THE CAVE AND THE BLACK DOOR. 55

sound, very sound asleep. I have read in some of the books at home
that snakes, after a good meal, often sleep for hours and hours. I
should not be a bit surprised if we could jump over its body without
awakening it.”

“Cowslip,” he said aloud to his sister, “that snake has not moved
since we came in sight. It has probably just eaten something, and is
quite satisfied. Will you sit there just where you are and wait for
me? I am going up close to the snake. When I get to a little distance
I mean to have a short run, and then to leap over his back.”

“You will be killed!” exclaimed Cowslip. “Oh, don’t, don’t
leave me!”

* Listen,’ said Clover. “We always knew that we should
have to meet danger on our road to the Blue Mountains. You
remember the book father used to read out of at home, about a
pilgrim who took this journey and all the dangers he met; but how
in the end he conquered and reached the happy land. Father used
to tell us that no one—no one ever went from our country to the
lovely country beyond the Blue Mountains without having to meet
al sorts of things, which frightened them and took their courage
away; but he said if they went straight up to the dangers,
they never turned out to be half as bad as they looked, and
in the end all those who persevered got to the country safely.
Cowslip,” continued her brother, looking full at her with his dark
eyes, and tossing back his mass of curly hair as he spoke, “I for one
am not going to turn back. Stay there, Cowslip; I will go up close
to the snake. If heis sound asleep I will vault over him, just to show
you how it can be done.”

“And what am I to do?”

“You are to stay there, just by the side of this high cliff, until I
come back to you.”

“Suppose the snake awakens and bites you, and tries to wrap
himself round you!”

“J don’t think he will; but even if he does, I shall have died on
the King’s Highway, and obeying him.”

“ But what shall I do, Clover?”