"Listen to the words of the Great King," he said:—
"'The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.'"
"'This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.' 'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.' 'Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.'"
At these wonderful words Amer looked up with joy, and though he was sad at the thought that he might never see the Ambassador again till he met him in the Radiant City, he renewed his journey with hope and confidence.
Looking towards the East he noticed how brightly the Radiant City shone, and for a long time he kept his eyes continually upon it and often sang for very gladness of heart.
The loneliness of the way was scarcely noticed by him at this time as he was so full of the Good News that the King was ever with him.
His path took him up a very steep hill. But so great was his joy that he did not notice its steepness. About half-way up the hill, Temper met him. Amer looking him sternly in the face was struck with his ugliness.
"Come now," he said, "I will have nothing to do with you. I have in the past had too much of your company, but from this day I will have none of you. Be gone," and drawing out his sword manfully he saw, to his joy, Temper make a hasty retreat. But the enemy was not going to let him off so easily, and met him further up the hill. Amer however was on the look-out for him, so that he could not get near enough to strike the young soldier, and after awhile, growing tired of waiting for an unwatched moment, he clattered back to where he came from with a surly countenance and a threat that he would have his revenge later.
Full of triumph at his victories, Amer went forward, congratulating himself that he was growing a brave soldier, and that he was able to overcome the enemy. After a while he looked again at the Radiant City, and was rather surprised that a thin veil seemed to be between it and him.
However he did not take much notice of this but sang lustily in exultation.