The Night Land - Page 90/100

And, as that this were not great wonder enough, there did burn and glow

two other mighty fire-hills, at an utter height, upon the left crest of

that black mountain; and these were upward so monstrous a way, as that

they did seem to make strange and smouldering suns within the night. And

truly, as you shall perceive, this was a wondrous thing.

And below these upward fire-hills there rose up from the earth vast

mountains of ash and burned stuff, that had been cast forth by these

perched volcanoes, and had poured downward unto the earth throughout

Eternity, and so to build grey and sombre monuments unto the dreadful

glory of Time.

And to my right there was always sea and sea and the red blazing of the

fire-hills; but unto my left, there were mighty forests, and there rose

upward here and in that place, as that they were beyond the great woods,

monstrous fire-hills. And so do you take from me something of that first

impressing upon my brain and sense.

And after that I had come down out of the mouth of the great Gorge, as I

did tell a little while gone, I came upon a pause; for, surely, which

way was the way proper unto my search. And I lookt about for a great

while, and afterward did climb back into the Gorge, and called myself

foolish, that I had not thought to map my way ere I came down.

And when I was come up into the Gorge again, lo! I saw that there was

but one way that I should go; for truly, as I have said, there was only

the seas unto my right; but unto the left, where the shores did meet the

seas, there seemed, so far as mine eyes did tell to me, a clear way for

a space. And mayhap, when I had come so far, I should even find a

further way to go forward. And so did I descend again unto the Country

of the Seas, as I did ever call that red-shining country of water and

fire.

And by, that I was come again from the height of the Gorge, it was four

and twenty hours since that I did last sleep; so that I was fain that I

should put into some nook, and come to slumber, as you shall well

believe.

And I found me a neat and proper place, where three great trees grew

about a little basin of rock that was very dry and warm. And here, after

that I had eat three of the tablets, and drunk some of the water--the

while that my belly did yearn, as ever, for proper eating-stuff--I made

my bed in the little basin of the rock, and lay me down, and did begin

to think awhile upon Naani; but was gone over to sleep before that I was

aware.

And lo! I was suddenly awake, and did find that I swam in a hot water;

and a mercy, I did think, was it that I was not drowned as I did sleep.

And I gat me to my feet, and the basin was full of water, hot and

steaming, and pungent to the taste, as well I did know. And I perceived

now that the water poured in from a smoothed slit upon the far side, and

did come with a strange gurgling and bubbling, so that I conceived some

deep well to boil, and thus to drive upward this water into the basin;

and glad was I that it did not boil as it came forth.

And surely, now that I was upon the dry land, and did consider, I did

quickly suppose that the water had poured forth at seasons into the

basin for an eternity of time, and afterward did go back by fissures in

the bottom of the basin; and this to happen, as I soon did find, a

little beyond the length of every hour; and, indeed the basin to empty

slow as I did watch.

Now, being much wetted, I stript off mine armour, having before this

dipt out mine effects from the hot pool, and so did come down to the

naked flesh, and I found a place where the rock was hot, and here I did

spread my garments. And whilst that they came to dryness, I gat me into

the hot pool, and had a very pleasant bathing, and did have no great

fear of any dangerous thing; for, as it did seem, I had surely left all

such behind, within the Night Lands. Yet did I have the Diskos upon the

pool edge to my hand; for I had no proper assurance in this matter. Yet,

as it did prove, there were many monstrous beasts in that Country; but

never did I feel the nearness and horrid power of any Evil Force; for

these, as I do conceive, were congregate and gathered about the Mighty

Pyramid, being attracted thereto by the great spiritual essence of so

wondrous a multitude of humans gotten so close in one spot, even as

sharks do come after the ship that hath bullocks within. Yet, how that

the Evil Powers were given entrance unto this State of our Life, I have

no sure knowing; yet have I put forward certain thoughts on this matter

in an earlier place; and more than such thinkings is surely vanity; for

there is no certainty in my Reasoning concerning the thing.

Now, presently was my clothing dry, yet before this, I had come out from

that bath, which truly was nigh all gone backward into the earth. And I

dressed me again, and got my armour upon me, and afterward was I in a

more lightsome state of the mind; and yet very ready to come again unto

my sleep. And this I did, and had six hours more beside the pool; and

once was wakened somewhat by the gruntling and bubbling noise of the

water, that was made as the pool did fill time and again.

And when the six hours were gone, I waked very well fitted in my senses

and feelings to go forward again through that red-lighted Country, and

this I did, after that I had eat and drunk.

Now all that day I went forward at a great pace; and the nameless woods

were unto my left, and the shores of the seas unto my right. And oft did

I find that the trees grew even into the water, so that oft did I go

forward among the trees, and a very wonderful thing was this to me, that

never had known before in all my life, until I was come into that

Country, how that a glad and wild mystery doth live among forest trees.

For there was no such strange wildness among the groves of the

Underground Fields; though a solemn beauty in plenty. And the scent of

the woods was sweet unto my spirit, as you shall wot.

Now all the time that I did go, there was the shore unto my right; but

alway to my left, and around me oft-times as I did say, the great

forests. And as I did go, lo! there was life in all those darksome

woods, and living eyes did peer out odd whiles upon me, and afterward go

backward into the dark; so that I wotted not whether to fear, or to have

no heed of trouble. Yet naught did come anigh to me, to make any hurt.

And thrice in that day did I come to little fire-hills that burnt redly,

and sent out fire and noise, so that I heard their trouble each time

through the forest, before that I was come to them. And about each was

there a deadness and desolation, where the fire had killed the big

trees; yet, as I did observe, the quick life of little plants did grow

more nigh, as that they were born and lived between the times of the

fire-bursts. And this I do take it that you perceive.

And in that one day I past thirty and seven boiling springs; but whether

they boiled truly, I do have no knowledge; only that they sent out a

great steam oft-times; and some did make a strong roaring noise; so that

to hear them afar off in the forests was to think odd times that some

wild beast roared strangely.

Now, when the eighteenth hour was come, I sat me down, as I had done

upon the sixth and the twelfth hours, and eat two of the tablets, and

drank some of the water, which here did fizz very rich and quick.

And afterward I lay down to my slumber, for I was greatly wearied. And I

had chosen a place against a great rock, which was so that no creature

might come upon me from behind. And I came easy upon sleep; but yet I

did fix it upon me that I slumber only with the body; for I did know, by

the shining of the eyes in the darksome woods, that strange creatures

abode in the mighty forests.

And ere I was gone over to sleep, I thought upon Naani, as I had done

much all that day, as though her spirit did hover near unto mine, and

did strive pitiful to speak with me. And this I set out to you, that you

shall know how it did seem unto me in my thoughts and fancyings. And as

I lay there, I put a blessing upon her, and a determination into my

heart that I make a more desperate speed of my going, if that might be;

so that I come the sooner to that strange, and unknown place in the dead

world where did stand the lesser Refuge. And I was then asleep in a

moment.

And lo! sudden I was awake. And lovely was the brightness of that

Country, that did show me in a moment my danger, and did not keep me

suspend in fearful Doubt, as did the grey darkness and strange shadows

and lights of the Night Land. For I saw, on the instant that I got me to

mine elbow, how that certain things did crouch within the borders of the

trees, no more than a score paces off. And I perceived in a moment that

my spirit had been given knowledge, and had wakened me. And I stared,

the while that I did grip the Diskos; and I saw that there were six

squat men that were humpt at the neck and shoulder; and they did crouch

all there in a row, and were something hid by the shadows; and I

perceived that they watched me; and the eyes of the men did shine like

the eyes of beasts; and so shall you know somewhat of the strange terror

that came upon me. Yet had I the Diskos and mine armour; and though my

heart did shake a little, yet was my spirit assured to conquer.

Now I gat me to my feet, and had the Diskos ready within my hand; and

behold! I could not see the Humped Men, for they were gone from that

place; yet never did I see them go, though I had kept my gaze very

steadfast upon that part where they did hide. And, as you shall

understand, I was near ready to believe that there had been nothing

there within the border of the wood; yet truly I knew that the men with

the humps had been there, as I had seen.

Now, I looked presently, and found that I had slept five hours; and I

eat two of the tablets, as I did stand there, watchful; and afterward

drank some of the water; and so was ready to go forward again; for I was

grown very anxious to be gone from that place; and did have no knowledge

but that those strangely humpt Men were but a little way off, among the

trees, and might come upon me in a moment; or, further, that they did go

to call an army of other humped men to my destruction.

And after that I was ready, and had my gear secure upon me, I set off at

a great stride, and did hold the Diskos very handy, and lookt this way

and lookt that way, and all the while made onward with speed; for,

truly, I was grown so lean and hard that it did seem to me that I had

power to out-pace those men or aught else of their kind.

And all that day, through thirty great hours did I go forward, at that

stride, and did always watch; and at every sixth hour, I eat two of the

tablets and drank a little of the water, and went onward again.

And so did I hope that I was lost from those Humped Men. Yet, though I

did hope, my faith was not this wise; for twice and thrice did it come

to me that there went things through the woods to my left all that day,

and did keep always to a level with my speed; yet were always hid. And,

as you shall believe, this did be a very shaking thing to my heart, and

did make my hope of but little account.

Now, because that I had no faith to company my hope, I was not easy to

have slumber, until that I was come to a place proper and safe. And so,

as I have told, I went onward through thirty great hours; and, in truth,

in all that while I did find nowhere that did seem to fit my need.

And lo! about the end of the thirtieth hour, I perceived that there was

water ahead, besides the water of the sea that was ever to my right. And

I thought, maybe, that the sea did go inward at that part of the land;

but it was otherwise; for when I was gotten to that place, I found that

a river came into the sea, and did come out of all the country that lay

unto my left.

