"Take the intruder away," shouted some of the bystanders, "we wish to hear what the preacher has to say. It may be true or it may be false, but we wish to hear him." "Come away, dear," said her mother to Iddo, "it won't do us any good to listen." "But," said Iddo, "what did he mean? No one ever doubts, surely, the truth of the Guide Book? If it is not true, how shall we ever find our way to the Radiant City, or indeed how do we know that there is a Radiant City to find?" she added, sobbing. "My child," said the mother, "it is a sad fact that now-a-days there are people who are tearing the Guide Book to pieces. They do not realize what mischief they are doing, and hope that people's faith will grow stronger rather than weaker through their criticism, instead of which the enemy is watching at all such gatherings at which we have been, and is doing his utmost to sow seeds of doubt in people's minds. But I think these very attacks on the Book go to prove its authorship. The enemy cannot leave it alone, as he knows that so long as we have the Guide Book, and love and believe in it, we will follow it and it will lead us to the Radiant City. I have never found the Word to fail me, and it has been the guide of millions of travellers who have now reached Home. Some, indeed, when just crossing the River, have actually seen the King, so that those who have gone as far as they were allowed with them into the dark valley, have been filled with joy, and their faith has been strengthened. The Guide Book is true from beginning to end: that good man was right in what he said, although I could have wished that he had spoken in a more sober manner, and with less heat. But he cannot argue. His heart is better than his head." "Oh mother, he frightened me," said Iddo, wiping away her tears, "and I saw many people were laughing at him. Is he really journeying to the Radiant City? He is so different from Amer and that good man who has been walking with us." "He loves the King, my child," said the mother, "and it is his very love that makes him speak when perhaps it would be wiser to be silent. But the King can alter all that is not right in him, and as for me I would rather have the heart on fire than the brain." "Where is Amer?" suddenly asked Iddo. Amer had stayed behind to listen, and now was seen coming towards them with his eyes bent in deep thought on the ground, his girdle was hanging loosely about him. They walked together somewhat silently, and only discovered after some time that the slow traveller was by now far ahead of them. Evidently he had not waited to hear the words of the speaker in the crowd, but had walked steadily on, and it was some time before they caught him up. When at last they did so, Amer asked him if he had heard what had been said by the orator.