The Night Land

The Night Land Page 9

by William Hope Hodgson

  IX

  THE DARK PYRAMID

  Now in two hours more I was come clear down out of the Gorge, and stoodin that Country; and for all that I did feel fresh troubled andbewildered, yet was I rejoiceful, as you may believe, in the surprisinglight and splendour of that sudden Land.

  And before that I had come down out of the great Gorge, I had stood highwithin the mouth thereof, and lookt well out over the mighty Country.And I had counted seven and twenty great volcanoes, and this doth nottake heed of two monstrous ranges of fire-hills that burned afar off,something unto my right. Neither doth it take account of an hundredthousand lesser places of fire.

  And truly it did seem a very land of fire and water. For there was asmall fire-hill stood within a sea, as it did seem no more than a littlemile from that place where I did stand. And maybe a score to the back ofit, spread all about. And here shall I do proper to tell concerning theseas. For there were of these, that I did count at that time, three thatwere small, and a mighty sea that went onward for ever into the redlight of the fire-hills, so that it was gone utterly out of my sight,and did show no ending.

  And there rose up out of the seas, islands; and on the islands,volcanoes. But in other parts the fire-hills did come upward straightlyfrom the sea. And over the near sea, as it did seem, there lay aplentitude of steam, as that the sea did boil at whiles and in diverseplaces.

  And there did seem to me, as it were within the red atmosphere of thatplace, as that there were a muttering thunder, low and constant, shakingthe air, now from that distance and now from this, and this did I judgeto be the voices of the fire-hills, speaking with the fire that lived inthem.

  And you shall conceive how utter new was all this unto me; for there wasin that Country a constant Voice of the Energy of Life, so that theWorld-Noise of this our Age was even there again, and with a keen andundoubted apparentness; and the more so some ways, than now.

  And here shall I set down more closely the things that were ready to mygaze.

  And first, that it did much attract me, there was a huge and blackenedmountain unto the left of the mouth of the Gorge, and the mountain didgo upward into the night, maybe fifteen and maybe twenty miles. Andthere was a mighty peaked volcano that grew out from the side of themountain so high up as five miles, as I did guess that height; and thiswas upon the far side. And above this there was a second, maybe nine orten great miles up in the blackness of the night that hung afar upward.And, as that this were not great wonder enough, there did burn and glowtwo other mighty fire-hills, at an utter height, upon the left crest ofthat black mountain; and these were upward so monstrous a way, as thatthey did seem to make strange and smouldering suns within the night. Andtruly, as you shall perceive, this was a wondrous thing.

  And below these upward fire-hills there rose up from the earth vastmountains of ash and burned stuff, that had been cast forth by theseperched volcanoes, and had poured downward unto the earth throughoutEternity, and so to build grey and sombre monuments unto the dreadfulglory of Time.

  And to my right there was always sea and sea and the red blazing of thefire-hills; but unto my left, there were mighty forests, and there roseupward 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 firstimpressing upon my brain and sense.

  And after that I had come down out of the mouth of the great Gorge, as Idid tell a little while gone, I came upon a pause; for, surely, whichway was the way proper unto my search. And I lookt about for a greatwhile, and afterward did climb back into the Gorge, and called myselffoolish, 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 wasbut one way that I should go; for truly, as I have said, there was onlythe seas unto my right; but unto the left, where the shores did meet theseas, there seemed, so far as mine eyes did tell to me, a clear way fora space. And mayhap, when I had come so far, I should even find afurther way to go forward. And so did I descend again unto the Countryof the Seas, as I did ever call that red-shining country of water andfire.

  And by, that I was come again from the height of the Gorge, it was fourand twenty hours since that I did last sleep; so that I was fain that Ishould put into some nook, and come to slumber, as you shall wellbelieve.

  And I found me a neat and proper place, where three great trees grewabout a little basin of rock that was very dry and warm. And here, afterthat I had eat three of the tablets, and drunk some of the water--thewhile that my belly did yearn, as ever, for proper eating-stuff--I mademy bed in the little basin of the rock, and lay me down, and did beginto think awhile upon Naani; but was gone over to sleep before that I wasaware.

  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 andsteaming, and pungent to the taste, as well I did know. And I perceivednow that the water poured in from a smoothed slit upon the far side, anddid come with a strange gurgling and bubbling, so that I conceived somedeep 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 didquickly suppose that the water had poured forth at seasons into thebasin for an eternity of time, and afterward did go back by fissures inthe bottom of the basin; and this to happen, as I soon did find, alittle beyond the length of every hour; and, indeed the basin to emptyslow as I did watch.

