Iturnedthentotheother:thereweretheshapesoftheformervision——distinguishableindeed,buttremulouslikealandscapeinapoolruffledby\"asmallpiplingwind！\"Itouchedtheglass;itwasimpermeable。
Suspectingpolarisationasthethingrequired,Ishiftedandshiftedthemirrors,changingtheirrelation,untilatlast,inagreatdegree,sofarasIwasconcerned,bychance,thingscamerightbetweenthem,andIsawthemountainsblueandsteadyandclear。I
steppedforward,andmyfeetwereamongtheheather。
AllIknewofthewaytothecottagewasthatwehadgonethroughapine—forest。Ipassedthroughmanythicketsandseveralsmallfir—woods,continuallyfancyingafreshthatIrecognisedsomethingofthecountry;butIhadcomeuponnoforest,andnowthesunwasnearthehorizon,andtheairhadbeguntogrowchillwiththecomingwinter,when,tomydelight,Isawalittleblackobjectcomingtowardme:itwasindeedtheraven！
Ihastenedtomeethim。
\"Ibegyourpardon,sir,formyrudenesslastnight,\"Isaid。\"Willyoutakemewithyounow？IheartilyconfessIdonotdeserveit。\"
\"Ah！\"hereturned,andlookedup。Then,afterabriefpause,\"Mywifedoesnotexpectyouto—night,\"hesaid。\"Sheregretsthatweatallencouragedyourstayinglastweek。\"
\"TakemetoherthatImaytellherhowsorryIam,\"Ibeggedhumbly。
\"Itisofnouse,\"heanswered。\"Yournightwasnotcomethen,oryouwouldnothaveleftus。Itisnotcomenow,andIcannotshowyoutheway。Thedeadwererejoicingundertheirdaisies——theyalllieamongtherootsoftheflowersofheaven——atthethoughtofyourdelightwhenthewintershouldbepast,andthemorningwithitsbirdscome:ereyouleftthem,theyshiveredintheirbeds。
Whenthespringoftheuniversearrives,——butthatcannotbeforagesyet！howmany,Idonotknow——anddonotcaretoknow。\"
\"Tellmeonething,Ibegofyou,Mr。Raven:ismyfatherwithyou？Haveyouseenhimsincehelefttheworld？\"
\"Yes;heiswithus,fastasleep。Thatwasheyousawwithhisarmonthecoverlet,hishandhalfclosed。\"
\"Whydidyounottellme？ThatIshouldhavebeensonearhim,andnotknow！\"
\"Andturnyourbackonhim！\"correctedtheraven。
\"IwouldhavelaindownatoncehadIknown！\"
\"Idoubtit。Hadyoubeenreadytoliedown,youwouldhaveknownhim！——OldSirUp\'ard,\"hewenton,\"andyourtwicegreat—grandfather,bothareupandawaylongago。Yourgreat—grandfatherhasbeenwithusformanyayear;Ithinkhewillsoonbegintostir。Yousawhimlastnight,thoughofcourseyoudidnotknowhim。\"
\"WhyOFCOURSE？\"
\"Becauseheissomuchnearerwakingthanyou。Noonewhowillnotsleepcaneverwake。\"
\"Idonotatallunderstandyou！\"
\"Youturnedaway,andwouldnotunderstand！\"
Iheldmypeace。——ButifIdidnotsaysomething,hewouldgo！
\"Andmygrandfather——ishealsowithyou？\"Iasked。
\"No;heisstillintheEvilWood,fightingthedead。\"
\"WhereistheEvilWood,thatImayfindhim？\"
\"Youwillnotfindhim;butyouwillhardlymissthewood。Itistheplacewherethosewhowillnotsleep,wakeupatnight,tokilltheirdeadandburythem。\"
\"Icannotunderstandyou！\"
\"Naturallynot。NeitherdoIunderstandyou;Icanreadneitheryourheartnoryourface。WhenmywifeandIdonotunderstandourchildren,itisbecausethereisnotenoughofthemtobeunderstood。Godalonecanunderstandfoolishness。\"
\"Then,\"Isaid,feelingnakedandveryworthless,\"willyoubesogoodasshowmethenearestwayhome？Therearemorewaysthanone,Iknow,forIhavegonebytwoalready。\"
\"Thereareindeedmanyways。\"
\"Tellme,please,howtorecognisethenearest。\"