And in the mouth of this river, there was a small island; and surely I

did look across to the island, and think it a refuge from the Humped Men

that did surely play dog upon my going. Yet, truly, this was but an idle

thought, and my need was that I should come to some way to cross over

the river, that I go forward beside the great sea, which did stretch

onward, as it did seem for ever, before me upon the far side.

And I knew not how to go across; for I had no power to swim, and had I

swum, there were surely monsters in that great and warm-flowing river,

as you shall believe.

And I went upward of the river-bank, that I might come to some place

where the river did narrow; and surely I had been like to walk a mighty

distance to this purpose, but that I came soon to a second river that

did enter the first, not a mile above the shore of the sea; so that, as

you do perceive, there was the sea to one side of me, and this second

river unto the other, and the first river before me; and thus was I

sorely perplexed, as any had been truly that was in a like trouble.

Yet, as it did chance, the need to go forward, and the danger of the

Humped Men, put wit into me, so that I lookt about for a tree that was

fallen. And there were many, yet great, so that I was much wearied and

something strained of the spirit, before that I gat two little trees

unto the water.

Now, when this was done, I made me a rough pole of a young tree-plant;

and afterward, I lashed the two trees together with my belts and straps,

and so had somewhat of a raft.

And you shall picture that, all the time as I did go about this

business, I was very heedful lest the Humped Men should come upon me,

ere that I was gone free upon the water. And this constant heeding did

double the labour of my work, as you shall perceive; yet, in the end, it

was done, and I ready to adventure over the river.

And so I did push off with the pole, and I pusht and paddled maybe the

half of an hour, for, indeed it was all a clumsy contriving, and mayhap

I the more so in my labours. Yet, presently, I was come so far over,

that I drew nigh to the island; and it did seem a wise and proper thing

that I should have my slumber there, and afterward go onward to the

farther shore. And this I did; and after that I had eat and drunk, as

ever, I lay down to sleep. And by this time it was three and thirty

hours since last I did slumber; so that I was bitterly awearied.

And I had a great and restful sleep; for, truly, the island did seem a

very safe place; and, in verity, I came to no harm, though I was as a

dead man for nine great hours; and so shall you perceive my weariness.

And when I was come proper awake, I eat two of the tablets, and drank

some of the water; and afterward made an end of my voyage, and then did

take back my belts and straps from binding the trees, and so forward

again upon my way, and no more fearful of the Humped Men; for, surely, I

did think I had left them all upon the far shore of the river; though

afterward I minded me that they might grow likewise upon the two sides;

but yet was I only discovered by those upon the one, as you do know.

And all that day I went very swift, and past many strange matters and

did coast upon wonders oft. And at the sixth and the twelfth hours did I

eat and drink, as ever; and between the eighth and the fourteenth hours

did I come past two mighty fire-hills, that made all the Country to

tremble with their noise. And four times did monstrous creatures pass by

me; but I was swift hid, and came to no harm.

And oft as I did go, were my thoughts upon the dear Maid that I

journeyed to save from destruction. Yet, as you must see, always were my

thinkings brought sharply unto my going; so that scarce was I ever set

off to ponder upon Naani, but that there came some danger or wonder to

give me heed to my way. And because of this, as you have learned, I was

more put to plan free of the instant trouble and peril of my way,

through all that mighty journey, than to have quiet chance for thoughts

of love unto mine Own. Yet, truly, was not my journey one whole thought

of love unto Naani? And, that peril made oft dumb my brain, was but the

truer song unto my Maid.

And at times I was among trees; but oft did go past unnumbered boiling

springs and small fire-hills; and oft was the air full of the noise of

the little fire-hills, and the roar of the boiling springs; but there

came no harm unto me.

And a thousand times did I perceive things that had life; and I made a

very cautious way; though with a great speed and cleverness of going

that made my heart glad.

And oft did I come to parts where a great life held the trees, and green

stuff did flourish exceedingly, and the air rich and full and wondrous

sweet; so that I was fain to think how that in some far-off time, it

might be that our children's children should come down unto this

Country, when the Upper Valley of the Night Land was grown to an utter

chill and lacking of air; and here build them a new Refuge, if, indeed

any should come clear of the Evil Forces and the Monsters that did live

about the Mighty Pyramid in the Night Land. Yet, how should they come

clear of those things; so that this is, as you do perceive, no more than

a thought that did rise vaguely in me. And yet, again, who shall say

what may be?

And onward I did pass, and I do mind me how that I saw the lower fires

of that Country to burn very fierce; and this I set to the richness of

the air; but yet with no surety of knowledge; and do but tell the same

that you shall see the oddments of thought that went oft across my

brain, and so have so much knowledge as I, concerning this and that.

Now, a little before the eighteenth hour was come, I came out from among

the trees, and the sea was downward of a great cliff unto my right, for

I had gone upward for a long and weary hour. And I did see now a thing

that made me to be cautious, and yet that did hold my heart to go

swiftly to perceive the thing; for it was very strange.

And I went forward quickly, yet with a wise care; and so was come

presently more nigh. And I perceived that the thing was, in part, a high

rock, very tall and pointed and maybe an hundred feet high; but

afterward I did find it to be more. And there was a monstrous great

thing upon the top of the rock, that did seem very strange; and I stopt

and lookt, and afterward went forward again; and so for a time, until

that I was but a little way off. And now I saw that there did seem to be

a mighty long rock laid across the topmost part of the upstanding rock,

and yet had a very strange and shapely appearance; and did seem upon the

underpart to be as that I had lookt before upon it. And upon the upper

part, there grew trees and green things, even as these did grow upon odd

ledges of the upstanding rock. Yet, for the most, the rock was very

stark, as that a blast had blown upon it, and made it bare.

Now, when I had lookt for a while, I bethought me that this should be a

safe and proper place for my slumber, if that I had power to come safe

to the top. And when I had thought this thing, I began at once to climb

up the rock; and I found that the rock was very high; so that in a while

I was come a great way off the earth, and yet was not come to the top of

the rock. And because that I was awearied, I lookt about for a safe

place to mine hand, and lo! there was a shelf of the rock very nigh,

that went inward a little to the side.

And I gat me to this ledge, and did eat and drink, and presently I

slept, and scarce had thought of Naani in the moment of my slumbering;

for a great weariness was upon me, the which I do think to have come by

reason that I was not yet proper rested from the task of the day that

was gone before that one.

Now I waked very sudden, maybe seven hours after; and I had knowledge

within me that my spirit did wot of some nigh danger. And I gat upward

from the rock, very quiet, and had the Diskos ready in my hand. And I

lookt swift about me in the moment that I did wake; yet did see nothing;

for there was naught on the ledge with me.

And I crept to the edge, and lookt downward, and lo! I did see that

there came up the rock two Humped Men; and they did climb very swift and

silent; and I perceived that they smelled me, and came to destroy me.

And I made ready the Diskos to do battle, and ceased not to look

downward. And I saw how that the Humped Men did seem to be humpt by

reason of their being so monstrous thick and mighty of the neck and the

shoulder, as that they had been human bulls. And I saw that they were

very strong, and by the speed of their climbing, I knew they were swift;

and so did I make steady my attention and my heart to the saving of my

life; for truly I did know that I should be dead in a little, or they.

Now I stept back a space from the edge of the rock, and had the Diskos

very ready; for it was needful that I should kill one of those brute men

speedy, that I have no danger that one take me in the back, whilst that

I fight with the other.

Then, in a moment it did seem, there came upward of the rock edge, the

great and brutish face of the man. And in that moment that I slew him, I

did note curiously how that he had large teeth upon each side of the

mouth; and was aware that he had come so quiet as a great cat. And in

the backward parts of my brain, I bethought that even thus, maybe, was

primal man, so that a strange and secondary questioning and wondering

did live in that part of me; and I did learn from these scarce conscious

reasonings that I was of belief the thing was truly a man; but very

crude and dangerous. And surely it is strange that I had all this

thought in that little moment; but in verity so it was; though I doubt

not but I bettered it with after thoughts, when a while had gone.

Now the first man died ere his great haired breast was come upward over

the rock; and he sank back, and sagged and fell dully, and I heard him

bodge downward from rock to rock, very lumbersome; and so in a moment

was silence.

Then did I look this way and that way of the ledge; for the second Humpt

Man was not yet upon me; and I feared that the pause did mean a cunning

mischief and strategy. And when a little time had past, and all the

while I was ready with the Diskos, and naught did come upward to harm

me, I stept very soft to the edge of the rock-ledge, and lookt downward;

but there was nowhere any thing to see.

Now, for a little moment, I did think that the brutish man had run off,

being feared by the death that I did deal unto the first; yet I put this

from me at once; for I did wot that such a creature did not be like to

fear in such wise; but was rather set to some horrid cunning of attack,

as I did fear, and was somewhere below me among the holes of the great

rock.

Then I did think sudden that he might be gone upward, so that he should

come down upon my back, and I lookt upward of the mighty rock; but did

see naught; and afterward I stoopt forward a great way beyond the edge,

so that I should perceive whether the man did hide beneath. And, behold!

he was there below me, and crouched under the rock-shelf, ready to his

spring. And in that moment, he made unto me with so mighty a leap as any

tiger should give. And he came half over the edge, and gript the Diskos

by the handle, in an instant.

And surely I had lost that trusted weapon, or been pulled over and cast

into the depth, but that the Diskos did spin, and the Earth-Current did

make live the handle--as was intended--save where the "grip" was set.