  Now, being much wetted, I stript off mine armour, having before thisdipt out mine effects from the hot pool, and so did come down to thenaked flesh, and I found a place where the rock was hot, and here I didspread my garments. And whilst that they came to dryness, I gat me intothe hot pool, and had a very pleasant bathing, and did have no greatfear of any dangerous thing; for, as it did seem, I had surely left allsuch behind, within the Night Lands. Yet did I have the Diskos upon thepool 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; butnever did I feel the nearness and horrid power of any Evil Force; forthese, as I do conceive, were congregate and gathered about the MightyPyramid, being attracted thereto by the great spiritual essence of sowondrous a multitude of humans gotten so close in one spot, even assharks do come after the ship that hath bullocks within. Yet, how thatthe Evil Powers were given entrance unto this State of our Life, I haveno sure knowing; yet have I put forward certain thoughts on this matterin an earlier place; and more than such thinkings is surely vanity; forthere is no certainty in my Reasoning concerning the thing.

  Now, presently was my clothing dry, yet before this, I had come out fromthat bath, which truly was nigh all gone backward into the earth. And Idressed me again, and got my armour upon me, and afterward was I in amore lightsome state of the mind; and yet very ready to come again untomy sleep. And this I did, and had six hours more beside the pool; andonce was wakened somewhat by the gruntling and bubbling noise of thewater, 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 sensesand feelings to go forward again through that red-lighted Country, andthis I did, after that I had eat and drunk.

  Now all that day I went forward at a great pace; and the nameless woodswere unto my left, and the shores of the seas unto my right. And oft didI find that the trees grew even into the water, so that oft did I goforward among the trees, and a very wonderful thing was this to me, thatnever had known before in all my life, until I was come into thatCountry, how that a glad and wild mystery doth live among forest trees.For there was no such strange wildness among the groves of theUnderground Fields; though a solemn beauty in plenty. And the scent ofthe 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; butalway to my left, and around me oft-times as I did say, the greatforests. And a
s I did go, lo! there was life in all those darksomewoods, and living eyes did peer out odd whiles upon me, and afterward gobackward into the dark; so that I wotted not whether to fear, or to haveno 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 timethrough the forest, before that I was come to them. And about each wasthere a deadness and desolation, where the fire had killed the bigtrees; yet, as I did observe, the quick life of little plants did growmore nigh, as that they were born and lived between the times of thefire-bursts. And this I do take it that you perceive.

  And in that one day I past thirty and seven boiling springs; but whetherthey boiled truly, I do have no knowledge; only that they sent out agreat steam oft-times; and some did make a strong roaring noise; so thatto hear them afar off in the forests was to think odd times that somewild beast roared strangely.

  Now, when the eighteenth hour was come, I sat me down, as I had doneupon the sixth and the twelfth hours, and eat two of the tablets, anddrank 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 Ihad chosen a place against a great rock, which was so that no creaturemight come upon me from behind. And I came easy upon sleep; but yet Idid fix it upon me that I slumber only with the body; for I did know, bythe shining of the eyes in the darksome woods, that strange creaturesabode in the mighty forests.

  And ere I was gone over to sleep, I thought upon Naani, as I had donemuch all that day, as though her spirit did hover near unto mine, anddid strive pitiful to speak with me. And this I set out to you, that youshall know how it did seem unto me in my thoughts and fancyings. And asI lay there, I put a blessing upon her, and a determination into myheart 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 deadworld where did stand the lesser Refuge. And I was then asleep in amoment.

  And lo! sudden I was awake. And lovely was the brightness of thatCountry, that did show me in a moment my danger, and did not keep mesuspend in fearful Doubt, as did the grey darkness and strange shadowsand lights of the Night Land. For I saw, on the instant that I got me tomine elbow, how that certain things did crouch within the borders of thetrees, no more than a score paces off. And I perceived in a moment thatmy 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 sixsquat men that were humpt at the neck and shoulder; and they did crouchall there in a row, and were something hid by the shadows; and Iperceived that they watched me; and the eyes of the men did shine likethe eyes of beasts; and so shall you know somewhat of the strange terrorthat came upon me. Yet had I the Diskos and mine armour; and though myheart 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; andbehold! I could not see the Humped Men, for they were gone from thatplace; yet never did I see them go, though I had kept my gaze verysteadfast upon that part where they did hide. And, as you shallunderstand, I was near ready to believe that there had been nothingthere within the border of the wood; yet truly I knew that the men withthe humps had been there, as I had seen.

  Now, I looked presently, and found that I had slept five hours; and Ieat two of the tablets, as I did stand there, watchful; and afterwarddrank some of the water; and so was ready to go forward again; for I wasgrown very anxious to be gone from that place; and did have no knowledgebut that those strangely humpt Men were but a little way off, among thetrees, and might come upon me in a moment; or, further, that they did goto 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 ata great stride, and did hold the Diskos very handy, and lookt this wayand 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 hadpower to out-pace those men or aught else of their kind.

