(Pause.
Voice (calling from below): Ho!
(Echo.
The Second Subaltern (bending over the precipice): There is someone below who signals that he wishes to come up.
The Standard Bearer: Make fast the tackle.
Lower away the cord.
(They do as he says. The cord runs out. Then the soldiers pull it up and after a time an armed man appears hanging from the rope. He comes to the ground.
The Standard Bearer: Who are you, O man that rises from the depths?
The Messenger: Prostrate yourselves before me, for on my tongue sits death!
I will tell you what I saw, and why I fled and could not stay where I was, and called to you to draw me up to this place and not to leave me below.