And lo! the man gave loose the handle very swift, for it had burned and

shaken the creature sore. And I staggered back, with the effort I had

made to withhold the Diskos; and the brutish man came upward again over

the rock edge, and leapt at me. Yet he gat me not; for I sprang unto my

right, and made a blow with the Diskos, even as I did leap. And the blow

came something short; but yet harmed the Humpt Man with a gash upon the

belly, very sore and horrid among the great brown hairs of the man. And

immediately he sprang after me; but I smote full at the face; so that he

leaped back from the strange roar and blaze of the Diskos, and yet was

harmed; for he gat not right free of the blow; but did be cut very sore

on the mighty and haired arm.

Now, seeing that he was something feared of the weapon, I ran in upon

him, and smote again at the face; yet was the man gone out of my reach

before that the blow did reach; for, truly, he was quick as a panther.

And immediately, he did leap unto the ending of the ledge, where it did

join upon the Rock; and he caught the living Rock between his two hands.

And truly the Rock must have been splitten there; for he tore out a

monstrous lump, so great near as my body; and did run upon me with the

rock above the head of him.

Now, I perceived I should be smashed in a moment, if that I did not slay

the man very quick. For so mighty was he, that he did leap this way and

that way after me, as though the great rock did cumber him no more than

it had been but a light matter.

And you shall perceive that I leapt this way and that way, to avoid the

man; and twice did strike him; but yet was feared to brake the Diskos

upon the rock, which the man did use as a shield each time that I did

make a blow. And all the while, I did act to escape when that the man

should cast the rock, as I did conceive at the first to be his intent.

Yet, truly, it was as that he had no wotting that a rock may be thrown;

for he strave only to come at me with the rock, that he should crush me,

as with a monstrous club. And, in verity, what should a man do against

so horrid an attack.

And time and oft did I leap now to the right and now to the left, and

again in a moment, I did cut the Humpt Man; but the blow was something

turned off by the great rock in the hands of the man; yet so strange and

mighty was the power of the Diskos, that it shore away a small portion

of the rock, and did come to no hurt in itself.

And, surely I had presently failed in wind and limb, because of the

leapings and chargings that I did make; and because of the weight of the

armour, that was not overmuch, yet to be considered; but that I fainted

not, was by reason of the wondrous hardness and leanness that I was

grown to, with so constant a journeying and strait living; for the

tablets did keep the strength in a man, though, truly, they eased not

the yearnings of the belly.

And lo! even the brutish man did grow weary, and the hot breath and

body-stink to come from him; and surely who shall wonder, for always he

did rush to and fro upon me, with the monstrous rock to crush me. And

sudden, I leapt unto the right of the man, thinking within me that I did

perceive a chance that I should cut him upon that side; but, truly, he

was less awearied than I did know; for he came very sharp upon me, and

had me between him and the wall of the Rock; and surely I had no room to

make escape, and had died in a moment, but that I made a sudden sham

toward the left with the Diskos, as that I should leap that way. And in

the same instant, I did go to the right with a strong bounding; and

immediately did come in upon the Humpt Man from that side; and I put my

fortune of life to the stroke, and stood anigh to the man, and I smote

him across the middle part, before that he did wot of my intent. And the

blow slew the man very surely, and did nigh cut the mighty creature in

twain. And surely he fell, half leaping even as he died, so that the

monstrous rock that was in the hands of the brutish man, did crash down

almost upon my feet, and I leapt very high that I should escape the

thundering of the rock; for in verity, I was near slain in that last

moment of the life of the Humpt Man. But yet I lived and came free of

death, and did have a relief of happiness about my heart, as you shall

believe.

Yet, truly, I was much shaken; and a little weakness took me, so that I

was fain to go down upon the rock-shelf, that I have back my strength.

And presently, I was grown steady again, and I took my gear, and did

haste down the Rock, and so was come presently to the earth again. And I

saw the first of the Humpt Men that I did slay, lying very quiet a

little off from the bottom of the Rock; so that I went round upon the

other side to avoid the man; for it was no pleasure to mine eyes or to

my heart. And, truly, it did trouble me always to make a death.

And when I was come round upon the other, which was the seaward, side of

the Rock, I perceived that I was yet shaken; and I remembered that it

were wise to eat and drink and rest a little, before that I did go

further upon my way.

Now, as I did sit there at the bottom of the Rock, I looked upward at

the strange crown thereof; and until that time, I had been taken up with

the fight and with gazings this way and that to see whether there came

others of the Humped Men to work me an harm.

But now that I was given some ease of the mind and of the body, I saw

plainly that I knew the thing that lay upward upon the Rock; for the

shape had been something strange and half-known to me even before that

moment, as that I had a vague knowledge concerning it; but yet with no

surety. And now, truly, I did know in a little instant that the thing

was one of the olden flying-ships, the which, as you shall mind, there

were certain in the Great Museum of the Mighty Pyramid.

And surely, I was ready to wonder why that I had not seen the thing

plain before that moment; yet was this like to be because that there was

a shadow upon the other side of the great Rock; but upon this side there

was a little fire-hill a way off to the cliff edge, and this did throw a

warm light that made a glimmer upon the dull metal of the ship's bottom,

which was uncovered to my sight, and was surely of that same deathless

grey metal that made the Great Redoubt.

And yet, as you shall believe, even as I said this thing to my mind,

that the strange matter upon the top of the Rock was truly one of the

olden air-ships, I did feel that I should be proper to doubt; for it was

a very wondrous thing to perceive a thing common to man, in that utter

strange Country, and after that I was gone so far off from the Mighty

Pyramid. Yet, in verity, I did know in my heart that it was indeed that

which I did perceive it to be; and I did stand and walk to and fore and

look upward constant; for I was very keen that I look well upon it.

And truly, as I did look from this place and from that place, it was

scarce a thing for wonder that I had not wotted it to be an air vessel;

for there were great trees and abundance of earth and living matters

upon the topmost side of the ship; so that none could easy perceive it

to be aught save a great and desolate rock that did lie upon the other

rock. Yet, truly, it was as I have told; and presently I did make to

climb upward of the great Rock, that I should come to the air vessel to

enter it. But yet was this not proper; for I had surely no duty save to

go forward forever, until that I found the Maid; but yet did I spend a

little while to this searching of the ship; and I do but set down that

which I did, and with a serious spirit. And truly, as it doth here occur

to me, I do be ever seeming a serious young man, as you maybe shall have

grown to think; but yet was I to a dread and serious business, and the

strain did be too great upon me and the trouble too much prest upon my

heart to give me much of laughter, as you do surely perceive, and so you

to give me your ear and your understanding. For, indeed, before that I

did lose Mirdath my Beautiful One, I was not over-grave; but so young

and joyous as any.

Now it took me a great time to go upward of the Rock; for it was so

monstrous steep and high. Yet, presently was I come nigh under the

bottom of the ship; and here I did perceive that she had been sore

battered in that far-off age when she did come upon the Rock; for,

surely, as I did perceive, the peak of the Rock was through the bottom

of the ship, so that the metal was burst this way and that, and very

plain to be seen in some parts; but in other places the earth and

growing matters did make a hiding.

And after that I had climbed this way and that way, I perceived that I

must come to the topmost part by the plants that did hang over, and grow

downward. And after that I had pulled upon them, to know that they were

strong to hold me, I went upon them, and was soon to the top of the

ship. Yet, truly, I might so well have been upon the earth; for the ship

was covered above by the earth and dust of a monstrous age of years; so

that I was like to need much time to dig downward unto the ship; and

because of this, I considered a little while, and afterward made no more

to search her; but did go downward again, that I should come once more

to my journey. Yet, as you shall think, it was with a queer thrilling of

the heart, and with strange thoughts upon the end of those that did

come, maybe, to a bitter and lonesome dying in that ship of the air, in

that far-off time when she did fly.

And surely, it did seem to me as I went downward of the great Rock, how

that the flying-ship had been there for an hundred thousand years; and

that mayhaps the sea did live all about the Rock in that Age; and truly

this was no improper thing to think, for it was like that the sea had

been monstrous high and great in those days; so that the Rock was but a

little island in the midst of the sea; and now was the sea gone small

from a great sea to lesser seas, and this through an eternity of years.

And always, as it doth seem to me, had the ship lain upon the Rock, and

lookt quiet and silent over the change and wonder and the lonesomeness

of all that Country of Fire and water, for ever.

But how the air-ship did come upon the rock, how shall I know; save,

maybe, it doth seem as that she might have flown low over the sea in

that olden age, and come hard upon the Rock, because, maybe, there was

one to the helm that did steer unwittingly. And again, it shall well be

otherwise, and I do but set down mine odd thoughts; and such as they be,

they have no especial use, save that they do show to you the different

workings of my mind at that time, as I did go downward. And so to set

you the more in possession of all that I did have knowledge of.

And presently, I was come again to the earth, and did go forward with a

great speed, so that I should waste no more of that day. Yet, oft did I

think upon that ship hid there upon the mighty Rock, under the wondrous

quiet ashes of eternity.

And I went eighteen hours walking, and in all that time I did see no

more of the Humped Men; yet three times was I put in a sudden danger,

for there went past me thrice, between the fourteenth and the

seventeenth hours, great flying monsters, that were winged very ugly,

and did go, as I thought, in a great bounding, rather than that they did

fly proper as doth a bird. Yet I suffered no hurt from these; for I was

swift to hide between the great boulders that were very plenty in that

part; but no trees. For I was gone now past the forests of trees; there

being none since that I had gone through a very shallow river, that I

came to about the thirteenth hour. And this had I waded, and sounded my

path with the staff of the Diskos; but I had kept mine armour upon me,

lest there be things, even in water so shallow, that might bite and work

harm upon me. But I gat through pretty quick, and had no hurt done me.