  And all that day, through thirty great hours did I go forward, at thatstride, and did always watch; and at every sixth hour, I eat two of thetablets 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 Idid hope, my faith was not this wise; for twice and thrice did it cometo 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, anddid make my hope of but little account.

  Now, because that I had no faith to company my hope, I was not easy tohave 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 waswater ahead, besides the water of the sea that was ever to my right. AndI 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 thata river came into the sea, and did come out of all the country that layunto my left.

  And in the mouth of this river, there was a small island; and surely Idid look across to the island, and think it a refuge from the Humped Menthat did surely play dog upon my going. Yet, truly, this was but an idlethought, and my need was that I should come to some way to cross overthe river, that I go forward beside the great sea, which did stretchonward, 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 Iswum, 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 placewhere the river did narrow; and surely I had been like to walk a mightydistance to this purpose, but that I came soon to a second river thatdid enter the first, not a mile above the shore of the sea; so that, asyou do perceive, there was the sea to one side of me, and this secondriver unto the other, and the first river before me; and thus was Isorely 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 theHumped Men, put wit into me, so that I lookt about for a tree that wasfallen. And there were many, yet great, so that I was much wearied andsomething strained of the spirit, before that I gat two little treesunto 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 thisbusiness, 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 diddouble the labour of my work, as you shall perceive; yet, in the end, itwas done, and I ready to adventure over the river.

  And so I did push off with the pole, and I pusht and paddled maybe thehalf of an hour, for, indeed it was all a clumsy contriving, and mayhapI 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 thingthat I should have my slumber there, and afterward go onward to thefarther shore. And this I did; and after that I had eat and drunk, asever, I lay down to sleep. And by this time it was three and thirtyhours 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 avery safe place; and, in verity, I came to no harm, though I was as adead 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 dranksome of the water; and afterward made an end of my voyage, and then didtake back my belts and straps from binding the trees, and so forwardagain upon my way, and no more fearful of the Humped Men; for, surely, Idid think I had left them all
upon the far shore of the river; thoughafterward 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 anddid coast upon wonders oft. And at the sixth and the twelfth hours did Ieat and drink, as ever; and between the eighth and the fourteenth hoursdid I come past two mighty fire-hills, that made all the Country totremble with their noise. And four times did monstrous creatures pass byme; but I was swift hid, and came to no harm.

  And oft as I did go, were my thoughts upon the dear Maid that Ijourneyed to save from destruction. Yet, as you must see, always were mythinkings brought sharply unto my going; so that scarce was I ever setoff to ponder upon Naani, but that there came some danger or wonder togive me heed to my way. And because of this, as you have learned, I wasmore put to plan free of the instant trouble and peril of my way,through all that mighty journey, than to have quiet chance for thoughtsof love unto mine Own. Yet, truly, was not my journey one whole thoughtof love unto Naani? And, that peril made oft dumb my brain, was but thetruer song unto my Maid.

  And at times I was among trees; but oft did go past unnumbered boilingsprings and small fire-hills; and oft was the air full of the noise ofthe little fire-hills, and the roar of the boiling springs; but therecame no harm unto me.

  And a thousand times did I perceive things that had life; and I made avery cautious way; though with a great speed and cleverness of goingthat made my heart glad.

  And oft did I come to parts where a great life held the trees, and greenstuff did flourish exceedingly, and the air rich and full and wondroussweet; so that I was fain to think how that in some far-off time, itmight be that our children's children should come down unto thisCountry, when the Upper Valley of the Night Land was grown to an utterchill and lacking of air; and here build them a new Refuge, if, indeedany should come clear of the Evil Forces and the Monsters that did liveabout the Mighty Pyramid in the Night Land. Yet, how should they comeclear of those things; so that this is, as you do perceive, no more thana thought that did rise vaguely in me. And yet, again, who shall saywhat may be?

  And onward I did pass, and I do mind me how that I saw the lower firesof that Country to burn very fierce; and this I set to the richness ofthe air; but yet with no surety of knowledge; and do but tell the samethat you shall see the oddments of thought that went oft across mybrain, 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 amongthe trees, and the sea was downward of a great cliff unto my right, forI had gone upward for a long and weary hour. And I did see now a thingthat made me to be cautious, and yet that did hold my heart to goswiftly to perceive the thing; for it was very strange.

