Ohno，theroadwastoofardistantformetohearthenoiseofanythingmovingalongit。AgainIlistened，andnowIdistinctlyheardthesoundofwheels，whichseemedtobeapproachingthedingle；nearerandnearertheydrew，andpresentlythesoundofwheelswasblendedwiththemurmurofvoices。AnonIheardaboisterousshout，whichseemedtoproceedfromtheentranceofthedingle。’Herearefolksathand，’saidI，lettingtheshaftofthecartfalltotheground；’isitpossiblethattheycanbecominghere？’Mydoubtsonthatpoint，ifIentertainedany，weresoondispelled；thewheels，whichhadceasedmovingforamomentortwo，wereonceagaininmotion，andwerenowevidentlymovingdownthewindingpathwhichledtomyretreat。Leavingmycart，Icameforwardandplacedmyselfneartheentranceoftheopenspace，withmyeyesfixedonthepathdownwhichmyunexpected，andImaysayunwelcome，visitorswerecoming。PresentlyIheardastampingorsliding，asifofahorseinsomedifficulty；thenaloudcurse，andthenextmomentappearedamanandahorseandcart；theformerholdingtheheadofthehorseuptopreventhimfromfalling，ofwhichhewasindanger，owingtotheprecipitousnatureofthepath。Whilstthusoccupied，theheadofthemanwasavertedfromme。When，however，hehadreachedthebottomofthedescent，heturnedhishead，andperceivingme，asIstoodbareheaded，withouteithercoatorwaistcoat，abouttwoyardsfromhim，hegaveasuddenstart，soviolentthatthebackwardmotionofhishandhadnearlyflungthehorseuponhishaunches。
’Whydon’tyoumoveforward？’saidavoicefrombehind，apparentlythatofafemale；’youarestoppinguptheway，andweshallbealldownupononeanother’；andIsawtheheadofanotherhorseovertoppingthebackofthecart。
’Whydon’tyoumoveforward，Jack？’saidanothervoice，alsoafemale，yethigherupthepath。
Themanstirrednot，butremainedstaringatmeintheposturewhichhehadassumedonfirstperceivingme，hisbodyverymuchdrawnback，hisleftfootfarinadvanceofhisright，andwithhisrighthandstillgraspingthehalterofthehorse，whichgavewaymoreandmore，tillitwascleandownonitshaunches。
’What’sthematter？’saidthevoicewhichIhadlastheard。