No sooner did Amer see the armour than he began to don it.
"It must never on any account be laid aside," said the Ambassador, "the great enemy is on the watch, and if ever you lay it aside he will take advantage of you."
"What is the enemy like?" asked Amer earnestly, "and what is his name?"
"His name is the Devil," answered the Ambassador, "and his servants are legion. It is not very likely that you will have to confront the Devil himself, as you are too small and insignificant. But should you grow into a very useful and powerful servant of the Great King, should you in the future fight many of His enemies and give help on the road to many of His servants, it is possible that the great enemy may attack you in person, and then woe to you if your sword has grown rusty, or if you are not wearing your armour."
"Will the road become more difficult and more dangerous as I near the Radiant City?" asked Amer.
"I do not know. Everyone is not led in exactly the same path, even though they are all going to the Radiant City, and so in the same direction. Some, I think, have their worst fights at the beginning, others in the middle of their course, some are fighting up to the very end, even as they cross the river. But I think, probably, it is the best soldiers and the most valiant who have to fight then. The great enemy will not leave them alone, and makes every effort to prevent them crossing into the Radiant City; the more valiant the soldier the harder the fight."
"I mean to be a valiant soldier, and will never turn my back to the foe," said Amer.
"My son," answered the Ambassador, "be on the watch! I already see an enemy in the long grass close at your side, although you perceive him not his name is Boastful. He does not look formidable, and is so small that you may be inclined to despise him."
Amer smiled incredulously, but before he had turned round to look behind him, he felt a knock on his shoulder which gave him pain, and in a minute he was lying prone on the ground, while a small creature stood a few yards in front of him grinning at him triumphantly.
Amer sprang up dismayed and ashamed of having been so easily overcome by such an insignificant enemy, but when once on his feet he found he was alone. He remembered then that he had been struck on the back, and that there was no armour provided for the back. He pondered over this, and the next time he met the Ambassador he asked him how this was.