It was as white and drawn as if he had been tortured by the rack and thumbscrew, so he made no answer for the moment.

But when the fire was kindled, and they had supped the broth set out in steaming bowls upon the table, he ventured on a word of cheer.
"At any rate," he said, "for one whole day thou hast kept thy oath.

No matter what the anguish that it cost thee, from sunrise till sunsetting thou hast held Despair at bay.

It was the bravest stand that thou hast ever made.

And now, if thou hast lived through this one day, why not another?
'Tis only one hour at a time that thou art called on to endure.
Come! By the bloodstone that is thy birthright, pledge me anew thou'lt keep thy oath until the going down of one more sun." So Aldebaran pledged him one more day, and after that another and another, until a fortnight slowly dragged itself away.