The Story of the Innumerable Company | Page 6

it, touching the morning mists with gold, and threw
across them the long shadow of the upraised staff. The shadow fell far
out across the plains, and about it was a halo of bright light. And all the
band looked joyfully at the vision. Adown the slope of the mountain
and out into the plain they followed the way of the shadow. And all the
time the white banner waved at the head of the column. The people said
little to one another, but that little was a word of praise and rejoicing.
But it came to pass, as the day wore on, that the sun rose in the sky, and
drew the mists up from the valley. With them vanished the long
shadow of the staff, and in its place appeared the sandy plain. The feet
of the people were sore with the rocks and stones. The air was thick
with dust. Their hearts were uplifted no longer. Instead they were filled
with doubt and distress.
And the people repined and murmured against their leader. But the
leader said that all was well; even in the way he went there had been
stones and hindrances. More than once had he carried a heavy burden
along a dusty road. But he never doubted nor complained, and so the

radiance round about him never faded away.
But all the more the people clamored for a sign. Let the bright vision of
the morning appear to us again. At length, worn with much entreaty,
the leader raised once more his staff above his head. The sun at noon
fell upon it. But as the people gazed they saw no long line of radiance
stretching out across the plains amid a halo of shining mist. The
shadow of the staff was a little shapeless mark upon the sand at their
very feet.
Then the leader cast his staff away and went by himself alone, sad and
sorrowful. That night, as he lay by the roadside, he looked upward to
the clear, calm, honest stars. They seemed to say to him, "See all things
as they really are. This was his way. 'In spirit and in truth' means in the
light of no illusion. Not all the visions of mist or of sunshine can make
the journey other than it is."
So he came to look closely at all things on the road. Day by day he read
the lessons of the desert and the mountain. He learned to know
directions by the growth of the trees. By the perfume of the lilies, he
sought out the hidden springs. By the red clouds at evening, he knew
that the sky would be fair. By the red light in the morning, he was
warned of the coming storm. And there were many who followed him
and his way, though he did not will it so.
And he taught his companions, saying: "We must seek his way in the
nature of the things that abide. To learn this nature of things is the
beginning of wisdom. For day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto
night showeth knowledge. The way of nature is solid, substantial, vast,
and unchanging. He who walks in it stands secure, as in the shadow of
a high tower or as if encompassed by a mighty fortress. The wisdom of
the forest shall be granted to him who seeks for it with calm heart and
quiet eye."
But among his followers there were many who were eager and would
hasten on, and although they spoke much of the Nature of Things and
of the Law of the Forest, they were contented with speaking. "The road
is long," they said to themselves, "and the hours are fleeting." They had

no time to contemplate the glory of the heavens. The beauty of the lilies
fell on unobservant eyes. For all these things they trusted to the report
of others. The words passed from mouth to mouth, losing ever a little
of their truth. And in this wise the voice of wisdom was turned to the
language of folly. For the nature of things is truth. But no man can find
truth except he seek it for himself. And so they fared on, each well or ill,
according to the truth to which his way bore witness.
Meanwhile those who bore the white banner remained long in council.
At last one remembered that it was written, "Faith without works is
dead, being alone." And it was written again, "Those who follow me in
spirit must follow me in truth." The essence of truth lies not in thought
or feeling, but must be expressed in deeds. Right feelings follow right
actions. Thus it was with him; thus will it be with us.
Then they went their way together,