But Daniel only bent his head, till his brow touched his ebony staff, and so he remained, deep in thought.
"For I also have dreamed,"-- continued Zoroaster, after a short pause,--"and my dream took hold of me, and I am sorry and full of great weariness.

Now this is the manner of my dreaming." He stopped and glanced down the great nave of the hall through the open porch at the other end.

The full glory of the red sun, just touching the western plain, streamed upon his face and made the tables, the preparations and the crowd of busy serving-men look like black shadows between him and the light.

But Daniel leaned upon his staff and spoke no word, nor moved from his position.
"I saw in my dream," said Zoroaster, "and there was darkness; and upon the winds of the night arose the sound of war, and the cry and the clash of battle, mighty men striving one with another for the mastery and the victory, which should be to the stronger.

And I saw again, and behold it was morning, and the people were led away captive, by tens, and by hundreds, and by thousands, and the maidens also and young women into a far country.