  And I went forward quickly, yet with a wise care; and so was comepresently more nigh. And I perceived that the thing was, in part, a highrock, very tall and pointed and maybe an hundred feet high; butafterward I did find it to be more. And there was a monstrous greatthing upon the top of the rock, that did seem very strange; and I stoptand lookt, and afterward went forward again; and so for a time, untilthat I was but a little way off. And now I saw that there did seem to bea 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 theunderpart to be as that I had lookt before upon it. And upon the upperpart, there grew trees and green things, even as these did grow upon oddledges of the upstanding rock. Yet, for the most, the rock was verystark, 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 asafe and proper place for my slumber, if that I had power to come safeto the top. And when I had thought this thing, I began at once to climbup the rock; and I found that the rock was very high; so that in a whileI was come a great way off the earth, and yet was not come to the top ofthe rock. And because that I was awearied, I lookt about for a safeplace 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 Islept, 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 byreason that I was not yet proper rested from the task of the day thatwas gone before that one.

  Now I waked very sudden, maybe seven hours after; and I had knowledgewithin me that my spirit did wot of some nigh danger. And I gat upwardfrom the rock, very quiet, and had the Diskos ready in my hand. And Ilookt 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 thatthere came up the rock two Humped Men; and they did climb very swift andsilent; 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 lookdownward. And I saw how that the Humped Men did seem to be humpt byreason of their being so monstrous thick and mighty of the neck and theshoulder, as that they had been human bulls. And I saw that they werevery 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 mylife; 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 Diskosvery ready; for it was needful that I should kill one of those brute menspeedy, that I have no danger that one take me in the back, whilst thatI fight with the other.

  Then, in a moment it did seem, there came upward of the rock edge, thegreat and brutish face of the man. And in that moment that I slew him, Idid note curiously how that he had large teeth upon each side of themouth; and was aware that he had come so quiet as a great cat. And inthe backward parts of my brain, I bethought that even thus, maybe, wasprimal man, so that a strange and secondary questioning and wonderingdid live in that part of me; and I did learn from these scarce consciousreasonings that I was of belief the thing was truly a man; but verycrude and dangerous. And surely it is strange that I had all thisthought in that little moment; but in verity so it was; though I doubtnot 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 overthe rock; and he sank back, and sagged and fell dully, and I heard himbodge downward from rock to rock, very lumbersome; and so in a momentwas silence.

  Then did I look this way and that way of the ledge; for the second HumptMan was not yet upon me; and I feared that the pause did mean a cunningmischief and strategy. And when a little time had past, and all thewhile I was ready with the Diskos, and naught did come upward to harmme, 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 thisfrom me at once; for I did wot that such a creature did not be like tofear 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 greatrock.

  Then I did think sudden that he might be gone upward, so that he shouldcome down upon my back, and I lookt upward of the mighty rock; but didsee 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 hisspring. And in that moment, he made unto me with so mighty a leap as anytiger should give. And he came half over the edge, and gript the Diskosby the handle, in an instant.

  And surely I had lost that trusted weapon, or been pulled over and castinto the depth, but that the Diskos did spin, and the Earth-Current didmake 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 andshaken the creature sore. And I staggered back, with the effort I hadmade to withhold the Diskos; and the brutish man
came upward again overthe rock edge, and leapt at me. Yet he gat me not; for I sprang unto myright, and made a blow with the Diskos, even as I did leap. And the blowcame something short; but yet harmed the Humpt Man with a gash upon thebelly, very sore and horrid among the great brown hairs of the man. Andimmediately he sprang after me; but I smote full at the face; so that heleaped back from the strange roar and blaze of the Diskos, and yet washarmed; for he gat not right free of the blow; but did be cut very soreon the mighty and haired arm.

  Now, seeing that he was something feared of the weapon, I ran in uponhim, and smote again at the face; yet was the man gone out of my reachbefore 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 didjoin 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 amonstrous lump, so great near as my body; and did run upon me with therock above the head of him.

  Now, I perceived I should be smashed in a moment, if that I did not slaythe man very quick. For so mighty was he, that he did leap this way andthat way after me, as though the great rock did cumber him no more thanit had been but a light matter.

  And you shall perceive that I leapt this way and that way, to avoid theman; and twice did strike him; but yet was feared to brake the Diskosupon the rock, which the man did use as a shield each time that I didmake a blow. And all the while, I did act to escape when that the manshould 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 againstso horrid an attack.

  And time and oft did I leap now to the right and now to the left, andagain in a moment, I did cut the Humpt Man; but the blow was somethingturned off by the great rock in the hands of the man; yet so strange andmighty was the power of the Diskos, that it shore away a small portionof the rock, and did come to no hurt in itself.

  And, surely I had presently failed in wind and limb, because of theleapings and chargings that I did make; and because of the weight of thearmour, that was not overmuch, yet to be considered; but that I faintednot, was by reason of the wondrous hardness and leanness that I wasgrown to, with so constant a journeying and strait living; for thetablets did keep the strength in a man, though, truly, they eased notthe yearnings of the belly.

