第4章

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。