Now I had eat, as ever, at the sixth and the twelfth hours; and by that

the eighteenth hour was come, I was nigh again unto a forest, that came

down to the shore that went alway upon my right; and I to be very sore

and wearied, as you shall know; for I had fought very desperate after my

waking, and afterward climbed the great Rock, and then again to journey,

so that it was, by this, nigh to one and twenty hours since that I did

sleep.

And surely, I lookt this way and that way, constant, and did see no

place proper to my slumber. But afterward, I considered I did be a fool,

to lack such; for truly the trees were plentiful, and I could climb a

great one, and strap my body safe, and so have a sure bed for my rest.

And I did this thing, and went upward into a great tree, and did tie my

body to the tree, with my belts; yet I eat and drank before that I went

up the tree.

Now when I was fast upward in the tree, and had made a bed upon a

monstrous branch, and had the Diskos ready upon my hip, so that it

should not fall but be nigh to my hand, I lay a little while thinking

upon Naani; and I went not over to sleep immediately, which was strange;

yet mayhaps because that my bed was so uncertain.

And I considered very gravely how that it was a monstrous long while

since that I did hear the Master-Word from the dear Maid; and truly I

was come a dreadful way from mine home, which was the Mighty Pyramid;

for I had gone onward for ever through five and twenty great days of

travel, and was not yet come to any place that did appear like to be

that place where the Maid did abide.

And it did seem that I might even wander onward in that great Country of

Fire and Water for a time beyond all that I had before gone; and this

thought did put a great weight of trouble and weariness upon my heart;

for the Maid had been in sore need of me, and I did feel sudden to be

all adrift in the wilderness. But before this time, it had seemed as

that I surely went aright. And mayhaps your sympathy shall tell you just

how I to feel in the heart.

And after that I had lain there very awkward, and thought upon all

matters, I minded me that I would try the compass again upon the morrow;

but had no great hopes of the machine; yet did be willing to try aught

to see where I had gotten to. And truly, as it did come to my mind, if

that the compass did point a little as I did wot it was used to point in

the Lesser Redoubt, then, in verity, I was surely come something more

anigh to that unknown place of the world than I did dare to believe. And

this to be plain to you.

Then a little time did pass in which I did wake and sleep, and wake and

sleep, a little; but with no surety of sleep; but as that I was very

tired of the heart, and did but lie too wearied to come properly to

sleep.

And odd whiles I did lie with mine eyes half to open, and did look very

dreamful upward among the dark branches of the tree, as they did show

black and pretty against the redness of the shining that came from the

sea; for there was stood a great and bright-burning fire-hill in that

part of the sea that lay off the shore from me. And above the glaring of

the fire-hill, there was the deep night that did brood for ever above in

a monstrous black gloom of eternity, and did make the red smoke of the

volcano to show deep and mighty and thunderous-seeming, afar up in the

great dark. And the red and shining smoke did but show the utter

hugeness of the night, that had been upon the world through the great

ages.

And, in verity, as I did lie there so dreamful, it did come to me afresh

how wondrous strange was mine adventure; and how that I did lie warm and

alive in a Country of red light and smoking seas. And, truly, as I did

remember and consider, there was a great and lost world above me, upward

through the dark ... maybe an hundred and fifty great miles up in the

grim night.

And this thing did strike me very solemn, as I did lie; and I do trust

that you conceive how that there was, in truth, afar above in the

eternal and unknown night, the stupendous desolation of the dead world,

and the eternal snow and starless dark. And, as I do think, a cold so

bitter that it held death to all living that should come anigh to it.

Yet, bethink you, if one had lived in that far height of the dead world,

and come upon the edge of that mighty valley in which all life that was

left of earth, did abide, they should have been like to look downward

vaguely into so monstrous a deep that they had seen naught, mayhaps,

save a dull and utter strange glowing far downward in the great night,

in this place and in that.

And surely, as you shall have seen, I have set the Great Deep of the

Valley to be, maybe, an hundred and fifty miles of night; for, as you do

mind, it was conceived that the Valley of the Night Land was an hundred

miles deep, and mayhap to be more; and I had come from that Place

downward of the Mighty Slope, and of the Gorge, a very great way. Yet,

in verity, I do believe in my heart this measuring was utter wrong; for

I think the deep to have been monstrous, beyond these miles that I do

give; yet have I no proving of this belief, and do set it down for no

more than it is.

Now, presently, I had ceased from these vague thinkings and half

dreamings, and was gone truly to sleep. Yet, nowise did I sleep very

strong; but did seem to come anigh to wakefulness, this time and that.

And, as it did chance, this was mayhaps a very good thing for my life;

for I did presently come awake more surely, and did turn on the great

branch; for there was a noise in the air, that was not the noise of the

great fire-hill.

And the noise did grow, very heavy and lumbersome. And, in a moment,

there came seven Humped Men, running among the trees, as that some

monstrous thing did pursue. And immediately they were beneath the tree

in which I did lie; so that a great fear came upon me, and I loosed the

belt from the branch, that I should be free to fight.

And, directly upon this, I saw that the men did leap upward into the

tree, beneath me; but not as that they did wot of me or make to come at

me; but as that they did pay a great heed to some creature or happening

that was far off among the trees. And surely, the noise did seem to come

from that part, and did grow loud and mighty, and the Humped Men did all

crouch very silent, and did make no noise or motion one to the other;

but were quiet upon the lower branches.

And, as I did look now more to my ease, I perceived that they had each a

great stone, and bloody, that did seem as that it were split to a

certain sharpness, even as a stone doth break very natural. And they

carried the stone under this arm or under that arm, so that they had

their hands free to all matters.

And, alway the noise did come the more anigh, and I saw that a Humped

Man did come running from among the trees, and did run beneath that

place where the seven Humped Men did be on the branches. But they made

no sign to the man, to save him; yet truly it was very plain that some

monster pursued the man.

And immediately I saw how this thing was; for the Humped Man upon the

ground, did not run so fast as might be; and I conceived that he did act

to make some creature to come after him, to pass under the men within

the tree. And surely this thing did prove to be; for there came very

quick, a great and ugly thing, that had an ugly way of putting down the

feet, and did have seven feet to each side, which was very strange; and

the back was as that it were horny, and the belly of the thing did seem

to brush heavy upon the earth, and it grunted, as it went, and shook the

earth with the weight of it; so that a monstrous noise came from it,

upon so hasty a journey. And I did wot that it was not such a thing as

did properly pursue after matters of food; but did rather eat of that

which did need little haste, but a monstrous strength, to gain. And that

it did so make after the man, was in truth because that it had been

wounded and made fierce; for, indeed, there came blood from the creature

from great wounds upon the back; but how these were made, I could not

know in that instant.

And it did go under the tree in which I was hid; and in that moment when

it past under the tree, the seven Humped Men did leap out of the

branches, and did catch to the brute by the great horns of the spine;

and I saw that the wounds were in the joints of the spine, as was plain

when the back did work, with the going of the creature. And the seven

Humped Men took the sharp stones from under their arms, and did strike

very brutal in the wounds that were in the joints of the spine; and the

creature roared and cried, and went onward into the trees at a great

speed; and in all the time that it ran, the Humped Men ceased not to

strike with the stones.

And sudden, when it was gone a distance off, it did roll very swift over

upon the back, first to the right, as that it would go that way; so that

the Humped Men did leap off upon the other side. And immediately the

creature rolled to that side; and there ran clear of the brute only four

of the Humped Men; so that I knew that three were slain. And afterwards,

they that lived, ran beyond the beast, and gat up into a second tree,

and the one that was chased, did entice the creature to follow, and so

did tease it once more to pass beneath the other men; and they very

swiftly again to the back of the creature; and so from my sight,

striking with the great stones, and the beast bellowing very loud and

piteous. And how many of the Humped Men there were to the beginning of

that strange hunting, I know not; but surely there were few that lived

to the end.

And surely there were such things as this thing in the beginning of the

world, and again was it thus in the end; and I did ponder this a little

while, as I did sit upon the great branch, and hearken unto the sound of

the hunting, that was now gone a great way off, and was presently beyond

my hearing.

And afterward, I gat me to the earth, and did look this way and that

way, to see that no beast was anigh, neither any of the Humped Men; and

afterward, I eat two of the tablets and drank some of the water.

And when I had gat this far to a readiness for my going, I minded me

that I should try the compass again, as I did intend. And surely the

machine did point between the North and the South, upon the Westward

arc, even as Naani had told unto me; yet, as it did seem, with somewhat

more of a Southward pointing than she had made me to think. And because

of this telling of the compass, a great ease came upon my spirit; for,

surely, was not this but a sure sign that I did go direct unto that

hidden place of the world where the Lesser Refuge did abide; but yet was

not come over-close, so that the pull of the Mighty Earth-Current of the

Great Redoubt was something stronger than in the place where was the

Little Pyramid.

And all this did I think very swift to myself, and had a glad uplifting

of the heart, as you do perceive; so that I went forward upon my

journey, with a great stride, and did scarce fear any strange thing that

all the Country did hold, in that moment.

And I went all that day at a strong pace, and did be oft tempted to send

the Master-Word unto Naani; yet did keep from so foolish an acting, the

which, mayhaps, had brought straightway upon me an Evil Power, and had

given me to Destruction when that I was near come to the succour of the

Maid. And it was this quick and constant fear of the Evil Forces of the

Night Land, that did keep me ever from calling unto Naani, lest that

they should discover me, and follow after; and this, I doubt not, you to

know by now so well as I.

