"'My strength is made perfect in weakness.'" As he read, his courage returned to him, and he prepared for the effort. Fully clad in the King's armour he set his foot on the bridge, and to his comfort he noticed that right across it there was flung the shadow of a cross, and that every step he took placed him more within the shadow which wrapped him round like a wall. He was conscious at the same time of the noise of arrows whizzing fast past him. Some indeed were so well aimed as to light on his breastplate and shield, but glanced off leaving him unhurt. Others fell thick around his helmet so that he was almost deafened by their noise, and had it not been for the fact that he knew he was enwrapped by the shadow of the Cross, would so have unnerved him, that he must have fallen. For there were not only the poisoned arrows of the soldiers belonging to Spiritual Pride falling around him on every side, but there was the dark abyss below him, in which he knew the allies of Despondency and Despair were making ready and preparing for his fall. Moreover whenever he thought of them or for a moment looked down, he tottered. He found his only safety lay in looking towards the Radiant City, where dwelt his King. And whenever he directed his eyes upwards, he was conscious of a wonderful peace stealing over him, peace even in the midst of hurling darts, and the hisses of the arrows striking his armour. So full was Amer of gratitude and thanksgiving to the King for preserving him in his great danger, and so conscious of His Presence, that he had not seen a small band of pilgrims awaiting him on the other side of the bridge, and was taken quite by surprise, when, on arriving in safety on firm ground, his hands were grasped enthusiastically, and words of welcome were showered upon him. So little had he thought of his own courage or ability in passing unscathed through the darts of the enemy, and so full had he been of thoughts of his King, that when he heard the exclamations of wonder at his prowess from those who gathered around him, he began for the first time to think of his own part in the matter. The pilgrims, who had been led by a less conspicuous path, and had arrived just in time to see Amer, notwithstanding the many darts from the enemies below which were being hurled at him, calmly walking with his eyes raised towards the Radiant City across the dangerous pass, fell to praising him and congratulating him, and among their voices Amer recognised those of Belthiah and Iddo. "Dear Amer," cried Iddo, clasping his hand within hers and looking at him with eyes that shone like stars, "we are proud to call you friend. How much you must be thought of by our King to have been led by such a path, so high and so dangerous. I am glad that you are my friend." "You are an example to us all," said another. "Oh that I had more courage and more faith. We shall not forget what we have seen to-day."