He rose and looked at himself in the water, and there was not a gray hair on his head or a wrinkle on his skin.
"You have tasted of death now," said the old man. "Is it good?"
"It is good," said Mossy. "It is better than life."
"No, said the old man: it is only more life.—Your feet will make no holes in the water now."
"What do you mean?"
"I will show you that presently."
They returned to the outer cave, and sat and talked together for a long time. At length the Old Man of the Sea rose, and said to Mossy,—
"Follow me."
He led him up the stair again, and opened another door. They stood on the level of the raging sea, looking towards the east. Across the waste of waters, against the bosom of a fierce black cloud, stood the foot of a rainbow, glowing in the dark.
"This indeed is my way," said Mossy, as soon as he saw the rainbow, and stepped out upon the sea. His feet made no holes in the water. He fought the wind, and clomb the waves, and went on towards the rainbow.