\"Icannot,\"answeredtheraven;\"youandIusethesamewordswithdifferentmeanings。WeareoftenunabletotellpeoplewhattheyNEEDtoknow,becausetheyWANTtoknowsomethingelse,andwouldthereforeonlymisunderstandwhatwesaid。Homeiseversofarawayinthepalmofyourhand,andhowtogetthereitisofnousetotellyou。Butyouwillgetthere;youmustgetthere;youhavetogetthere。Everybodywhoisnotathome,hastogohome。YouthoughtyouwereathomewhereIfoundyou:ifthathadbeenyourhome,youcouldnothaveleftit。Nobodycanleavehome。Andnobodyeverwasoreverwillbeathomewithouthavinggonethere。\"
\"Enigmatreadingonenigma！\"Iexclaimed。\"Ididnotcomeheretobeaskedriddles。\"
\"No;butyoucame,andfoundtheriddleswaitingforyou！Indeedyouareyourselftheonlyriddle。Whatyoucallriddlesaretruths,andseemriddlesbecauseyouarenottrue。\"
\"Worseandworse！\"Icried。
\"AndyouMUSTanswertheriddles！\"hecontinued。\"Theywillgoonaskingthemselvesuntilyouunderstandyourself。Theuniverseisariddletryingtogetout,andyouareholdingyourdoorhardagainstit。\"
\"WillyounotinpitytellmewhatIamtodo——whereImustgo？\"
\"HowshouldItellYOURto—do,orthewaytoit？\"
\"IfIamnottogohome,atleastdirectmetosomeofmykind。\"
\"Idonotknowofany。Thebeingsmostlikeyouareinthatdirection。\"
Hepointedwithhisbeak。Icouldseenothingbutthesettingsun,whichblindedme。
\"Well,\"Isaidbitterly,\"Icannothelpfeelinghardlytreated——takenfrommyhome,abandonedinastrangeworld,andrefusedinstructionastowhereIamtogoorwhatIamtodo！\"
\"Youforget,\"saidtheraven,\"that,whenIbroughtyouandyoudeclinedmyhospitality,youreachedwhatyoucallhomeinsafety:
nowyouarecomeofyourself！Goodnight。\"
Heturnedandwalkedslowlyaway,withhisbeaktowardtheground。
Istooddazed。ItwastrueIhadcomeofmyself,buthadInotcomewithintentofatonement？Myheartwassore,andinmybrainwasneitherquestnorpurpose,hopenordesire。Igazedaftertheraven,andwouldhavefollowedhim,butfeltituseless。
Allatoncehepouncedonaspot,throwingthewholeweightofhisbodyonhisbill,andforsomemomentsdugvigorously。Thenwithaflutterofhiswingshethrewbackhishead,andsomethingshotfromhisbill,casthighintheair。Thatmomentthesunset,andtheairatoncegrewverydusk,butthesomethingopenedintoasoftradiance,andcamepulsingtowardmelikeafire—fly,butwithamuchlargerandayellowerlight。Itflewovermyhead。Iturnedandfollowedit。
HereIinterruptmynarrativetoremarkthatitinvolvesaconstantstruggletosaywhatcannotbesaidwithevenanapproachtoprecision,thethingsrecordedbeing,intheirnatureandinthatofthecreaturesconcernedinthem,soinexpressiblydifferentfromanypossibleeventsofthiseconomy,thatIcanpresentthemonlybygiving,intheformsandlanguageoflifeinthisworld,themodesinwhichtheyaffectedme——notthethingsthemselves,butthefeelingstheywokeinme。Eventhismuch,however,Idowithacontinuousandabidingsenseoffailure,findingitimpossibletopresentmorethanonephaseofamultitudinouslycomplicatedsignificance,oroneconcentricsphereofagraduatedembodiment。
Asinglethingwouldsometimesseemtobeandmeanmanythings,withanuncertainidentityattheheartofthem,whichkeptconstantlyalteringtheirlook。IamindeedoftendriventosetdownwhatI
knowtobebutaclumsyanddoubtfulrepresentationofthemerefeelingaimedat,noneofthecommunicatingmediaofthisworldbeingfittoconveyit,initspeculiarstrangeness,withevenanapproachtoclearnessorcertainty。Eventoonewhoknewtheregionbetterthanmyself,Ishouldhavenoassuranceoftransmittingtherealityofmyexperienceinit。Whilewithoutadoubt,forinstance,thatIwasactuallyregardingasceneofactivity,Imightbe,atthesamemoment,inmyconsciousnessawarethatIwasperusingametaphysicalargument。