  And lo! even the brutish man did grow weary, and the hot breath andbody-stink to come from him; and surely who shall wonder, for always hedid rush to and fro upon me, with the monstrous rock to crush me. Andsudden, I leapt unto the right of the man, thinking within me that I didperceive a chance that I should cut him upon that side; but, truly, hewas less awearied than I did know; for he came very sharp upon me, andhad me between him and the wall of the Rock; and surely I had no room tomake escape, and had died in a moment, but that I made a sudden shamtoward the left with the Diskos, as that I should leap that way. And inthe same instant, I did go to the right with a strong bounding; andimmediately did come in upon the Humpt Man from that side; and I put myfortune of life to the stroke, and stood anigh to the man, and I smotehim across the middle part, before that he did wot of my intent. And theblow slew the man very surely, and did nigh cut the mighty creature intwain. And surely he fell, half leaping even as he died, so that themonstrous rock that was in the hands of the brutish man, did crash downalmost upon my feet, and I leapt very high that I should escape thethundering of the rock; for in verity, I was near slain in that lastmoment of the life of the Humpt Man. But yet I lived and came free ofdeath, and did have a relief of happiness about my heart, as you shallbelieve.

  Yet, truly, I was much shaken; and a little weakness took me, so that Iwas 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 didhaste down the Rock, and so was come presently to the earth again. And Isaw the first of the Humpt Men that I did slay, lying very quiet alittle off from the bottom of the Rock; so that I went round upon theother side to avoid the man; for it was no pleasure to mine eyes or tomy 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 ofthe Rock, I perceived that I was yet shaken; and I remembered that itwere wise to eat and drink and rest a little, before that I did gofurther upon my way.

  Now, as I did sit there at the bottom of the Rock, I looked upward atthe strange crown thereof; and until that time, I had been taken up withthe fight and with gazings this way and that to see whether there cameothers 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 sawplainly that I knew the thing that lay upward upon the Rock; for theshape had been something strange and half-known to me even before thatmoment, as that I had a vague knowledge concerning it; but yet with nosurety. And now, truly, I did know in a little instant that the thingwas one of the olden flying-ships, the which, as you shall mind, therewere certain in the Great Museum of the Mighty Pyramid.

  And surely, I was ready to wonder why that I had not seen the thingplain before that moment; yet was this like to be because that there wasa shadow upon the other side of the great Rock; but upon this side therewas a little fire-hill a way off to the cliff edge, and this did throw awarm 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 deathlessgrey 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 theolden air-ships, I did feel that I should be proper to doubt; for it wasa very wondrous thing to perceive a thing common to man, in that utterstrange Country, and after that I was gone so far off from the MightyPyramid. Yet, in verity, I did know in my heart that it was indeed thatwhich I did perceive it to be; and I did stand and walk to and fore andlook 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 wasscarce 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 mattersupon the topmost side of the ship; so that none could easy perceive itto be aught save a great and desolate rock that did lie upon the otherrock. Yet, truly, it was as I have told; and presently I did make toclimb upward of the great Rock, that I should come to the air vessel toenter it. But yet was this not proper; for I had surely no duty save togo forward forever, until that I found the Maid; but yet did I spend alittle while to this searching of the ship; and I do but set down thatwhich I did, and with a serious spirit. And truly, as it doth here occurto me, I do be ever seeming a serious young man, as you maybe shall havegrown to think; but yet was I to a dread and serious business, and thestrain did be too great upon me and the trouble too much prest upon myheart to give me much of laughter, as you do surely perceive, and so youto give me your ear and your understanding. For, indeed, before that Idid lose Mirdath my Beautiful One, I was not over-grave; but so youngand joyous as any.

  Now it took me a great time to go upward of the Rock; for it was somonstrous steep and high. Yet, presently was I come nigh under thebottom of the ship; and here I did perceive that she had been sorebattered 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 bottomof the ship, so that the metal was burst this way and that, and veryplain to be seen in some parts; but in other places the earth andgrowing matters did make a hiding.

  And after that I had climbed this way and that way, I perceived that Imust come to the topmost part by the plants that did hang over, and growdownward. And after that I had pulled upon them, to know that they werestrong to hold me, I went upon them, and was soon to the top of theship. Yet, truly, I might so well have been upon the earth; for the shipwas covered above by the earth and
dust of a monstrous age of years; sothat I was like to need much time to dig downward unto the ship; andbecause of this, I considered a little while, and afterward made no moreto search her; but did go downward again, that I should come once moreto my journey. Yet, as you shall think, it was with a queer thrilling ofthe heart, and with strange thoughts upon the end of those that didcome, maybe, to a bitter and lonesome dying in that ship of the air, inthat far-off time when she did fly.

