They felt that he was but a bird of passage, that it lay not within their power to keep him for ever amongst them, and each day that they looked on his guileless face and on the light that kindled in his eye, was a gift from on high, a day of blessing and plenty.
Eric could not explain why he remained, neither did he know why all of a sudden, one day of calm and gladness, he felt he must take up again the call of the road that lay before him.
It was on a distant and lonely shore; the boat lay drawn up on the shell-covered beach.
The golden-haired youth looked up into the sky and saw a small bird flying into the limitless distance.
Then Eric knew that he must follow the direction in which the bird had disappeared.
They could not stop him, he had to go. He took his thick stick in his hand, put his flute in his pocket, hung his cloak over his shoulder; then, turning round many a time to wave his cap to the rough companions of yesterday, he walked away into the growing heat of the day.
VII
Yet there was round thee such a dawn of light ne'er seen before.
Wolfe.