer air ; on all sides, as when the 

 tide ebbs on a summer day, the mist receded ; 

 the islands became mountains once more, the 

 floating tree-tops were again anchored to the 

 solid ground, and before long, save in hidden 

 depths of the forest, the heated air had absorbed 

 all visible moisture, the leaves of countless 

 plants again began to draw up water from the 

 soil and to give out vapour. 



It was while this change was proceeding that 

 a man emerged from the darkness of the 

 hermit's cell and stood blinking at the dawn. 

 Belated, he had evidently passed the night in 

 the security of stone walls in the absence of 

 their usual tenant. The man was of small 

 stature but heavily built ; his dress consisted of 

 a short cotton jacket and a loin-cloth tightly 

 drawn. Arms and legs were bare, showing the 

 firm muscles and the bronze-coloured skin : his 

 long hair was collected in a twist at the back 

 of the head, and secured by a silver pin. For 