CHAPTERX
THEBADBURROW
Astheairgrewblackandthewinterclosedswiftlyaroundme,theflutteringfireblazedoutmoreluminous,andarrestingitsflight,hoveredwaiting。SosoonasIcameunderitsradiance,itflewslowlyon,lingeringnowandthenabovespotswherethegroundwasrocky。EverytimeIlookedup,itseemedtohavegrownlarger,andatlengthgavemeanattendantshadow。Plainlyabird—butterfly,itflewwithacertainswallowydouble。Itswingswereverylarge,nearlysquare,andflashedallthecoloursoftherainbow。Wonderingattheirsplendour,IbecamesoabsorbedintheirbeautythatI
stumbledoveralowrock,andlaystunned。WhenIcametomyself,thecreaturewashoveringovermyhead,radiatingthewholechordoflight,withmultitudinousgradationsandsomekindsofcolourI
hadneverbeforeseen。Iroseandwenton,but,unabletotakemyeyesofftheshiningthingtolooktomysteps,Istruckmyfootagainstastone。Fearingthenanotherfall,Isatdowntowatchthelittleglory,andagreatlongingawokeinmetohaveitinmyhand。Tomyunspeakabledelight,itbegantosinktowardme。Slowlyatfirst,thenswiftlyitsank,growinglargerasitcamenearer。
Ifeltasifthetreasureoftheuniverseweregivingitselftome——
putoutmyhand,andhadit。ButtheinstantItookit,itslightwentout;allwasdarkaspitch;adeadbookwithboardsoutspreadlaycoldandheavyinmyhand。Ithrewitintheair——onlytohearitfallamongtheheather。Buryingmyfaceinmyhands,Isatinmotionlessmisery。
Butthecoldgrewsobitterthat,fearingtobefrozen,Igotup。
ThemomentIwasonmyfeet,afaintsenseoflightawokeinme。
\"Isitcomingtolife？\"Icried,andagreatpangofhopeshotthroughme。Alas,no！itwastheedgeofamoonpeeringupkeenandsharpoveralevelhorizon！Shebroughtmelight——butnoguidance！SHEwouldnothoveroverme,wouldnotwaitonmyfalteringsteps！Shecouldbutoffermeanignorantchoice！
Withafullfacesherose,andIbegantoseealittleaboutme。
Westwardofher,andnotfarfromme,arangeoflowhillsbrokethehorizon—line:Isetoutforit。
ButwhatanightIhadtopassereIreachedit！Themoonseemedtoknowsomething,forshestaredatmeoddly。Herlookwasindeedicy—cold,butfullofinterest,oratleastcuriosity。ShewasnotthesamemoonIhadknownontheearth;herfacewasstrangetome,andherlightyetstranger。Perhapsitcamefromanunknownsun！
EverytimeIlookedup,Ifoundherstaringatmewithallhermight！
AtfirstIwasannoyed,asattherudenessofafellowcreature;butsoonIsaworfanciedacertainwonderingpityinhergaze:whywasIoutinhernight？ThenfirstIknewwhatanawfulthingitwastobeawakeintheuniverse:IWAS,andcouldnothelpit！
AsIwalked,myfeetlosttheheather,andtrodabarespongysoil,somethinglikedry,powderypeat。Tomydismayitgaveamomentaryheaveunderme;thenpresentlyIsawwhatseemedtherippleofanearthquakerunningonbeforeme,shadowyinthelowmoon。Itpassedintothedistance;but,whileyetIstaredafterit,asinglewaveroseup,andcameslowlytowardme。Ayardortwoawayitburst,andfromit,withascrambleandabound,issuedananimallikeatiger。Abouthismouthandearshungclotsofmould,andhiseyeswinkedandflamedasherushedatme,showinghiswhiteteethinasoundlesssnarl。Istoodfascinated,unconsciousofeithercourageorfear。Heturnedhisheadtotheground,andplungedintoit。
\"Thatmoonisaffectingmybrain,\"IsaidasIresumedmyjourney。
