The Flame-Flowér 65

the hard rock: but Flamma knew not of it;
for when she awoke the flame-flower flickered
gently on her breast.

Five days they journeyed after this; and
on the sixth they came out from the forest
upon a great road that had been made by
the conquerors; and here the flower fell to
the ground, and stayed still, and they waited
a space.

After a while Evan lay down with his ear
to the ground.

‘T hear the tramp of a great host,” he said.

Honora turned pale and said, “Let us
hasten again into the shelter of the forest :
for we are outlaws, and they who take us
will kill us.”

But Flamma said: “The flower moves
not from its place. Pray, father, put your
ear again to the ground; for these can be
no enemies.”

So he put his ear to the ground again, and
said, “It is the tramp of horses, and of men
who step together in time ; and none do that
but those from the South, whom I love. Yet
they have all gone back to their own land.”

So they. waited, and presently came a
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