Whenwehadgoneabouttwohundredyards，andstoppedtorest，IglancedtotheleftwhileIwaslightingmypipe，andinthedistancedetectedalongwormofblacksmokecrawlinglazilyupthesteepmountain。Ofcoursethatwasthelocomotive。Weproppedourselvesonourelbowsatonce，togaze，forwehadneverseenamountainrailwayyet。
Presentlywecouldmakeoutthetrain。Itseemedincrediblethatthatthingshouldcreepstraightupasharpslantliketheroofofahouse——butthereitwas，anditwasdoingthatverymiracle。
Inthecourseofacouplehourswereachedafinebreezyaltitudewherethelittleshepherdhutshadbigstonesallovertheirroofstoholdthemdowntotheearthwhenthegreatstormsrage。Thecountrywaswildandrockyabouthere，buttherewereplentyoftrees，plentyofmoss，andgrass。
Awayoffontheoppositeshoreofthelakewecouldseesomevillages，andnowforthefirsttimewecouldobservetherealdifferencebetweentheirproportionsandthoseofthegiantmountainsatwhosefeettheyslept。
Whenoneisinoneofthosevillagesitseemsspacious，anditshousesseemhighandnotoutofproportiontothemountainthatoverhandsthem——butfromouraltitude，whatachange!Themountainswerebiggerandgranderthanever，astheystoodtherethinkingtheirsolemnthoughtswiththeirheadsinthedriftingclouds，butthevillagesattheirfeet——whenthepainstakingeyecouldtracethemupandfindthem——weresoreduced，almostinvisible，andlaysoflatagainsttheground，thattheexactestsimileIcandeviseistocomparethemtoant-depositsofgranulateddirtovershadowedbythehugebulkofacathedral。Thesteamboatsskimmingalongunderthestupendousprecipiceswerediminishedbydistancetothedaintiestlittletoys，thesailboatsandrowboatstoshallopsproperforfairiesthatkeephouseinthecupsofliliesandridetocourtonthebacksofbumblebees。