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an hour passed； and they did not return； and now the knight could stand on guard no longer； but had to lie down upon the grass。 a half？ hour more went by； and then a young lad with what appeared to be a number of cocks feathers stuck round his hat； came out of the path behind him； and began to move about among the dead thieves； cutting their heads off； then he laid the heads in a heap before the knight； and said： o great knight； i have been bid e and ask you for the crowns you promised for the heads： five crowns a head。
they bid me tell you that they have prayed to god and his mother to give you a long life； but that they are poor peasants； and that they would have the money before you die。 they told me this over and over for fear i might forget it； and promised to beat me if i did。
the knight raised himself upon his elbow； and opening a bag that hung to his belt； counted out the five crowns for each head。 there were thirty heads in all。
o great knight； said the lad； they have also bid me take all care of you； and light a fire； and put this ointment upon your wounds。 and he gathered sticks and leaves together； and； flashing his flint and steel under a mass of dry leaves； had made a very good blaze。 then； drawing of the coat of mail； he began to anoint the wounds： but he did it clumsily； like one who does by rote what he had been told。 the knight motioned him to stop； and said： you seem a good lad。
i would ask something of you for myself。
there are still a few crowns； said the knight； shall i give them to you？
o no； said the lad。 they would be no good to me。 there is only one thing that i care about doing； and i have no need of money to do it。 i go from village to village and from hill to hill； and whenever i e across a good cock i steal him and take him into the woods； and i keep him there under a basket until i get another good cock； and then i set them to fight。 the people say i am an innocent； and do not do me any harm； and never ask me to do any work but go a message now and then。 it is because i am an innocent that they send me to get the crowns： anyone else would steal them； and they dare not e back themselves； for now that you are not with them they are afraid of the wood？thieves。 did you ever hear how； when the wood？thieves are christened； the wolves are made their god？fathers； and their right arms are not christened at all？
if you will not take these crowns； my good lad； i have nothing for you； i fear； unless you would have that old coat of mail which i shall soon need no more。
there was something i wanted： yes； i remember now； said the lad。 i want you to tell me why you fought like the champions and giants in the stories and for so little a thing。 are you indeed a man like us？ are you not rather an old wizard who lives among these hills； and will not a wind arise presently and crumble you into dust？
i will tell you of myself； replied the knight； for now that i am the last of the fellowship； i may tell all and witness for god。 look at the rose of rubies on my helmet； and see the symbol of my life and of my hope。
and then he told the lad this story； but with always more frequent pauses； and； while he told it； the rose shone a deep blood？colour in the firelight； and the lad stuck the cocks feathers in the earth in front of him； and moved them about as though he made them actors in the play。
i live in a land far from this； and was one of the knights of st。 john； said the old man； but i was one of those in the order who always longed for more arduous labours in the service of the most high。 at last there came to us a knight of palestine； to whom the truth of truths had been revealed by god himself。 he had seen a great rose of fire； and a voice out of the rose had told him how men would turn from the light of their own hearts； and bow down before outer order and outer fixity； and that then the light would cease； and none escape the curse except the foolish good man who could not； and the passionate wicked man who would not； think。
already； the voice told him； the wayward light of the heart was shining out upon the world to keep it alive； with a less clear lustre； and that； as it paled； a strange infection was touching the stars and the hills and the grass and the trees with corruption； and that none of those who had seen clearly the truth and the ancient way could enter into the kingdom of god； which is in the heart of the rose； if they stayed on willingly in the corrupted world； and so they must prove their anger against the powers of corruption by dying in the service of the rose of god。 while the knight of palestine was telling us these things we seemed to see in a vision a crimson rose spreading itself about him； so that he seemed to speak out of its heart； and the air was filled with fragrance。 by this we knew that it was the very voice of god which spoke to us by the knight； and we gathered about him and bade him direct us in all things； and teach us how to obey the voice。 so he bound us with an oath； and gave us signs and words whereby we might know each other even after many years； and he appointed places of meeting； and he sent us out in troops into the world to seek good causes； and die in doing battle for them。 at first we thought to die more readily by fasting to death in honour of some saint； but this he told us was evil； for we did it for the sake of death； and thus took out of the hands of god the choice of the time and manner of our death； and by so doing made his power the less。 we must choose our service for its excellence； and for this alone； and leave it to god to reward us at his own time and in his own manner。 and after this he pelled us to eat always two at a table to watch each other lest we fasted unduly； for some among us said that if one fasted for a love of the holiness of saints and then died； the death would be acceptable。 and the years passed； and one by one my fellows died in the holy land； or in warring upon the evil princes of the earth； or in clearing the roads of robbers； and among them died the knight of palestine； and at last i was alone。 i fought in every cause where the few contended against the many； and my hair grew white； and a terrible fear