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was odious; now, specially in some parts of our town for you know our town is large},
religion is counted honorable.

Then said Mr. Contrite to them, “ Pray, how fareth it with you in your pilgrimage?
how stands the country affected towards you?”

How. It happens to us as it happeneth to wayfaring men: sometimes our way 1s
clean, sometimes foul; sometimes up-hill, sometimes down-hill: we are seldom at a
certainty. The wind is not always on our back, nor is every one a friend that we meet.
with in the way. We have met with some notable rubs already, and what are yet
behind we know not; but, for the most part, we find it true that has been talked of of
old, “A good man must suffer trouble.”

Contr. You talk of rubs; what rubs have you met withal?

Hon. Nay, ask Mr. Great-heart, our guide ; for he can give the best account of that.

Great. We have been beset three or four times already. First, Christiana and her
children were beset by two ruffians, who, they feared, would take away their lives.
We were beset by Giant Bloody-man, Giant Maul, and Giant Slay-good. Indeed, we
did rather beset the last, than were beset of him. And thus it was: After we had
been some time at the house of Gaius mine host, and of the whole Church, we were
minded upon a time to take our weapons with us, and go and sce if we could light
upon any of those that were enemies to pilgrims; for we heard that there was a nota-
ble one thereabouts. Now Gaius knew his haunt better than I, because he dwelt
thereabout. So we looked, and looked, till at last we discerned the mouth of his cave ;
then we were glad and plucked up our spirits. So we approached up to his den; and,
lo! when we came there, he had dragged, by mere force, into his net, this poor man,
Mr. Feeble-mind, and was about to bring him to his end. But, when he saw us, sup-
posing, as he thought, he had had another prey, he left the poor man in his house, and
came out. So we fell to it full sore, and he lustily laid about him; but, in conclusion,
he was brought down to the ground, and his head cut off, and set up by the wayside,
for terror to such as should after practice such ungodliness. That I tell you the truth,
here is the man uimself to affirm it, who was as a lamb taken out of the mouth of the
lion.

Frersie. Then said Mr. Feeble-mind, “I found this true, to my cost and comfort:
to my cost, when he threatened to pick my bones every moment; and to my comfort,
when I saw Mr. Great-heart and his friends with their weapons approach so near for
my deliverance.”

Hoy. Then said Mr. Holy-man, “There are two things that they have need to
possess who go on pilgrimage—courage and an unspotted life. If they have not

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