"Didn't the shepherds warn us against this fellow?" said Hopeful. "And didn't they give us a pocket map of the way?"
Thus they lay bewailing and blaming themselves in the net.
After a long time they looked up and saw a Shining One coming towards them with a whip of cords in his hand. He came up and asked them who they were and how they came to be there.
"We are pilgrims to the Celestial City," answered Christian; "but we were led out of our way by a dark man clothed in white. He told us to follow him, for he knew the way."
"The dark man was Flatterer in the garb of an angel of light," said the Shining One; and he cut the net to pieces and set the men free.
"Now follow me," said he, "and I will set you in your way again."
So he led them back to the King's highway. Then he asked them sharply,
"Did you not stay a little while with the shepherds on the Delectable Mountains?"
They answered, "We did."
"And did not one of the shepherds give you a pocket