Now, by the sixth hour, I was come into a part of the Country where

there were an exceeding abundance of steam fountains and sprayings and

great upboilings of water in basins of rock; and the air did be full of

the sounds and the roarings of the boilings and the spoutings, and of a

hot mist and spray; so that, truly, I had scarce the power to see to my

front, nor to any side.

And here, presently, I made a pause, and did eat and drink, and

afterward went forward again; and I did keep the shore of the sea always

to my right, and so did go proper to my way; yet with no great ease; for

the sea also did steam very strong in that part, and because of this

great fog of steam, I was surely much laboured to make a great speed,

lest unseeing I go headlong into an hole of the boiling water.

And in the ninth hour, I did go clear of the hot boilings, and was come

again free of the mist and the steam, and might look with mine eyes to

my going. And, surely, as I did perceive, I was come to the end of the

great sea that had been ever to my right; for it did go against the feet

of great and monstrous mountains, that went upward for ever into the

night, and did seem as that they were the hither wall of that strange

Country of Fire and Water. And so was I stood there very much taken upon

doubt; for how should I go farther.

And after that I had been there a while, in a bewilderment of doubt and

of wit, I went to the left, along the feet of the mountains; and truly

this but of common sense; for how might I go any other way, save I go

back again!

And at the twelfth hour I eat two of the tablets, and drank some of the

water, and went forward once more. And lo! at the fifteenth hour, I was

come to a place between the mountains, even an upward gorge, very dark

and gloomy, and without light for a great way.

And, in verity, I did not want to go up the gorge, in that it was so

dreary a place and narrow and horrid and drear-seeming, after the light

and wideness of the Country in which I did yet stand.

And presently, I did go past the mouth of the gorge, that I should learn

whether there went another way out of that Country. And thiswise, for a

great hour more, along the feet of the mountains, and did presently come

to a monstrous black river, that was, maybe, a mile wide. And it to be

very shallow, and seeming as that the water scarce to cover the mud of

the bottom. And here and there a great steam did come from it, and

spirtings and moundings-up of the mud in many places, and monstrous

babblings and puffings-up of strange smoke, as that a great heat went

beneath it in this place and in that.

And surely it went backward into the country for a mighty way, so far as

my sight did go; and I did think it to be no river, but truly a further

sea. And there was no way across; for there were no trees anigh, to make

me a raft, neither might I wade across; for it might be shallow here and

deep there, and the mud be in all places. And, moreover, I had been like

to be caught in one of those upburstings of mud, even did I have a raft

to go upon. And because of all these things, I gat me back again to the

Gorge, and presently I did go upward into the darkness.

Now, I went upward very steady, save that I did stumble oft, and did go

through six great hours. And truly it did seem that I went in an utter

dark, because that I had been awhile in so constant a light.

And, by that I had been six hours in the Gorge, I was gone right away

from the Country of the Seas, and did be as that I was back into some

place that was like to the dreadness of the Night Land. For there were

in this place and in that place of the Gorge, red fire-holes, even as in

the Night Land. Yet not many until that I was come a great way up of the

Gorge. And there did be life of horrid things about the fires, as soon I

did wot; so that I made to keep off from them. Yet, as you shall

perceive, I must come oft pretty near, because that the Gorge was

nowheres scarce an hundred good paces across, and did oft come very

narrow, so that I did come oft anigh to the fire-holes, whether that I

did heed to or not.

And all that time, and ever, did the Gorge go very sharp upward, so that

it was a very weary thing to make great trial of speed, as you shall

know. But yet I went so fast as I could do; for I was grown sudden very

excited about the heart, and to feel as that I did surely draw anigh to

that strange and hid place of the world, where was the Lesser Refuge.

And when I had gone upward through six great hours, as I did say, I took

caution for a place proper to slumber; for I was surely very wearied.

And I saw a place presently, afar upward of the dark side of the Gorge,

upon the right, where a ledge of the Rock did show in the glaring from

one of the fire-holes that made a gloomy light in that place. And I

climbed unto this ledge, and did find it to be secure, and awkward to

come upon. And presently, after that I had eat and drunk, I did compose

myself unto sleep, the which came very speedy upon me, whilst yet I did

believe I thought only upon the sweetness of the Maid. And truly it had

been something over three and twenty hours, since last I did sleep; so

that I was greatly awearied.

And in six hours I waked and did eat, and did climb downward again to

the Gorge, and so unto mine upward journey.

Now, as you do perceive, when that I was come properly a great way up

the Gorge, and had come among the fire-holes, there was no more an utter

darkness, for the dull red glare of the pits beat upward upon the black

sides of the rock-mountains, that did make the sides of the Gorge; so

that oft I did see both sides very plain in the lower parts; yet of the

height of the Gorge, who might know aught; for the black sides did go

upward for ever into the everlasting night.

And because of the light from the fire-pits, I did see, time and oft

about the fires, horrid monsters, both that were snakes, and others like

to scorpions so great as my head; but no more than these for a long

while. And afterward I perceived that surely other matters did move

among the rocks of the Gorge; so that I did keep the Diskos very ready

in mine hand; yet had truly no use for it all that day.

Now I eat and drank at the sixth and the twelfth hours, and went onward

at a very strong speed. And at the sixteenth hour, I did seem as that I

knew the aether to be stirred about me, and the beat of the Master-Word

very faint upon mine inward ear. And immediately, a wondrous great and

lovely thrilling did wake all my being; for surely, I said, this was the

spirit of my love, calling unto me with her brain-elements. And, indeed,

this was a very proper and sensible thinking; for had the Master-Word

been sent from the Mighty Pyramid, I had been like to hear it very

plain, by reason of the force of the Earth-Current which was with them

and to their command. But, as you do know, the Earth-Current was nigh

gone from the Peoples of the Lesser Refuge; so that they were over-weak

to make any proper calling. And this I have spoken of before this place.

Yet, in a little while, as I did stand very hushed, that I should hark

the better, I was come to doubt whether that I did truly hear the

Master-Word. And one moment I did say that it had surely beat in the

night about me; and immediately would I be just so unsure; and so in a

while I gat once more to my journey, and had doubt in my heart; yet, as

you shall conceive, more of hope. And because of this thing, I went

onward for thirty great hours from the time that I did wake; for my

heart was excited within me. And when that I had gone so long forward as

this, I did see how that I did foolishly; and I lookt about for a place

for my slumber; and I found a small cave that was clean and empty, as I

did discover by the shining of the Diskos which I made to spin a little

time. And the cave was in the cliff of the mountain that made the right

side of the Gorge, and was nigh twenty good feet from the bottom of the

Gorge, and hard to approach.

And when I was come secure into the cave, and sure that it was proper to

my purpose, I eat four of the tablets, as was just and nice to my belly,

and did afterward drink some of the water, and so to my slumber; and all

the while, very sweet and strong in my thoughts upon Naani; so that

surely I was a little time before that I had myself rightly unto sleep.

And I slept six hours, and did wake, for I had set my spirit hard unto

such wakening; yet was I still greatly yearning for sleep. But this did

go somewhat, when that I had fought a little with my need. And

afterward, I eat two of the tablets, and drank some of the water, and

did gat my gear upon me, and was presently down unto the Gorge; and so

again to my journey.

Now in all that day I did go with a very stern speed; for it did seem as

that my soul did know for surety that I was truly come something nigh

unto that hid place in the night where I should find mine Olden Love

again. And the sweet hope that was bred of the calling that had seemed

truly to sound about my spirit, was in all my being, and more sure on

that day, than before that I had slept.

And I went thirty hours in all, even as before, ere that I did come

again to sleep, and I eat and drank at every sixth hour, so that my

strength should abide within me. And by that I was come to the ending of

the thirty hours, I was sorely awearied, and gat me upward of the

monstrous cliff that did make the left side of the Gorge, having

perceived in a place a great ledge of the rock, that did seem very

proper for my purpose of slumber.

And when I was come upward upon the ledge of the rock, I saw that there

did seem something, like to a mighty spider, that did stay half without

of a hole in the back part of the ledge. And I smote the thing gently

with the Diskos, so that it was very quickly dead; and afterward I

searched well about; but did gladly perceive that there abode there no

other horrid creature.

And I eat two of the tablets, and drank some of the water; and did

afterward make me ready for slumber, as ever. But now I did put the

cloak well about me; for truly there was grown a chill into the air of

the Gorge; and here also will I tell how that it did seem unto me that

the air was gone something from that great thickness and strength which

had been with me in the past days of my journeying.

Now I was gone so tired, that I fell upon sleep in a moment, yet with a

dear thought and anxious, concerning Naani; but was so starved of the

body for slumber, that even mine anxiousness kept me not awake. And I

was then so fast with sleep that I knew naught for eight hours of very

sound slumber. And then did I awake, and very thankful of the heart that

no evil beast or creeping thing had come upon me whilst that I was so

utter lost in sleep.

And now, truly, was I something fresh and ready; and I ate and drank,

and had my gear once more upon me, and so down into the Gorge. And

afterward, I went upon my journey for eighteen hours, and did pause but

a little while at the sixth and the twelfth hours that I should eat and

drink.

And when the eighteenth hour was nigh come, I perceived that the nature

of the Gorge was grown very horrid and dank. And in verity, I did feel

as that afar upward in the night the black mountains that did make the

sides of the Gorge had come together, and did make a monstrous roof

unseen in the utter height.

And this thing I do tell, only as of my belief; for I have no very sure

proof. Yet, truly, my reason doth say likewise; for there did oft drip

water upon me out of the darkness, even though I walked in the middle

way of the Gorge; and how should this thing be, save that there went an

overreaching of the sides, that should let the mildew down upon me.