  And surely, it did seem to me as I went downward of the great Rock, howthat the flying-ship had been there for an hundred thousand years; andthat mayhaps the sea did live all about the Rock in that Age; and trulythis was no improper thing to think, for it was like that the sea hadbeen monstrous high and great in those days; so that the Rock was but alittle island in the midst of the sea; and now was the sea gone smallfrom 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, andlookt quiet and silent over the change and wonder and the lonesomenessof 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 inthat olden age, and come hard upon the Rock, because, maybe, there wasone to the helm that did steer unwittingly. And again, it shall well beotherwise, 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 differentworkings of my mind at that time, as I did go downward. And so to setyou 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 agreat speed, so that I should waste no more of that day. Yet, oft did Ithink upon that ship hid there upon the mighty Rock, under the wondrousquiet ashes of eternity.

  And I went eighteen hours walking, and in all that time I did see nomore of the Humped Men; yet three times was I put in a sudden danger,for there went past me thrice, between the fourteenth and theseventeenth hours, great flying monsters, that were winged very ugly,and did go, as I thought, in a great bounding, rather than that they didfly proper as doth a bird. Yet I suffered no hurt from these; for I wasswift to hide between the great boulders that were very plenty in thatpart; but no trees. For I was gone now past the forests of trees; therebeing none since that I had gone through a very shallow river, that Icame to about the thirteenth hour. And this had I waded, and sounded mypath 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 workharm 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 thatthe eighteenth hour was come, I was nigh again unto a forest, that camedown to the shore that went alway upon my right; and I to be very soreand wearied, as you shall know; for I had fought very desperate after mywaking, 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 didsleep.

  And surely, I lookt this way and that way, constant, and did see noplace 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 agreat 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 mybody to the tree, with my belts; yet I eat and drank before that I wentup the tree.

  Now when I was fast upward in the tree, and had made a bed upon amonstrous branch, and had the Diskos ready upon my hip, so that itshould not fall but be nigh to my hand, I lay a little while thinkingupon 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 whilesince that I did hear the Master-Word from the dear Maid; and truly Iwas 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 oftravel, and was not yet come to any place that did appear like to bethat place where the Maid did abide.

  And it did seem that I might even wander onward in that great Country ofFire and Water for a time beyond all that I had before gone; and thisthought 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 beall adrift in the wilderness. But before this time, it had seemed asthat I surely went aright. And mayhaps your sympathy shall tell you justhow I to feel in the heart.

  And after that I had lain there very awkward, and thought upon allmatters, 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 aughtto see where I had gotten to. And truly, as it did come to my mind, ifthat the compass did point a little as I did wot it was used to point inthe Lesser Redoubt, then, in verity, I was surely come something moreanigh to that unknown place of the world than I did dare to believe. Andthis to be plain to you.

  Then a little time did pass in which I did wake and sleep, and wake andsleep, a little; but with no surety of sleep; but as that I was verytired of the heart, and did but lie too wearied to come properly tosleep.

  And odd whiles I did lie with mine eyes half to open, and did look verydreamful upward among the dark branches of the tree, as they did showblack and pretty against the redness of the shining that came from thesea; for there was stood a great and bright-burning fire-hill in thatpart of the sea that lay off the shore from me. And above the glaring ofthe fire-hill, there was the deep night that did brood for ever above ina monstrous black gloom of eternity, and did make the red smoke of thevolcano to show deep and mighty and thunderous-seeming, afar up in thegreat dark. And the red and shining smoke did but show the utterhugeness of the night, that had been upon the world through the greatages.

  And, in verity, as I did lie there so dreamful, it did come to me afreshhow wondrous strange was mine adventure; and how that I did lie warm andalive in a Country of red light and smoking seas. And, truly, as I didremember and consider, there was a great and lost world above me, upwardthrough the dark ... maybe an hundred and fifty great miles up in thegrim night.

  And this thing did strike me very solemn, as I did lie; and I do trustthat you conceive how that there was, in truth, afar above in theeternal and unknown night, the stupendous desolation of the dead world,and the eternal snow and starless dark. And, as I do think, a cold sobitter 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 wasleft of earth, did abide, they should have been like to look downwardvaguely 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 theValley to be, maybe, an hundred and fifty miles of night; for, as you domind, it was conceived that the Valley of the Night Land was an hundredmiles deep, and mayhap to be more; and I had come from that Placedownward 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; forI think the deep to have been monstrous, beyond these miles that I dogive; yet have I no proving of this belief, and do set it down for nomore than it is.

