“Alas, friend, your observations are too true!”

“Then my way becomes clearer.  It surely cannot be unknown to you, sagest of students, that in physical science we oppose a plenum to a vacuum, in medicine we supply a deficiency of saline secretions by the common expedient of salt.  Wherefore not apply our knowledge painfully gleaned from lower science to the study of these more complicated phenomena?  The coward who would flee the fire of the enemy may be kept at his post by the equal dread of death from his commander.  Open a double fire upon these wayward youths.  Make the Barbarians enlist in the Roman legions.  In short, teach Haguna and the others philosophy.  There will then no longer be an opposing force of entirely different nature, but merely an influence of the same kind as he has been accustomed to, though vastly inferior in power.”

The philosopher started,—­the idea was so new to him.

“But, my friend,” he urged, doubtfully, “do you not remember, that, after the Romans had painfully learnt ship-building from the Carthaginians, they vanquished them with their own weapons?  Might not some such danger be apprehended in this case?”

His companion reddened with indignation, then spoke in a tone of mildly severe rebuke.

“Are the girls Romans?  Do you suppose that in ship-building the silly little things would ever advance beyond scows?  We shall have the double advantage of the plenum, by their minds being turned in the same direction as those of our students,—­and of the defeat and shipwreck, through fighting in unseaworthy vessels.”

“I have another idea also,” observed the philosopher.  “Even supposing, as I must confess there seems to me a possibility, that in a philosophical tournament, or trial of wits, they should occasionally come off victorious,” (his friend shook his head angrily,) “the effect of separation that we desire would still be obtained.  Haguna would no longer be able to entangle silly boys in her treacherous hair.  Your suggestion is good; I will act upon it.”

After some deliberation, they agreed upon the method of procedure, which the philosopher immediately began to put into practice.

Shortly after this conversation, invitations were sent to a select number of the inhabitants of the city to a new kind of entertainment to be given by the recluse philosopher of the mountain.  The entertainment was to consist of astronomical and chemical exhibitions; the infinitely great and infinitesimally little were to be conjoined to form an evening’s amusement.  Such was the programme; and the eager curiosity of the select few who were invited brought them punctually to the philosopher’s eyry.  Haguna of course was there,—­as unconsciously lovely as if the disappearance of the unfortunate Anthrops were as much a mystery to her as to the rest of the wondering citizens.  The philosopher, laying aside the brusqueness acquired in his solitude, devoted himself with the