The Story of the Innumerable Company | Page 3

that from the beginning it was
decreed that by this rock should the destiny of man be tested.
But in spite of argument, there were still some who chose the left-hand
path because they verily believed that this was the only right way. They,
too, justified their course by arguments, line upon line and precept
upon precept. And each band tried to make its following as large as it
could. Some men stood all day by the side of the rock, urging people to
come with them to the right or to the left. For, strangely enough,
although each man had his own journey to make, and must cross the
river at last alone, he was eager that all others should go along with
him.
And as each band grew larger, its members took pride in the growth of
its numbers. In the larger bands, trumpets were blown, harps were
sounded, and banners were waved in the wind. Those who walked

shoulder to shoulder under waving flags to the sound of trumpets felt
secure and confident, while those who journeyed alone seemed always
to walk with fear and trembling. It was said in the old Chart that where
two or three were gathered together on the way, strength and courage
would be given them. But men could not believe this, and few had the
heart to test whether it were true or no.
So the bands went on to the right or to the left, each in its chosen path.
But after they had passed the first great rock, they came to other rocks
and trees and places of doubt. Other councils were held, and at each
step there were some who would not abide by the decision of the elders.
So these from time to time went their own ways. And they made new
inscriptions on the Chart, and erased the old ones, each according to his
own ideas. And there was much pushing and jostling when the bands
separated themselves one from another.
At last one of the oldest travelers in the largest band--a man with a long
white beard, and wise with the experience of years--arose and said that
not in anger, nor in strife, should they journey on. Discord and
contention arise from difference of opinion. Let all men but think alike,
and they will walk in peace and harmony. Let each band choose a
leader. Let him carry the Chart, and let him night and day pore over its
precepts. No one else need distress himself. One had only to keep step
on the road, and to follow whithersoever the leader might direct.
So the people chose a leader--a man grave and serious, wise in the lore
of the forest and the desert. He noted on the Chart each rock and tree,
drawing in sharp outlines every detail in the only safe path. Moreover,
all deviating trails he marked with the symbol of danger.
And it came to pass that day by day other bands followed, and to them
the Chart was given as he had left it. And these bands, too, chose
leaders, whose part it was to interpret the Chart. But each one of these
added to the Chart some better way of his own, some short cut he had
found, or some new trail not marked with the proper sign of warning.
And with all these changes and additions, as time went on, the true way
became very hard to find. At one point, so the story is told, there were

twenty-nine distinct paths, leading in as many directions; each of these,
if the Chart be true, came to its end in some frightful chasm. With these
there was a single narrow trail that led to safety; but no two leaders
could agree as to which was the right trail. One thing only was certain:
the true way was very hard to find, and no traveler might discover it
unaided.
And some declared that the Chart was complicated beyond all need.
There was one who said, "The multiplication of non-essentials has
become the bane of the forest." Even a little meadow which he had
found, and which he called the "Saints' Rest," was so entangled in paths
and counterpaths that once out of sight of it one could never find it
again.
All this time there were many bands that wandered about in circles,
finding everywhere cairns of stones, but no way of escape. Still others
remained day after day in the shadow of great rocks, disputing and
doubting as to how they should pass by them. There were arguments
and precedents enough for any course; but arguments and precedents
made no man sure.
And it came to pass that most travelers followed the band they found
nearest. At last, to join some band