The first time this Nunez laughed But afterwards laugh

One struck his trail meadow grass, and came stooping and feeling his way along it

For five minutes he watched the slow extension cordon, and then his vague disposition something forthwith became frantic He stood up, went pace or so towards the circumferential wall, turned, and went back little way There they all stood in crescent, still and listening

He also stood still, gripping his spade very tightly in both hands Should he charge them ?

The pulse ears ran rhythm of " Country Blind the One-eyed Man is King ! "

Should he charge them ?

He looked back high and unclimbable wall behind--unclimbable because smooth plastering, but withal pierced with many little doors, and approaching line of seekers Behind these others were now coming street of houses

Should he charge them ?

"Bogota ! " called one "Bogota ! where ? "

He gripped his spade still tighter, and advanced down the meadows towards the place of habitations, and directly he moved they converged upon him "I'll hit them touch me," he swore; "by Heaven, I'll hit " aloud, "Look here, I'm going what I like valley hear ? I'm going what I like and go where I like ! "

They were moving in upon him quickly, groping, yet moving rapidly like playing blind man's buff, with everyone blindfolded except one "Get hold of him ! " cried one himself arc of loose curve of pursuers suddenly active and resolute

"You don't understand," he cried in voice that was meant great and resolute, and which broke " blind, and Leave me alone ! "

"Bogota ! Put down that spade, and come off the grass ! "

The last order, grotesque in its urban familiarity, produced gust of anger

"I'll hurt you," , sobbing with emotion "By Heaven, I'll hurt you Leave me alone ! "

He began to run, not knowing clearly where to run He ran nearest blind man, because horror to hit him He stopped, and then made dash to escape from their closing ranks for where gap was wide, men on either side, with quick perception approach paces, rushed in on one another He sprang forward, and then saw caught, and swish ! the spade had struck the soft thud of hand and arm, man was down with yell of pain, and through

Through ! And then close street of houses again, and blind men, whirling spades and stakes, were running with sort of reasoned swiftness hither and thither

He heard steps behind him just , and found tall man rushing forward and swiping sound of him his nerve, hurled his spade yard wide at his antagonist, and whirled about and fled, fairly yelling as he dodged another

panic-stricken He ran furiously to and fro, dodging when no need to dodge, and anxiety on every side of him at once, stumbling For moment down heard his fall Far away circumferential wall little doorway looked like heaven, and he set off in wild rush even look round at his pursuers until gained, and he had stumbled across the bridge, clambered little way rocks, surprise and dismay of young llama, who went leaping out of sight, and lay down sobbing for breath

And so his coup d'tat came to an end

He stayed outside the wall valley Blind for two nights and days without food or shelter, and meditated unexpected During these meditations he repeated very frequently and always with profounder note of derision the exploded proverb: " Country Blind the One-Eyed Man is King " He thought chiefly of ways of fighting and conquering these people, and it grew clear that for him no practicable way was possible He had no weapons, and now it hard one

The canker of civilisation had got to him even in Bogota, and find it in himself down and assassinate blind man , if that, he might then dictate terms threat of assassinating them all But--sooner or later sleep ! .

He tried also food pine trees, comfortable under pine boughs while the frost fell at night, and--with less confidence--to catch llama by artifice to kill it--perhaps by hammering it with stone--and so finally, perhaps, to eat some of it But the llamas had doubt of him and regarded him with distrustful brown eyes, and spat when he drew near Fear came on him the second day and fits of shivering Finally he crawled down wall Country Blind and tried terms He crawled along stream, shouting, until two blind men came out gate and talked to him

" mad," "But only newly made "

They said that was better

them wiser now, and repented of all he had done

Then he wept without intention, for very weak and ill now, took that as favourable sign

They asked him if he still thought "_see_"

"No," "That was folly The word means nothing-- nothing ! "

They asked him overhead

"About ten times ten the height of man roof above the world-- of rock--and very, very smooth " . He burst again into hysterical tears " ask me any more, some food or die "

He expected dire punishments, but these blind people were capable of toleration They regarded his rebellion as but one more proof general idiocy and inferiority; and after they had whipped him they appointed him simplest and heaviest work they had for anyone , and he, seeing no other way of living, did submissively what told

ill for some days, nursed him kindly That refined his submission But they insisted lying dark, was great misery And blind philosophers came and talked to him wicked levity mind, and reproved him so impressively doubts lid of rock that covered their cosmic casserole that he almost doubted whether indeed not the victim of hallucination in not seeing it overhead

So Nunez became citizen Country Blind, and these people ceased generalised people and became individualities and familiar to him, while the world beyond the mountains became more and more remote and unreal Yacob, his master, kindly man when not annoyed; Pedro, Yacob's nephew; and Medina-sarot, who youngest daughter of Yacob She was little esteemed blind, because she had clear-cut face, and lacked that satisfying, glossy smoothness blind man's ideal of feminine beauty; but Nunez thought her beautiful at first, and presently the most beautiful thing whole creation Her closed eyelids sunken and red common way valley, but lay open again at any moment; and she had long eyelashes, which were considered grave disfigurement And her voice was strong, and satisfy the acute hearing valley swains she had no lover

There came time when Nunez thought that, could he win her, resigned to live valley for all the rest days

He watched her; he sought opportunities of doing her little services, and presently that she observed him Once at rest-day gathering they sat side by side dim starlight, music was sweet His hand came upon hers and he dared to clasp it Then very tenderly she returned his pressure And one day, were at their meal darkness, her hand very softly seeking him, and as it chanced the fire leapt then and the tenderness of her face

He sought to her

He went to her one day when she was sitting summer moonlight spinning The light made her thing of silver and mystery He sat down at her feet and told her he loved her, and told her how beautiful she seemed to him He had lover's voice, he spoke with tender reverence that came near to awe, and she had never before been touched by adoration She made him no definite answer, but clear his words pleased her

he talked to her whenever take an opportunity The valley became the world for him, world beyond the mountains where men lived in sunlight seemed no more than fairy tale some day pour into her ears Very tentatively and timidly he spoke to her of sight

Sight seemed to her the most poetical of fancies, and she listened description stars mountains and her own sweet white-lit beauty guilty indulgence She believe, only half understand, but she was mysteriously delighted, and it seemed to him that she completely understood

His love lost its awe and took courage Presently for demanding her of Yacob elders in marriage, but she became fearful and delayed And one of her elder sisters who first told Yacob that Medina-sarot and Nunez were in love