Angels and Women (1924)

42 ANGELS AND WOMENafter we resumed our journey; the bankswere tangled with luxuriant shrubs andvines; birds of brilliant plumage flittedamong the trees; bright lizards and spottedserpents darted in and out or lay coiledaround their trunks.When night came on, and the journey drewto a close the river became narrower and talltrees, arching over our heads, made the waysolemn and gloomy. We grew depressedand conversation died. As the red sun, likea subdued fire, sank out of sight behind thegreat forest, we approached a rock whichrose in the middle of the river."Here," said my father, "our journeyterminates. Upon this rock, which parts thestream as it issued out of the Garden, oncestood the vigilant angelic guard with swordof flame. Alas! the way of access to the Treeof Life was completely closed to a wickedworld; gi vi ng but man will yet eat of its life-leaves in the Garden of God 1 which is to be1 See Appendix, Note 7.