\"Whatlifecanbeherebutthephantasmic——thestuffofwhichdreamsaremade？Iamindeedwalkinginavainshow！\"
ThusIstrovetokeepmyheartabovethewatersoffear,norknewthatshewhomIdistrustedwasindeedmydefencefromtherealitiesItookforphantoms:herlightcontrolledthemonsters,elsehadIscarcetakenasecondsteponthehideousground。\"Iwillnotbeappalledbythatwhichonlyseems！\"Isaidtomyself,yetfeltitaterriblethingtowalkonaseawheresuchfishesdisportedthemselvesbelow。Withthat,asteportwofromme,theheadofawormbegantocomeslowlyoutoftheearth,asbigasthatofapolarbearandmuchresemblingit,withawhitemanetoitsredneck。
Thedrawingwriggleswithwhichitshugelengthextricateditselfwerehorrible,yetIdarednotturnmyeyesfromthem。Themomentitstailwasfree,itlayasifexhausted,wallowinginfeebleefforttoburrowagain。
\"Doesitliveonthedead,\"Iwondered,\"andisitunabletohurttheliving？Iftheyscenttheirpreyandcomeout,whydotheyleavemeunharmed？\"
Iknownowitwasthatthemoonparalysedthem。
AllthenightthroughasIwalked,hideouscreatures,notwoalike,threatenedme。Insomeofthem,beautyofcolourenhancedloathlinessofshape:onelargeserpentwascoveredfromheadtodistanttailwithfeathersofglorioushues。
IbecameatlengthsoaccustomedtotheirhurtlessmenacesthatI
felltobeguilingthewaywiththeinventionofmonstrosities,neversuspectingthatIowedeachmomentoflifetothestaringmoon。
Thoughherswasnoprimalradiance,itsohamperedtheevilthings,thatIwalkedinsafety。Forlightisyetlight,ifbutthelastofacountlessseriesofreflections！Howswiftlywouldnotmyfeethavecarriedmeovertherestlesssoil,hadIknownthat,ifstillwithintheirrangewhenherlampceasedtoshineonthecursedspot,Ishouldthatmomentbeatthemercyofsuchashadnomercy,thecentreofawrithingheapofhideousness,everyindividualofitasterribleasbeforeithadbutseemed！Foolofignorance,Iwatchedthedescentoftheweary,solemn,anxiousmoondownthewideningvaultaboveme,withnoworseuneasinessthanthedreadoflosingmyway——whereasyetIhadindeednowaytolose。
IwasdrawingnearthehillsIhadmademygoal,andshewasnownotfarfromtheirsky—line,whenthesoundlesswallowingceased,andtheburrowlaymotionlessandbare。ThenIsaw,slowlywalkingoverthelightsoil,theformofawoman。Awhitemistfloatedabouther,nowassuming,nowlosingtoreassumetheshapeofagarment,asitgatheredtoherorwasblownfromherbyawindthatdoggedhersteps。
Shewasbeautiful,butwithsuchaprideatonceandmiseryonhercountenancethatIcouldhardlybelievewhatyetIsaw。Upanddownshewalked,vainlyendeavouringtolayholdofthemistandwrapitaroundher。Theeyesinthebeautifulfaceweredead,andonherleftsidewasadarkspot,againstwhichshewouldnowandthenpressherhand,asiftostiflepainorsickness。Herhairhungnearlytoherfeet,andsometimesthewindwouldsomixitwiththemistthatIcouldnotdistinguishtheonefromtheother;butwhenitfellgatheringtogetheragain,itshoneapalegoldinthemoonlight。
Suddenlypressingbothhandsonherheart,shefelltotheground,andthemistrosefromherandmeltedintheair。Irantoher。
ButshebegantowritheinsuchtorturethatIstoodaghast。A
momentmoreandherlegs,hurryingfromherbody,spedawayserpents。
>Fromhershouldersfledherarmsasinterror,serpentsalso。Thensomethingflewupfromherlikeabat,andwhenIlookedagain,shewasgone。Thegroundroseliketheseainastorm;terrorlaidholduponme;Iturnedtothehillsandran。
