But on lifting his eyes towards the Radiant City he noticed that it was very indistinct. Moreover, though the fruit had seemed to give him a filip for a time, he had not walked far before he became conscious that his footsteps flagged. Was it his fancy that again he heard the voice singing in the distance? "Watch, as if on that alone, Hung the issue of the day, Pray that help may be sent down, Watch and pray." But Self still walked by his side and Amer found him no dull company. They had much to say to one another and many discussions. Sometimes Amer seemed to get the better of him, at other times his companion argued so forcibly that the lad saw matters in his light and acted accordingly, and all the while the Radiant City became more and more indistinct to him; his armour which hung about him was ill kept and his sword grew rusty. It was after having a long discussion with Self that Amer heard a cry as of pain, and on looking up a glade he saw an elderly man lying prone on the ground, having caught his foot in a root of a tree. His ankle was so sprained that he could not lift himself up, and Amer made a movement as if to go to his aid. But Self plucked him by the sleeve, saying, "It is almost a pity that you should take the trouble to help him, he is old enough to take care of himself, and should have known better than to have tripped. You have your own business to attend to; besides while you are in Achshaph I want you to see all that is to be seen and to enjoy yourself. Listen! Do you hear that music?" And suddenly Amer heard the most entrancing music, as down a green path, bordered with flowering shrubs, came a troop of men and maidens playing some kind of wind instrument, which made music such as the lad had never heard before. "Sit down and listen," suggested Self, and Amer, fascinated and enthralled, obeyed, oblivious of the fact that he had wandered out of the beaten track, which had he followed would have led him to the spot where the fallen man lay, and unconscious that the Radiant City was now out of sight. Resting there under the green trees, soothed and enervated by the entrancing music, Amer almost forgot the journey to the Radiant City, the fight, the dangers of the way, and could think of little save the flowers, the fruit, the music and the beautiful inhabitants of the Land of Enchantment. And all the time that Self clamoured to be heard, filling his outward senses with dreams of delight, grim Doubt stalked invisible by his side, flinging every now and then darts into his mind.