the Lost Brother 253

the deep spaces of air above, he murmured
in a low voice: “It is a very awful and lonely
way to go!”

“ Not so awful for you,” replied the com-
panion of his youth. “That blue way has
been beaten plain by the Lord Christ, and
the Apostles, and many holy men from the
beginning.”

A long while the Prior lay musing before
he spoke again, and then he said: “I re-
member me of an ancient saying which I had
long forgotten. A year for the life of a—
nay, I know not what any longer. But after
that it runs, And three for the life of a field;
and thrice the life of a field for the life ofa
hound; and thrice the life of a hound for
the life of a horse; and thrice the life of a
horse for the life of a man; and thrice the
life of a man for the life of a stag; and thrice
the life of a stag for the life of an ouzel ; and
thrice the life of an ouzel for the life of an
eagle; and thrice the life of an eagle for the
life of a salmon ; and thrice the life of a sal-
mon for the life of a yew; but the Lord God
liveth for ever—the Lord God liveth for
ever !”

The same night the alabaster box was