"How was it," asked a third, "that you walked so straight and did not falter? I know few who could have crossed unscathed as you have done. The height alone is enough to have made any man giddy and lose his head." "It was no doing of mine," said Amer, but the praise was sweet to him. He had not seen some half-dozen of the soldiers of Spiritual Pride, having been foiled of their endeavour to bring him to ruin while crossing the bridge, leave their posts and begin hurriedly to scale the rocks so as to meet him as he landed in safety on the other side; and he did not know that the thoughts which began to course through his mind at the words of his friends, were in reality small poisoned darts thrown by these same enemies. Meanwhile he stood listening to his new and old friends' congratulations, with a sense of pleasure: and so well did his enemies do their work that he gradually began to talk to his friends of his sensations when on the bridge, and with a comfortable sense of superiority gave helpful advice, as he thought, to those around him who might be called upon to endure a similar experience. Indeed he began to think of himself as a hero, and as his path lay for some time in the same direction as that of many of the pilgrims, he found himself listening with interested attention to the talk of some who were behind him and who were making him the subject of their conversation. In fact he became greedy of human praise, and was quite vexed with one of the pilgrims who had all the time maintained silence. This pilgrim was a man some years older than Amer, who often looked at him earnestly but did not add one word of praise to those which were being showered upon him. Amer noticed too, with chagrin, that this man took pains to walk continually by his side, which effectually prevented others, who were greater admirers, from getting near him. At last so earnest was the man's look and so grave, that Amer felt impelled to enquire as to its cause. "Friend," he said, "may I know your thoughts?" "I will give them if you wish," was the answer, "but I fear they will not be such as you are accustomed to hearing. Nevertheless, I take such an interest in you and am so anxious that you should in no wise disappoint our King, that should you desire it I will tell you what is in my mind." Amer, having by this time become accustomed to praise, changed countenance, and an expression which till now had been foreign to his face crossed it, but he answered, "I am ready to hear." "It is sad," said the man slowly, "how one pilgrim can hinder another. These fellow soldiers around us have, it seems to me, been used by the enemy to your hurt." "Indeed?" said Amer, coldly. "Friend," continued the man, "you did not see what I saw, the soldiers of Spiritual Pride scaling the cliffs and take their position by your side." Amer looked round sharply. "I see no sign of them," he said.