The Dreamer of Dreams

me like a s

eri

ng colours. Eric Gundian sat at the helm of the boat, his hands folded, gazing before him at the burning horizon; above him the huge rusty sail spread like the giant wing of a bird. The boat moved slowly, and yet it cu

s colours, all the tones of red and gold and oran

t was still keenly alive, and this beauty and pe

talent slept, awaiting the day when his han

e simple, and his smil

till the whole moving mass was an ocean of flame and light; the little waves that ran

his clear young voice, and sang an old song of his country, a song so strange and sweet, that the sailors behind him too

; they had the feeling that with his youth and beauty he was the very incarnation of life and love. Now his voice was soft

their hands; each saw before his mind the dreams of his manhood, the love

lection remained; the wind began to fill the sai

light; his dark form at the helm of the boa

th the friendly vessel, but more like great angry beasts longing to consume

burst; and the seamen tightened the cords, bein

ay; his bright young eyes peered be

lights and shadows over the fairness of his face. The boat bounded and creaked and groaned; the wind began to howl, frigh

on the ropes so as not to be hurled into the restless, surging, wailing deep-to him this growing storm was a mighty joy; he revelled in the wind

ks of the birds, the flashing of their white wings when they came within the halo,

the strong boards on which he stood,-above all he t

er way through the foaming masses, till the morning slowly overcame the darkness, bringing with th

ongings, brought tears to their eyes, or a laugh to their lips. But at times he would also play his little flute; then, all else vanished from his mind, and always,

sence calmed the storm and had power over the elements, that his wonderful voice and magic flute enchanted the striving, ever-changing win

him for ever amongst them, and each day that they looked on his guileless face and on

why all of a sudden, one day of calm and gladness, he felt h

y shore; the boat lay drawn u

into the sky and saw a small bird

follow the direction in wh

n his pocket, hung his cloak over his shoulder; then, turning round many a time to wave his