A WAKEFUL HUSBANDilAN. 105 



light on the Rion, rock-bound and raging far 

 below, while at the same time she spread the 

 forest lawns with a cloth of silver, and frosted 

 every trembling leaf with silver light. 



High up in the mountains on the other 

 side the Rion we saw from time to time a 

 solitary beacon, embosomed in forest, burning 

 like a ruby on the mountain's breast. From 

 this far-away light came now and again faint 

 echoes of wild unearthly cries, whoopings and 

 whistlings, the ringing of bells and beating of 

 gongs, as if gnomes of the mountain and 

 forest were holdinof midnig-ht revel there. 

 Could we have looked closer we should have 

 found nothing more supernatural than a 

 wakeful Glola husbandman perched on a raised 

 platform in the middle of the growing maize 

 patch, which he had cultivated amongst the 

 great forest trees, whence (were he not there) 

 the long grey form of old Bruin would steal 

 out every night as the gloaming closed in to 



