Rewards and Fairies - Penn State University

Rudyard Kipling
are our Gods), their Priestess said, “The God needs a proof that At this Dan put his hand over one eye, and reached for the
your words are true.” I said, “What is the proof?” She said, flint arrow-head on the grass. He missed it by inches. ‘It’s
“The God says that if you have come for the sake of your true,’ he whispered to Una. ‘You can’t judge distances a bit
people you will give him your right eye to be put out; but if with only one eye.’
you have come for any other reason you will not give it. This Puck was evidently making the same experiment, for the
proof is between you and the God. We ourselves are sorry.” man laughed at him.
‘I said, “This is a hard proof. Is there no other road?” ‘I know it is so,’ said he. ‘Even now I am not always sure of
‘She said, “Yes. You can go back to your people with your my blow. I stayed with the Children of the Night till my eye
two eyes in your head if you choose. But then you will not healed. They said I was the son of Tyr, the God who put his
get any Magic Knives for your people.”
right hand in a Beast’s mouth. They showed me how they
‘I said, “It would be easier if I knew that I were to be killed.” melted their red stone and made the Magic Knives of it. They
‘She said, “Perhaps the God knew this too. See! I have made told me the charms they sang over the fires and at the beatings.
my knife hot.”
I can sing many charms.’ Then he began to laugh like a boy.
‘I said, “Be quick, then!” With her knife heated in the flame ‘I was thinking of my journey home,’ he said, ‘and of the
she put out my right eye. She herself did it. I am the son of a surprised Beast. He had come back to the Chalk. I saw him—
Priestess. She was a Priestess. It was not work for any com- I smelt his lairs as soon as ever I left the Trees. He did not
mon man.’
know I had the Magic Knife—I hid it under my cloak—the
‘True! Most true,’ said Puck. ‘No common man’s work Knife that the Priestess gave me. Ho! Ho! That happy day
that. And, afterwards?’
was too short! See! A Beast would wind me. “Wow!” he would
‘Afterwards I did not see out of that eye any more. I found also say. “Here is my Flint-worker!” He would come leaping, tail
that a one eye does not tell you truly where things are. Try it!’ in air; he would roll; he would lay his head between his paws
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