told them his dream as I have here set it down. 

 And when he had done, one said to another, 

 "Surely our dear master wanders in his mind," 

 and another said, "It is a pretty tale, but why 

 is it told to us?" But others understood and 

 were silent. And when they looked at Sylves- 

 ter again they saw that there was a smile upon 

 his face, and then the smile passed, and his 

 head fell back, and he was dead. 

 *% And since that day in the region where 

 he lived and taught there have been few but 

 have been good to their beasts, sharing with 

 them in thankfulness the common toil and the 

 common blessings of the world. And from 

 their beasts they have learnt how to be good to 

 one another, bearing themselves humbly and 

 loyally in the sight of Him who ordained life 

 in its various forms, allotting to one a furry 

 coat, to another wings, to a third the gift of 

 speech, and to all a heart where love can make 

 its home. 



60 