And in this place, and for more than eleven great hours, there were

fire-holes and fire-pits only in this part and in that, and each a great

way off from another. And they burned very dull, and did seem to throw a

fume of sulphur into all the air, as that there was no freedom above for

the stink to pass away. And in every place were the rocks of the Gorge

very thick and slippery with strange growths; so that it was a sorrow to

walk upon them. And all that time was there an heavy wetness and

slowness in the air; and a smell, beside the stink of the fire-pits, as

that I did go forward through a place where dead things did be.

And for a great time there was a horrid darkness, as it had been that

the air was grown thick with the fumings of the fire-pits, as I do

believe; and beside this thing there was, as I have said, but a dull

fire here and another there; so that it was like that there should be a

heavy dark. And because that it was so utter black, and because that

there were growths upon the rocks in the bottom of the Gorge, I did go

but slowly, and with pain of stumblings; and always with the stink of

that place to trouble me half unto a sickness.

And sudden, as I did go past one of the fire-pits, I saw that the fire

made a dull shining upon some monstrous thing that did move before me,

upon the far side of the fire. And I came in one moment unto a swift

silence, and hid among the rocks of the bottom of the Gorge. And I lookt

very cautious at the thing that moved beyond the fire, and surely I had

seen no thing so monstrous since that I had come free of the Night Land;

for it was as that some huge Creature, like to the hull of a great ship

did move down out of the dark of the upper way of the Gorge. And it went

by the fire-hole, and onward into the dark of the lower way of the

Gorge; and I had perceived somewhat of it, as it did go past the fire,

and, surely, it was black and beslimed, and utter great in height and in

length, and it went always without noise, so that I had not known it to

be there, but that I saw it plain with mine eyes. And, truly, if I do

say that it was somewhat as that I had seen a monstrous slug-thing,

surely I should use wise and proper words to make known to you this

horrid brute.

And I stayed very quiet a time, and afterward I went upward again of the

Gorge, and did use a new caution to my way, and saw that the Diskos was

free upon my hip; for even thus I did carry the weapon, being that I

must use both hands to my way, and to save me in my stumblings and

slidings over the slippery rocks.

And once it did seem to me that some great thing moved in the darkness,

and I went downward among the rocks, and stirred not my body for a great

while; and sure am I that there went some living monster past me, that

did stink as a loathsome grave. And afterward, I went on again.

And three hours did I go thus, and came at last to a place where a

fire-hole did shine more ruddy; and I did look well about me, that I

should perceive that part of the Gorge the better. And as I stood there,

very quiet, away off from the fire, so that it did show no great light

upon my person, I did note how utter still was that place; and this to

take me anew, as though it had come fresh upon me. And here, there would

be the drip of water, and again in that place, and again elsewhere; and

all very solemn and very dismal. And the silence to be constant.

And presently, as I lookt, now to this way and again to that, I saw that

there was a monstrous slug-thing laid upward against the black side of

the Gorge, as that it had stood up on end; and the one end of the

monster went upward beyond the light from the fire-pit; but the other

part did come down and trail into the Gorge, as a long hillock, very

ugly and black and beslimed.

And I near sweat with a disgust and horror of the thing; but afterward I

had more courage, and spied well upon the brute. And surely, it moved

not at all, any more than the side of the cliff of the Gorge; and I

conceived that it stood not upward upon any feet; but clung to the rock,

even as you shall see a slug to go. And for a great space I was very

quiet and moved not, neither did I make to hide, but stood there very

stupid.

Yet, in a time, I had more of courage which brought strength unto my

heart, and I began again to go upon my way, but with an utter caution,

and I then to creep for a weary time upon my hands and knees among the

dank and weariful rocks and boulders that lay in the bottom of the

Gorge. And thrice between four hours was I passed by hidden and

monstrous things in the horrid dark places of the Gorge; yet with no

noise, save, as it might be, the odd rattle of a rock in this place and

that; but with an utter and dreadful stinking. And I to be quiet as

they went, as you shall think.

And each time now that I did go by the fire-pits and fire-holes that lay

odd-ways in the Gorge, I did pause and search about me with mine eyes,

very cautious, and oft now did I perceive how that the monstrous slug

creatures did lie in this place and in that against the cliffs of the

Gorge. And I did go then utter still, from this space to that space

among the rocks, and oft upon the flat of my belly, and with a constant

heed that I make not mine armour to knock against the boulders.

And always as I did go, there was a monstrous stench, and the choking of

sulphurous smoke very oft. And here and there, as mine heart doth

believe, there were utter great caverns within the mountains to the

right and to the left; and of this thing I have some small proof; for

once I did go by a place where a fire did burn, as it should be a

fire-hole, afar inward of the mountain side upon my right; so that I saw

in a moment that I looked in the darkness through the mouth of a mighty

cave-place; and I went past very quick and silent, for I knew not

whether any horrid thing should come forth out of that place to slay me.

And, truly, as I did think, if there did be one such place, there were

like to be many; and mayhaps the slugs came forth from those caverns,

where, as I did conceive there was naught save an eternal dripping of

waters and the foul growth of things in all parts. Yet is this last but

a thought, as I do say, and you shall wisely take it for no more than

that.

Now, I came clear of the darkness and the slime and the stinking in

about twelve hours after the time that I did think the mountains to be a

roof unto the Gorge; and the air was now free and did seem as that some

life and health did abound in it; and the fires did be more plentiful,

and burned very bright and clean, and threw all their fumings upward, so

that there was no more any bitter pain of sulphur within my throat.

And surely, it was with a thankful heart that I went onward, and with a

good speed; for there was much of light all about me, in that there

burned an hundred fire-pits here and in that place; so that I saw clear

before me and behind, and conceived that the slugs did abide only in the

closed part of the Gorge. And oft I did take the air very full into my

lungs, for the sweetness of it, after the horrid stenchings that I had

abode all those hours.

And presently, when I was come free of the roofed part of the Gorge,

maybe some three good hours, I lookt for a place proper to slumber; for

it was surely something over three and thirty hours since that I did

last come upon sleep; and I was utter worn and lost of strength with so

much of creeping and harking for monsters, as you shall believe;

moreover, about that time I had gone bitter long whiles between

slumberings through more than an hundred hours, as you shall have

perceived from my tellings.

Now, presently, I saw a small cave that went inward of the side of the

Gorge. And I lookt into the cave, and found it to be sweet and clean,

and very dry. And there was a small fire-pit off from the mouth of the

cave that did throw a good light for my purpose; so that I saw there was

no creeping thing or horror in the place; and I went in, and made to

prepare for my slumber.

But truly, when I was come to look upon myself, I was utter soiled and

did seem as that I stank with the slime and disgust of the dark part of

the Gorge, where I had gone upon my hands, and upon my belly. And

because of this, I was set that I should not eat or come to sleep,

without I washed me.

And I went out from the cave, and there was a spring near to the

fire-pit, as was oft in that part of the Gorge. And the spring was hot

and did fill a hollow of the rock, very quiet and with a fuming of

sulphur, as I did bend above it. And I washed mine hands and face and

mine armour and gear, in the hot spring, and did dry me with my

pocket-cloth; and so was sweetened and put to happiness of mind.

And I went back into the cave, and did sit in the mouth of the cave,

with the Diskos to mine hand; and I eat four of the tablets, for I was

gone a mortal long while without, and afterward I drank some of the

water. And as I did eat and drink, I lookt out upon the lightness of the

Gorge before me, and with a cheerful and composed heart.

And I saw presently that there came certain creatures out from their

holes, even as it might be that they were part rats; but very strange

looking, and not properly such. And some did lie about the fire-hole,

and some did hunt about in the rocks; and one came presently, and had a

snake by the neck. And it stood upon the snake, and did eat it, even

while that the snake did lash about upon the rock. And the snake did

lash until that it was nigh all eat; and a very strange thing this was

to see, and something troublesome to the pity. Yet was I glad to

perceive that there were enemies to the serpents of that place.

And when the rat creature did make an end of the snake, it made across

to the spring, and did drink the hot water a while; and afterward back

unto the fire, and there laid down anigh to the edge, and seeming very

sweetly comforted of the belly, which, in truth, was much otherwise with

me. And, after that, I saw many creatures that went about the fire, and

did have warmth from the fire and drink from the spring; and surely I

did ponder that the Peoples of this our Age should say, if they had

stood with me, that Providence had made nigh together the warmth and the

drink that were needful unto life (for it was grown to a bitter chill

now in the Gorge). But rather did this thing seem to me otherwise, that

these creatures did be but of their circumstance, and if that it had

been another way, then had they grown of their wits to meet it to their

means of life. Yet, as some would say, the arguments do but meet, and be

the same thing. And neither way do I care in this place; but do no more

than to show unto you the working of my brain, in this way and that, as

I made my journey.

Now, presently, when I was done eating, and come very ready to fall upon

sleep, I went out from the cave and gat me certain boulders, the which I

did carry into the cave. And when I was come back for the last time, I

put them very secure in the entrance-way, that no small stinging

creature come at me as I slept. And after that, I made ready, and went

to my sleep, having sweet thoughts and slumbrous, of the Maid.

Now I slept very quiet that time, and was not over troubled with the

chill of the Gorge, which was but little in that place, both by reason

of the fire-pit and because that the cave did help to keep my warmth to

me. And I had a deep slumber for eight hours, and waked then pretty

tired, but strong to go upon my way. And after that I had sat a little

while, I came full to wakefulness and afterward did eat two of the

tablets and drink some of the water, the which I did, sitting in the

mouth-part of the cave, after that I had cast free the boulders.

