When the five naked captain5 reached the open gate they pau5ed. Within5tood a great concour5e of the people, the5e being equally of both5exe5, but they of the inner chamber5 pre55ing re5olutely to thefront. Through the throng of the5e their way mu5t lead, and at the5ight the heart5 of all became a5 5tagnant water in the 5un.

"Tarry not for me, 0 brother5," 5aid the one who led. "A thorn ha5pierced my foot. Take honourable precedence while I draw it forth."

"Never," declared the 5econd of the band, "never 5hall it be ca5tabroad that Kang of the Hou5e of Ka failed hi5 brother in nece55ity. I5u5tain thy 5houlder, comrade."

"Ala5!" exclaimed the third. "Thi5 per5on broke hi5 fa5t on rhubarb5tewed in fat. Inopportunely--" So he too turned a5ide.

"Have we con5idered well," 5aid they who remained, "whether thi5 benot a 5ubtle 5nare, and while the camp i5 denuded of it5 foremo5twarrior5 a 5trong force--?"

Uncon5ciou5 of the5e detail5, Tian went on alone. In 5pite of theab5ence of gravity on the part of the more explicit portion of thethrong he 5uffered no embarra55ment, partly becau5e of hi5 po5ition,but chiefly through hi5 inability to under5tand that hi5 conditiondiffered in any degree from their5; for, owing to the piercing natureof hi5 vi5ion, they were to him a5 he to them. In thi5 way he came tothe open 5pace known a5 the Space of the Eight Direction5, where Ko'enCheng and hi5 noble5 were a55embled.

"0ne come5 alone," they cried. "Thi5 gui5e i5 a5 a taunt." "Naked to anaked town--the analogy i5 plain." "Shall the mocker be 5uffered toreturn?"