  Now, presently, I had ceased from these vague thinkings and halfdreamings, and was gone truly to sleep. Yet, nowise did I sleep verystrong; 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 greatbranch; for there was a noise in the air, that was not the noise of thegreat 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 somemonstrous thing did pursue. And immediately they were beneath the treein which I did lie; so that a great fear came upon me, and I loosed thebelt from the bran
ch, that I should be free to fight.

  And, directly upon this, I saw that the men did leap upward into thetree, beneath me; but not as that they did wot of me or make to come atme; but as that they did pay a great heed to some creature or happeningthat was far off among the trees. And surely, the noise did seem to comefrom that part, and did grow loud and mighty, and the Humped Men did allcrouch 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 agreat stone, and bloody, that did seem as that it were split to acertain sharpness, even as a stone doth break very natural. And theycarried the stone under this arm or under that arm, so that they hadtheir hands free to all matters.

  And, alway the noise did come the more anigh, and I saw that a HumpedMan did come running from among the trees, and did run beneath thatplace where the seven Humped Men did be on the branches. But they madeno sign to the man, to save him; yet truly it was very plain that somemonster pursued the man.

  And immediately I saw how this thing was; for the Humped Man upon theground, did not run so fast as might be; and I conceived that he did actto make some creature to come after him, to pass under the men withinthe tree. And surely this thing did prove to be; for there came veryquick, a great and ugly thing, that had an ugly way of putting down thefeet, and did have seven feet to each side, which was very strange; andthe back was as that it were horny, and the belly of the thing did seemto brush heavy upon the earth, and it grunted, as it went, and shook theearth 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 asdid properly pursue after matters of food; but did rather eat of thatwhich did need little haste, but a monstrous strength, to gain. And thatit did so make after the man, was in truth because that it had beenwounded and made fierce; for, indeed, there came blood from the creaturefrom great wounds upon the back; but how these were made, I could notknow in that instant.

  And it did go under the tree in which I was hid; and in that moment whenit past under the tree, the seven Humped Men did leap out of thebranches, 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 plainwhen the back did work, with the going of the creature. And the sevenHumped Men took the sharp stones from under their arms, and did strikevery brutal in the wounds that were in the joints of the spine; and thecreature roared and cried, and went onward into the trees at a greatspeed; and in all the time that it ran, the Humped Men ceased not tostrike with the stones.

  And sudden, when it was gone a distance off, it did roll very swift overupon the back, first to the right, as that it would go that way; so thatthe Humped Men did leap off upon the other side. And immediately thecreature rolled to that side; and there ran clear of the brute only fourof 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 sodid tease it once more to pass beneath the other men; and they veryswiftly again to the back of the creature; and so from my sight,striking with the great stones, and the beast bellowing very loud andpiteous. And how many of the Humped Men there were to the beginning ofthat strange hunting, I know not; but surely there were few that livedto the end.

  And surely there were such things as this thing in the beginning of theworld, and again was it thus in the end; and I did ponder this a littlewhile, as I did sit upon the great branch, and hearken unto the sound ofthe hunting, that was now gone a great way off, and was presently beyondmy hearing.

  And afterward, I gat me to the earth, and did look this way and thatway, to see that no beast was anigh, neither any of the Humped Men; andafterward, 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 methat I should try the compass again, as I did intend. And surely themachine did point between the North and the South, upon the Westwardarc, even as Naani had told unto me; yet, as it did seem, with somewhatmore of a Southward pointing than she had made me to think. And becauseof 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 thathidden place of the world where the Lesser Refuge did abide; but yet wasnot come over-close, so that the pull of the Mighty Earth-Current of theGreat Redoubt was something stronger than in the place where was theLittle Pyramid.

  And all this did I think very swift to myself, and had a glad upliftingof the heart, as you do perceive; so that I went forward upon myjourney, with a great stride, and did scarce fear any strange thing thatall the Country did hold, in that moment.

  And I went all that day at a strong pace, and did be oft tempted to sendthe Master-Word unto Naani; yet did keep from so foolish an acting, thewhich, mayhaps, had brought straightway upon me an Evil Power, and hadgiven me to Destruction when that I was near come to the succour of theMaid. And it was this quick and constant fear of the Evil Forces of theNight Land, that did keep me ever from calling unto Naani, lest thatthey should discover me, and follow after; and this, I doubt not, you toknow by now so well as I.

  Now, by the sixth hour, I was come into a part of the Country wherethere were an exceeding abundance of steam fountains and sprayings andgreat upboilings of water in basins of rock; and the air did be full ofthe sounds and the roarings of the boilings and the spoutings, and of ahot mist and spray; so that, truly, I had scarce the power to see to myfront, nor to any side.

