Part 8 (1/2)

”--Why, it completes the song. Between them they bring the two worlds together.”

”He bows the heavens, and comes down,” said the boy of the olive-harp, trying to hum David's air.

”Let us ask them--”

And just then there rang along the valley the sound of a distant conch-sh.e.l.l. The soldiers groaned, roused up, and each looked for his own side-arms and his own skin.

But the poets talked on unheeding.

The old chief knocked down a stack of lances; but the crash did not rouse them. He was obliged himself to interrupt their eager converse.

”I am sorry to break in; but the night-horn has sounded to rest, and the guard will be round to inspect the posts. I am sorry to hurry you away, sir,” he said to David.

David thanked him courteously.

”Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest,” said Homer, with a smile.

”We will all meet to-morrow. And may to-night's dreams be good omens!”

”If we dream at all,” said Homer again:--

”Without a sign his sword the brave man draws, And asks no omen but his country's cause.”

They were all standing together, as he made this careless reply to the captain; and one of the young men drew him aside, and whispered that David was in arms against his country.

Homer was troubled that he had spoken as he did. But the young Jew looked little as if he needed sympathy. He saw the doubt and regret which hung over their kindly faces; told them not to fear for him; singing, as he bade them good night, and with one of the Carmel-men walked home to his own outpost:--

”The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion, The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me.”

And he smiled to think how his Carmelite companion would start, if he knew when first he used those words.

So they parted, as men who should meet on the morrow.

But G.o.d disposes.

David had left to-morrow's dangers for to-morrow to care for. It seemed to promise him that he must be in arms against Saul. But, unlike us in our eagerness to antic.i.p.ate our conflicts of duty, David _waited_.

And the Lord delivered him. While they were singing by the brookside, the proud n.o.blemen of the Philistine army had forced an interview with their king; and, in true native Philistine arrogance, insisted that ”this Hebrew” and his men should be sent away.

With the light of morning the king sent for the minstrel, and courteously dismissed him, because ”the princes of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.'”

So David marched his men to Ziklag.

And David and Homer never met on earth again.

NOTE.--This will be a proper place to print the following note, which I was obliged to write to a second cousin of Miss Dryasdust after she had read the MS. of the article above:--