Iwasalreadyontheslopeoftheirbase,whenthemoonsankbehindoneoftheirsummits,leavingmeinitsshadow。Behindmeroseawasteandsickeningcry,asoffrustratedesire——theonlysoundI
hadheardsincethefallofthedeadbutterfly;itmademyheartshakelikeaflaginthewind。Iturned,sawmanydarkobjectsboundingafterme,andmadeforthecrestofaridgeonwhichthemoonstillshone。SheseemedtolingertherethatImightseetodefendmyself。SoonIcameinsightofher,andclimbedthefaster。
Crossingtheshadowofarock,Iheardthecreaturespantingatmyheels。Butjustastheforemostthrewhimselfuponmewithasnarlofgreedyhate,werushedintothemoontogether。Sheflashedoutanangrylight,andhefellfrommeabodilessblotch。Strengthcametome,andIturnedontherest。Butonebyoneastheydartedintothelight,theydroppedwithahowl;andIsaworfanciedastrangesmileontheroundfaceaboveme。
Iclimbedtothetopoftheridge:farawayshonethemoon,sinkingtoalowhorizon。Theairwaspureandstrong。Idescendedalittleway,founditwarmer,andsatdowntowaitthedawn。
Themoonwentbelow,andtheworldagainwasdark。
CHAPTERXI
THEEVILWOOD
Ifellfastasleep,andwhenIwokethesunwasrising。Iwenttothetopagain,andlookedback:thehollowIhadcrossedinthemoonlightlaywithoutsignoflife。Coulditbethatthecalmexpansebeforemeswarmedwithcreaturesofdevouringgreed？
Iturnedandlookedoverthelandthroughwhichmywaymustlie。Itseemedawidedesert,withapatchofadifferentcolourinthedistancethatmightbeaforest。Signofpresence,humanoranimal,wasnone——smokeordustorshadowofcultivation。Notacloudfloatedintheclearheaven;nothinnesthazecurtainedanysegmentofitscirclingrim。
Idescended,andsetoutfortheimaginableforest:somethingalivemightbethere;onthissideofitcouldnotwellbeanything！
WhenIreachedtheplain,Ifoundit,asfarasmysightcouldgo,ofrock,hereflatandchanneled,therehumpedandpinnacled——
evidentlythewidebedofavanishedriver,scoredbyinnumerablewater—runs,withoutatraceofmoistureinthem。Someofthechannelsboreadrymoss,andsomeoftherocksafewlichensalmostashardasthemselves。Theair,once\"filledwithpleasantnoiseofwaters,\"
wassilentasdeath。Ittookmethewholedaytoreachthepatch,——
whichIfoundindeedaforest——butnotarudimentofbrookorrunnelhadIcrossed！YetthroughtheglowingnoonIseemedhauntedbyanauralmirage,hearingsoplainlythevoiceofmanywatersthatI
couldhardlybelievetheopposingtestimonyofmyeyes。
ThesunwasapproachingthehorizonwhenIlefttheriver—bed,andenteredtheforest。Sunkbelowthetree—tops,andsendinghisraysbetweentheirpillar—likeboles,herevealedaworldofblessedshadowswaitingtoreceiveme。Ihadexpectedapine—wood,buthereweretreesofmanysorts,somewithstrongresemblancestotreesIknew,otherswithmarvellousdifferencesfromanyIhadeverseen。Ithrewmyselfbeneaththeboughsofwhatseemedaeucalyptusinblossom:itsflowershadahardcalyxmuchresemblingaskull,thetopofwhichroselikealidtoletthefroth—likebloom—brainoverfoamitscup。Frombeneaththeshadowofitsfalchion—leavesmyeyeswentwanderingintodeepafterdeepoftheforest。
Soon,however,itsdoorsandwindowsbegantoclose,shuttingupaisleandcorridorandroomierglade。Thenightwasaboutme,andinstantandsharpthecold。AgainwhatanightIfoundit！HowshallImakemyreadersharewithmeitswildghostiness？