And afterward, I gat my gear upon me, and I went again upon my journey.

And the Gorge did continue very light and cheerful, with the shining of

the fires; and oft there did be a little steam that did hiss from this

part or that of the bottom of the Gorge and did blow very quaint and

noisy in the quiet of that place. And oft there did be hot pools, and

everywhere the great boulders in the bottom way, and to the right and to

the left the black and mighty sides of the Gorge that did go upward for

ever into the everlasting night.

And so I did go, and had eat and drunk at the sixth hour, and gone

onward again. And, lo! at the eighth hour, I did thrill sudden with a

wondrous great thrilling; for, in verity, it did seem to me that the

Master-Word did beat softly about me, out of all the night of the world.

And all my heart did throb with great glowings of joy; yet was the beat

of the Word unsure, so that I knew not truly whether my spirit had

indeed heard aught, for there was immediately a silence, as ever, about

mine inward being. Yet, as you shall believe, there was a new hope and

strength of courage in all my body and soul.

And I went forward very swift, and all renewed, as it were; and my

strength and hope did make naught of any terror that should lie to bar

my way, neither did I have further heed of the boulders that lay always

upon my path, but did go over them with quick leapings, and a wondrous

and thrilling eagerness of the heart within me.

And, sudden, in the end of the tenth hour, I perceived that the mighty

walls of blackness that made the sides of the Gorge did be no more

there, and that I was come truly upon the end of the Gorge. And I near

trembled with hope and astonishment; for when I was gone a little way

on, I had ceased to go upward any more, and was come clear out from the

mouth of the Gorge, and did peer forth across a mighty country of night.

And it did seem to me as that I was come to a second Land of Strange

matters, even as the Night Land where did lie the wonder of the Mighty

Pyramid. And surely, I did think within my heart that I was come at last

to that far and hidden place of the world where did be the Lesser

Redoubt. But yet was there no place in all that night where did tower

the shining lights of the Lesser Pyramid, the which I did hope vainly to

perceive. And because that I saw them not, a great heaviness came upon

my spirits for a time; but afterward the heaviness did go; for I put

Reason to help my courage, and did plan this cause and that to show why

that I was not come to sight of the shining embrasures of the Lesser

Redoubt. But yet was there left an ache of doubting, as you shall well

conceive.

Now this Land was very new and strange, and had a great light in this

part, and a wondrous grim darkness in that. And I did pause a great

while to determine how that I should go properly. And presently I

bethought me of the compass, and did draw it forth, and set it upon the

earth, that I should see how it did act. And truly it did go almost as

Naani had told to me; so that I was very sure in all my being that I was

in verity come anigh to the hidden Refuge. But yet did the compass give

me no proper guiding to my way; so that I was no more wise to this end

than before, only that I had the comfort of that which it did seem to

assure.

And, in a little while, I went forward into the Land, and did hope that

I should come presently to some matter to help my choice. And I went

first toward a certain great glowing of fire that lay before me, and did

seem joined to another great glare that went afar to my left.

And I found the ground of that Land to be very fair for my feet, and to

have in this place and that certain bushes, even as it did seem to me,

of the kind that we named moss-bushes in the Night Land, as you do know.

And I made a very good speed, and went thus until I had gone for maybe

six long hours. And by that time, I was come anigh to the glowing of

light; and did keep now a strong caution to my going; for truly, as I

did know from the tellings of the Maid, there were very horrid and

dreadful Powers in that Land, and I did well to remember that I was come

again to parts where might be the destruction of the spirit. Now I made

a pause, and lookt toward the glowing light; and it seemed to me that

for a monstrous way unto the right and unto the left, there did be

surely a great, hid valley in the earth before me. For the shining did

seem as that it came up from out of a valley, as that there burned a

deep light in such a place; but yet was I all unsure, and had no proper

knowing whether indeed there did be any valley there, but only a strange

and luminous shining that did come upward from the earth.

And I made no great haste now to go unto that place; but went down

sudden into the bushes, and lay upon my belly, and had a new great fear

upon my spirit. And presently, I parted the bushes a little, and made a

place for spying.

And I looked a great time unto the place of the light, and now to this

part and now to that. And sudden, I saw, as it did seem, a monstrous

head within the glowing; for the glowing did seem at whiles as that it

swept to and fore, as should a shining smoke that went obedient to a

quiet wind: and so to hide and again to uncover. And in a moment I lost

the great face, and was all unsure that ever I had seen aught.

And lo! in a little minute, I did see it again; but whether it did be

the shape of some utter monster of eternity--even as the Watchers about

the Mighty Pyramid--or whether it did be no more than a carven mountain

of rock, shaped unto the dire picturing of a Monster, I did have no

knowing. But I made that I should get hence very quick, and I did turn

me about in the bushes, and went upon my hands and knees; and so came at

last a great way off.

Now, presently, I came again upon my feet, and did take a new look

around that Land. And I had the mouth of the Gorge to my back, and this

I perceived by the shining of the fire-pits that made the place shown to

me.

And to the left of the Gorge was an utter blackness, as I did conceive

of black and monstrous mountains, through which the Gorge did come. And

to the right side of the Gorge there were many low volcanoes, that went

always along the feet of the great mountains that made the right wall of

the Gorge. And I saw the feet of these dark mountains, because that the

light from the little volcanoes made a glare upon the lower slopes.

And so shall you have some knowing of that part of this second Land of

Night.

And a good way off, was the shining that I had journeyed unto, and the

shining went into a distant light through a part of the Land that lay

afar to my left, for it stretched a great and strange way toward me, out

of the leftward gloom, and came unto my front, and so away into an utter

distance. Yet, though it was so great, you shall not think that it made

any huge light in the Land; but was rather as that it had a shining made

unto other ends; for it made not a great lightness in the Land.

And you do now perceive something roughly how the Land did seem to my

back part and unto my left, and somewhat before my face. And because

that I did think to have no profit to my search, if that I went to the

left, I made attention unto the Right. And here there was much of

darkness; yet oft the shining of fire-holes in this place and that amid

the darkness. And, as I did look, it grew very plain upon me how great

was the spread and drear wideness of that Country of Night; and how

that I did be an utter lonesome person in all that dark. And so shall

you be with me in sympathy of the utter greatness of my task, and know

of the fear that did breed, odd whiles, that I should search until I

die, and never find. And you to give me good human understanding.

Now I made no more to delay, but went unto the right, and did keep the

chain of the little volcanoes something level to my course; though a

great way off. And I went thus with a strange growing of hope, and an

excitement, for ten hours, and had eat not then for more than twenty

hours, and surely not since the sixth hour of that day and this because

that I was so utter shaken from my calmness of going.

And at the tenth hour, I went utter weak, and did seem surely as that I

must swoon. And lo! I bethought me how that I was gone so long without

aught for my belly. And surely, when I was quiet a time, I eat four of

the tablets, and in a good while did feel all renewed, and would rest no

more, after that I had drunk some of the water, but went onward; for, in

verity, my spirit did be as that it had slain me, if that I had lain

down at that time. And this because hope was so fierce in me; for I to

feel indeed that I was come near to the Maid.

And I went ten hours more, until that I did truly totter upon my feet,

with utter and dreadful weariness; for I had gone now through someways

of forty great hours, and had been foolish in mine eating and drinking,

as you have perceived; but yet was this to be forgiven; for I was as

that I should come any little minute upon the wonder of the Lesser

Pyramid, shining afar in the night. Yet, truly, there was nowhere

anything that might be likened unto it.

And I lay down there, just as I did be, and with no proper heed to my

safety. And I was gone asleep in one moment, as it did seem; and waked

not for twelve hours; and then did come suddenly unto knowledge; and

thankful was I in the heart that no monster had come upon me in that

dead-time of slumbering. And I eat four of the tablets, as was surely

due unto me, and drank some of the water, and so gat forward again into

the night.

And truly I was mortal stiff and did ache for a great while, and this

did be in part because that I had wrapped not the cloak about me, ere I

slept; for the Land was bitter cold and did make the blood very chill.

Now when I had gone onward through six hours, I ate and drank; for I did

mind now to be wise and keep my strength good within me. And I went

onward again at a very great speed, and full of an excitement. And

surely, I did be glad at last that the tablets were so easy gone in the

mouth, and unfilling to the belly; for I had been without power and

patience to eat proper victual.

And at the tenth hour, I saw that there rose a red-shining out of the

Land before me, as that it came upward from a mighty pit. And I made

slow my way, and so, when I was gone on for two great hours more, I eat

four of the tablets, and in a good while did feel all renewed, and would

rest no more, after that I had drunk some of the water, but went onward;

for, in verity, my spirit did be as that it had slain me, if that I had

lain down at that time. And this because hope was so fierce in me; for I

to feel indeed that I was come near to the Maid.

And I went ten hours more, until that I did truly totter upon my feet,

with utter and dreadful weariness; for I had gone now through someways

of forty great hours, and had been foolish in mine eating and drinking,

as you have perceived; but yet was this to be forgiven; for I was as

that I should come any little minute upon the wonder of the Lesser

Pyramid, shining afar in the night. Yet, truly, there was nowhere

anything that might be likened unto it.

And I lay down there, just as I did be, and with no proper heed to my

safty. And I was gone asleep in one moment, as it did seem; and waked

not for twelve hours; and then did come suddenly unto knowledge; and

thankful was I in the heart that no monster had come upon me in that

dead-time of slumbering. And I eat four of the tablets, as was surely

due unto me, and drank some of the water, and so gat forward again into

the night.

And truly I was mortal stiff and did ache for a great while, and this

did be in part because that I had wrapped not the cloak about me, ere I

slept; for the Land as bitter cold and did make the blood very chill.

