Belloc said nothing, but smoked his pipe thoughtfully in silence.

Late that afternoon, they came in sight of the old ruined mansion. At the foot of the hill lay a tarn, directly in their path. Despite the chilly breeze, the waters of the little lake, which was hardly more than a pond, were preternaturally still. It looked more like the dull surface of a mirror than anything else.

Belloc dismounted to look into its waters. His two captains joined him reluctantly.

*"There is a puzzling tale as old as antiquity told of this place," said Belloc. "It is said that the first men originated here . . . that two families came from a far place and built the mansion.

"In those days, the forest seemed to go on forever, and they called it the Great Forest. The people who lived here cleared this land, built their mansion up the hill from this small lake, and were content.

"As the tale goes, One day, the children came running back from the lake, saying that it had spoken to them; that it had told them about magic and everlasting life. The adults went to the lake to listen, but found its message difficult and enigmatic. Three of the adults, both wives and the friend of the man who allegedly set down the original tale, came here, eventually understood what the lake was saying, and disappeared into a light that rose from its depths, with the children. The remaining man was unable to believe . . . and so he was left behind.




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