ThetreeunderwhichIlayrosehighbeforeitbranched,buttheboughsofitbentsolowthattheyseemedreadytoshutmeinasIleanedagainstthesmoothstem,andletmyeyeswanderthroughthebrieftwilightofthevanishingforest。Presently,tomylistlessrovinggaze,thevariedoutlinesoftheclumpyfoliagebegantoassumeorimitate——sayratherSUGGESTothershapesthantheirown。Alightwindbegantoblow;itsettheboughsofaneighbourtreerocking,andalltheirbranchesaswing,everytwigandeveryleafblendingitsindividualmotionwiththeswayofitsbranchandtherockofitsbough。Amongitsleafyshapeswasapackofwolvesthatstruggledtobreakfromawizard\'sleash:
greyhoundswouldnothavestrainedsosavagely！Iwatchedthemwithaninterestthatgrewasthewindgatheredforce,andtheirmotionslife。
Anothermassoffoliage,largerandmorecompact,presentedmyfancywithagroupofhorses\'headsandforequartersprojectingcaparisonedfromtheirstalls。Theirneckskeptmovingupanddown,withanimpatiencethataugmentedasthegrowingwindbroketheirverticalrhythmwithawilderswayingfromsidetoside。Whatheadstheywere！howgaunt,howstrange！——severalofthembareskulls——onewiththeskintightonitsbones！Onehadlosttheunderjawandhunglow,lookingunutterablyweary——butnowandthenhovehighasiftoeasethebit。Abovethem,attheendofabranch,floatederecttheformofawoman,wavingherarmsinimperiousgesture。Thedefinitenessoftheseandotherleafmassesfirstsurprisedandthendiscomposedme:whatiftheyshouldoverpowermybrainwithseemingreality？Butthetwilightbecamedarkness;
thewindceased;everyshapewasshutupinthenight;Ifellasleep。
ItwasstilldarkwhenIbegantobeawareofafar—off,confused,rushingnoise,mingledwithfaintcries。Itgrewandgrewuntilatumultasofgatheringmultitudesfilledthewood。Onallsidesatoncethesoundsdrewnearer;thespotwhereIlayseemedthecentreofacommotionthatextendedthroughouttheforest。IscarcemovedhandorfootlestIshouldbetraymypresencetohostilethings。
Themoonatlengthapproachedtheforest,andcameslowlyintoit:
withherfirstgleamthenoisesincreasedtoadeafeninguproar,andIbegantoseedimshapesaboutme。Assheascendedandgrewbrighter,thenoisesbecameyetlouder,andtheshapesclearer。A
furiousbattlewasragingaroundme。Wildcriesandroarsofrage,shockofonset,struggleprolonged,allmingledwithwordsarticulate,surgedinmyears。Cursesandcredos,snarlsandsneers,laughterandmockery,sacrednamesandhowlsofhate,camehuddlinginchaoticinterpenetration。Skeletonsandphantomsfoughtinmaddestconfusion。
Swordssweptthroughthephantoms:theyonlyshivered。Macescrashedontheskeletons,shatteringthemhideously:notonefellorceasedtofight,solongasasinglejointheldtwobonestogether。Bonesofmenandhorseslayscatteredandheaped;grindingandcrunchingthemunderfootfoughttheskeletons。Everywherechargedthebone—gauntwhitesteeds;everywhereonfootoronwind—blownmistybattle—horses,ragedandravenedandravedtheindestructiblespectres;weaponsandhoofsclashedandcrushed;whileskeletonjawsandphantom—throatsswelledthedeafeningtumultwiththewar—cryofeveryopinion,badorgood,thathadbredstrife,injustice,crueltyinanyworld。Theholiestwordswentwiththemosthatingblow。Lie—distortedtruthsflewhurtlinginthewindofjavelinsandbones。Everymomentsomeonewouldturnagainsthiscomrades,andfightmorewildlythanbefore,THETRUTH！THETRUTH！stillhiscry。OneInotedwhowheeledeverinacircle,andsmoteonallsides。Weariedout,apairwouldsitforaminutesidebyside,thenriseandrenewthefiercecombat。Nonestoopedtocomfortthefallen,orsteppedwidetosparehim。