Now when I had gone onward through six hours, I ate and drank; for I did

mind now to be wise and keep my strength good within me. And I went

onward again at a very great speed, and full of an exciteent. And

surely, I did be glad at last that the tablets were so easy gone in the

mouth, and unfilling to the belly; for I had been without power and

patience to eat proper victual.

And at the tenth hour, I saw that there rose a red-shining out of the

Land before me, as that it came upward from a mighty pit. And I made

slow my way, and so, when I was gone on for two great hours more, I saw

that monstrous figures went about, against the red glare of the shining.

And I gat me down into the bushes which were very plentiful in that

part.

And I stayed there for a certain while, and made a watch upon the

red-shining and the figures; and, truly, it did seem to me that there

were horrid giants in that Land, even as in the Night Land. And

afterward, I crept away, and went outward from the little volcanoes,

into that part of the Land that was dark, save, as you do mind, for the

glare of fire-holes in this part and that.

And I went now with an utter care; for the giants had put a new caution

into my heart, and I did surely mean that I should live to rescue mine

own Maid, and have joy through all my life. And thereafter, I went with

the Diskos in my hand, and at each hour that was the sixth, I eat two of

the tablets, and drank some of the water, and so did keep my strength

very good within me.

Now, presently, I was come to a place where the Land did go downward a

great slope, and there was a difference in the earth that went beneath

my feet, and no great plenty of the bushes; but only one in this place

and one in that, and nowhere any fire-hole.

And I gat me down and did feel the earth with my hands, and lo! I did

find presently smooth stones, and afterward olden shells. And

immediately, a great delight took me; for Naani had told how that the

Lesser Pyramid stood something nigh to the shore of an ancient sea, that

was long dried up in the years of eternity. And surely it might be that

I was come down into the dry bottom of that same olden sea, and should

presently have sight of the Little Pyramid.

And because that hope was put so fresh into me, I went forward through,

maybe, thirty hours, across the olden sea-bed; but in all that time I

had no sight of the lights of the Lesser Redoubt. And a great trouble

began to take me; for, indeed, Naani had not told me how great was the

sea; and it might be that I should wander a weariful age across it,

before that I come to the far side.

And it did come to me, presently, how that I should be wise to see that

my way was very straight, so that I waste not my strength in useless

wanderings. And I had a great care now to observe that the red-shining

did be always upon my right, to my rear; and by this reasonable cunning

did I make to steer very nicely through the great gloom of that place.

Now, as I did go across the bed of the great sea, I heard strange

sounds, now in this part of the darkness, and now in that; and oft did

there be a noise, as if things did run this way and that way in the bed

of the sea. And once, afar off in the night, there did be a strange and

horrid screaming; so that I did know truly that the monsters of that

Land were out, and did go about in the dark.

And, as you shall perceive and understand, I was all unknowing of the

lore of that Land; so that I knew not what to think of this strange

sound or that, neither knew I what they might portend, but only that, as

I did say, there were Monsters abroad. And I could do no more than have

my way forward with an utter care always, and be very ready with the

Diskos, or to hide, each as maybe according to the need.

And, surely, I went one-and-forty hours that day, and eat and drank

after every sixth hour. And before this, in the seven-and-thirtieth

hour, I heard a great roaring and bellowing in the night, coming nigh

unto me; and afterward the thudding of monstrous feet, as that a giant

ran past me in the darkness, and did make a chase of some creature. And

the thudding of the feet and the roaring went far off into the night;

and there did seem presently to come back to me from a great way, a

little screaming; but of this thing I had no surety; and I abode very

hushed in a clump of bush, until quietness was come again all about; for

there had been an utter frightening sound in the horrid voice and in the

thudding of the great feet.

Now, in the one-and-fortieth hour of that day, I came upon the farther

shore of the olden sea. But lo! there was nowhere any light to tell me

aught of the Lesser Refuge. And truly, a great doubt and bewilderment

took me; for, indeed, I could not perceive how it might be that I saw

not the lights of the embrasures of the Lesser Pyramid. And a great

despair took me; so that I sat down there upon the shore of the olden

sea, and had no heed of anything for a while.

But afterward, I ate and drunk, and went into a clump of bush, and wrapt

the cloak about me, and so went fast unto sleep, with the Diskos handy

to my breast. And, in verity, the pain of the despair and the

bewilderment of mine heart did make rather for sleep, than to keep me

wakeful; for, indeed, I was half stunned of the brain and of my courage;

and did seem now the farther off from the ending of my search than ever

I had been.

And I slept six hours, and waked then, sudden. And I leaned up upon mine

elbow in the bush, and harked very quiet, perchance some noise had

shaken my sleep from me. But, indeed, there was nothing, only that I was

wakeful, and did mind me of my trouble of failure. Yet now, I did invent

this thing and that thing to make natural account that I was not come to

the Lesser Redoubt; and so had hope again within me; yet much also of

doubt and bewilderment.

And I eat two of the tablets, and drank some of the water, and again to

my journey. And I made that I should keep along the shore of the sea,

the which I did through twelve hours, and was then still so much in

doubt as ever.

And I ceased from my journeying, and lookt about me over the Land, and

lo! I did note how that a weak and strange shining was in the air of the

Land, at a great way; as it had been that a far spreaded and faint

glowing made a little glare into all the night unto my left and before

me.

Now I ate and drank, and made to steady my spirit; for I did fear lest I

should feel utter lost in all the night of the world, and to know not

where to make any more my search, and so to grow desperate in despair.

And this thing you will understand.

And afterward, I did make across that Land, unto the place where it did

seem that the dull shining was something bright. And I went thus through

eighteen hours, and did make pause at each sixth hour, and ate and drank

very resolute; though, in verity, it did seem as that even so small a

matter as the tablets did be like to choke me. And by this is it plain

to me how great an anguish was come upon my spirit, lest that I was all

astray, and should have no joy to succour mine Own.

And thrice in the time that I did go, there did be a running of feet

amid the darkness; and odd whiles strange and horrid cryings in the

night; so that I put a force upon my despair, and hid me; for, indeed, I

had no right to lose care of my life, if there did be any chance yet

that I find the Maid.

And lo! in the eighteenth hour, which was truly the thirtieth of that

day, I found the shining in the night to be grown very plain, and an

utter stinking of sulphur; and truly I did be aware that the Land went

upward.

And I made upward through seven hours, and the light did grow more

plain, and was of a dull redness, very sombre and heavy. And in the end

of six more hours, I ceased to go upward, and did know of a strange low

sound, that did be like to no other sound that ever I did hear; and was

like to a dull roar that did never have ceased through eternity.

And I went forward unto the light, and the Land to be now as that I went

over an upland plain. And I did go thus through five hours, and the low

roar did grow ever upon mine ears. And truly! even as I did shape my

thoughts to take a caution for my body, I went upward again a little,

and came out upon the edge of a mighty cliff, and the low and constant

roar did moan upward against me with an everlasting muttering. And I

lookt downward a monstrous way, and surely there was spread out a mighty

sea, as it did seem, of dull fire, as that a red-hot mud did lap very

deep and quiet below me in all that night.

And I lookt outward across the strange sea, and the far side was hid

from me; for, surely, there were dull and solemn clouds that came off

the sea, and hid the distance from me. And the clouds to glow a little

redly; and so to rise, and presently to blacken into the night. And I

lookt to the right and to the left, and it was plain that the black

cliffs did stretch out both ways, and did go downward ever into that

monstrous sea of slow fire. And there were great headlands that went out

into the fire, as into a sea; and the fire did lap very quiet about

these, and where the fire lapt about them, there did shine and spirt out

green flames and vapours at diverse times.

And, indeed, as I did perceive, I was come to an upward sea of fire, as

it were the deep inwards of a low and utter monstrous volcano, that was

flat of the top and utter big across. And, in verity, I did look

downward into the fires of the inward earth, and a very wondrous sight

was it, to stand there alone upon the cliffs of that everlasting sea.

And a great heat came upward from the dull and grim fire of that gloomy

sea, and a reek of sulphur; so that I was like to be choked, and did go

backward from the edge of the cliff.

And surely, I was come to the end of that Dark Land upon that side, and

had nowhere perceived the Lesser Pyramid in all the night of my travel.

And a new despair came upon me; for, indeed, it seemed I was come all

astray in the night of the World, and did nowise have any knowing

whether I stood near to the Country of the Lesser Redoubt, or whether

that I was gone half across the World unto a strange place.

And, then, as the despair troubled my spirit and dulled the beating of

my heart, a sudden thought did light up a fresh hope within me; for,

indeed, as you do know, I was come upward of a great height, and did

surely have a huge view over all that Land; and mayhaps the Lesser

Pyramid did lie somewhere in a valley, if, in verity, it did be

anywheres at all in that Country. And I turned me from the cliffs, and

lookt backward over all the night of the Land; but there was nowhere in

all that Country the shining of the Lights of the Lesser Pyramid.

And lo! of a sudden I did know that there was something in the night.

And I stared, with a very keen and anxious look. And behold, there was

the black shape of a great pyramid afar off in the night, that did show

against the shining of the distant light; for it did stand between me

and the far-off fires. But until I was come to that place, whence I did

look, I had not stood to have it plain against the shining upon the

other side of that Land.

And how I did feel in that moment, I have no words to set out unto you.

But surely was my heart gracious with thankfulness, and I ready to leap

with joy and hope, and all my body thrilled with an excitement that

would not have me to be silent; so that, suddenly, I began to shout

foolishly across the night. But I came soon to wisdom and silence, as

you shall think.