Themoonshonetillthesunrose,andallthenightlongIhadglimpsesofawomanmovingatherwillabovethestrife—tormentedmultitude,nowonthisfrontnowonthat,oneoutstretchedarmurgingthefight,theotherpressedagainstherside。\"Yearemen:
slayoneanother！\"sheshouted。Isawherdeadeyesandherdarkspot,andrecalledwhatIhadseenthenightbefore。
Suchwasthebattleofthedead,whichIsawandheardasIlayunderthetree。
Justbeforesunrise,abreezewentthroughtheforest,andavoicecried,\"Letthedeadburytheirdead！\"Atthewordthecontendingthousandsdroppednoiseless,andwhenthesunlookedin,hesawneverabone,buthereandthereawitheredbranch。
Iroseandresumedmyjourney,throughasquietawoodasevergrewoutofthequietearth。Forthewindofthemorninghadceasedwhenthesunappeared,andthetreesweresilent。Notabirdsang,notasquirrel,mouse,orweaselshoweditself,notabelatedmothflewathwartmypath。ButasIwentIkeptwatchovermyself,nordaredletmyeyesrestonanyforest—shape。AllthetimeIseemedtohearfaintsoundsofmattockandspadeandhurtlingbones:anymomentmyeyesmightopenonthingsIwouldnotsee！Daylightprudencemutteredthatperhaps,toappear,tenthousandphantomsawaitedonlymyconsentingfancy。
InthemiddleoftheafternoonIcameoutofthewood——tofindbeforemeasecondnetofdrywater—courses。IthoughtatfirstthatI
hadwanderedfrommyattemptedline,andreversedmydirection;butIsoonsawitwasnotso,andconcludedpresentlythatIhadcometoanotherbranchofthesameriver—bed。Ibeganatoncetocrossit,andwasinthebottomofawidechannelwhenthesunset。
Isatdowntoawaitthemoon,andgrowingsleepy,stretchedmyselfonthemoss。Themomentmyheadwasdown,Iheardthesoundsofrushingstreams——allsortsofsweetwaterynoises。Theveiledmelodyofthemoltenmusicsangmeintoadreamlesssleep,andwhenIwokethesunwasalreadyup,andthewrinkledcountrywidelyvisible。
Coveredwithshadowsitlaystripedandmottledliketheskinofsomewildanimal。Asthesunrosetheshadowsdiminished,anditseemedasiftherockswerere—absorbingthedarknessthathadoozedoutofthemduringthenight。
HithertoIhadlovedmyArabmareandmybooksmore,Ifear,thanlivemanorwoman;nowatlengthmysoulwasathirstforahumanpresence,andIlongedevenafterthoseinhabitantsofthisalienworldwhomtheravenhadsovaguelydescribedasnearestmysort。
Withheavyyethopingheart,andmindhauntedbyadoubtwhetherI
wasgoinginanydirectionatall,Ikeptwearilytravelling\"north—westandbysouth。\"
CHAPTERXII
FRIENDSANDFOES
Coming,inoneofthechannels,uponwhatseemedalittleshrub,theoutlyingpicket,Itrusted,ofanarmybehindit,Iknelttolookatitcloser。Itboreasmallfruit,which,asIdidnotrecogniseit,Ifearedtogatherandeat。LittleIthoughtthatIwaswatchedfrombehindtherocksbyhundredsofeyeseagerwiththequestionwhetherIwouldorwouldnottakeit。
Icametoanotherplantsomewhatbigger,thentoanotherlargerstill,andatlengthtoclumpsofalikesort;bywhichtimeIsawthattheywerenotshrubsbutdwarf—trees。BeforeIreachedthebankofthissecondbranchoftheriver—bed,IfoundthechannelssofullofthemthatitwaswithdifficultyIcrossedsuchasI
couldnotjump。InoneIheardagreatrush,asofamultitudeofbirdsfromaniviedwall,butsawnothing。
Icamenexttosomelargefruit—bearingtrees,butwhattheyborelookedcoarse。Theystoodontheedgeofahollow,whichevidentlyhadoncebeenthebasinofalake。Fromtheleftaforestseemedtoflowintoandfillit;butwhilethetreesabovewereofmanysorts,thoseinthehollowwerealmostentirelyfruit—bearing。