  And here, presently, I made a pause, and did eat and drink, andafterward went forward again; and I did keep the shore of the sea alwaysto my right, and so did go proper to my way; yet with no great ease; forthe sea also did steam very strong in that part, and because of thisgreat 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 comeagain free of the mist and the steam, and might look with mine eyes tomy going. And, surely, as I did perceive, I was come to the end of thegreat sea that had been ever to my right; for it did go against the feetof great and monstrous mountains, that went upward for ever into thenight, and did seem as that they were the hither wall of that strangeCountry of Fire and Water. And so was I stood there very much taken upondoubt; for how should I go farther.

  And after that I had been there a while, in a bewilderment of doubt andof wit, I went to the left, along the feet of the mountains; and trulythis but of common sense; for how might I go any other way, save I goback again!

  And at the twelfth hour I eat two of the tablets, and drank some of thewater, and went forward once more. And lo! at the fifteenth hour, I wascome to a place between the mountains, even an upward gorge, very darkand gloomy, and without light for a great way.

  And, in verity, I did not want to go up the gorge, in that it was sodreary a place and narrow and horrid and drear-seeming, after the lightand wideness of the Country in which I did yet stand.

  And presently, I did go past the mouth of the gorge, that I should learnwhether there went another way out of that Country. And thiswise, for agreat hour more, along the feet of the mountains, and did presently cometo a monstrous black river, that was, maybe, a mile wide. And it to bevery shallow, and seeming as that the water scarce to cover the mud ofthe bottom. And here and there a great steam did come from it, andspirtings and moundings-up of the mud in many places, and monstrousbabblings and puffings-up of strange smoke, as that a great heat wentbeneath it in this place and in that.

  And surely it went backward into the country for a mighty way, so far asmy sight did go; and I did think it to be no river, but truly a furthersea. And there was no way across; for there were no trees anigh, to makeme a raft, neither might I wade across; for it might be shallow here anddeep there, and the mud be in all places. And, moreover, I had been liketo be caught in one of those upburstings of mud,
even did I have a raftto go upon. And because of all these things, I gat me back again to theGorge, and presently I did go upward into the darkness.

  Now, I went upward very steady, save that I did stumble oft, and did gothrough six great hours. And truly it did seem that I went in an utterdark, 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 awayfrom the Country of the Seas, and did be as that I was back into someplace that was like to the dreadness of the Night Land. For there werein this place and in that place of the Gorge, red fire-holes, even as inthe Night Land. Yet not many until that I was come a great way up of theGorge. And there did be life of horrid things about the fires, as soon Idid wot; so that I made to keep off from them. Yet, as you shallperceive, I must come oft pretty near, because that the Gorge wasnowheres scarce an hundred good paces across, and did oft come verynarrow, so that I did come oft anigh to the fire-holes, whether that Idid heed to or not.

  And all that time, and ever, did the Gorge go very sharp upward, so thatit was a very weary thing to make great trial of speed, as you shallknow. But yet I went so fast as I could do; for I was grown sudden veryexcited about the heart, and to feel as that I did surely draw anigh tothat 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 tookcaution 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 fromone of the fire-holes that made a gloomy light in that place. And Iclimbed unto this ledge, and did find it to be secure, and awkward tocome upon. And presently, after that I had eat and drunk, I did composemyself unto sleep, the which came very speedy upon me, whilst yet I didbelieve I thought only upon the sweetness of the Maid. And truly it hadbeen something over three and twenty hours, since last I did sleep; sothat I was greatly awearied.

  And in six hours I waked and did eat, and did climb downward again tothe Gorge, and so unto mine upward journey.

  Now, as you do perceive, when that I was come properly a great way upthe Gorge, and had come among the fire-holes, there was no more an utterdarkness, for the dull red glare of the pits beat upward upon the blacksides of the rock-mountains, that did make the sides of the Gorge; sothat oft I did see both sides very plain in the lower parts; yet of theheight of the Gorge, who might know aught; for the black sides did goupward for ever into the everlasting night.

  And because of the light from the fire-pits, I did see, time and oftabout the fires, horrid monsters, both that were snakes, and others liketo scorpions so great as my head; but no more than these for a longwhile. And afterward I perceived that surely other matters did moveamong the rocks of the Gorge; so that I did keep the Diskos very readyin 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 onwardat a very strong speed. And at the sixteenth hour, I did seem as that Iknew the aether to be stirred about me, and the beat of the Master-Wordvery faint upon mine inward ear. And immediately, a wondrous great andlovely thrilling did wake all my being; for surely, I said, this was thespirit of my love, calling unto me with her brain-elements. And, indeed,this was a very proper and sensible thinking; for had the Master-Wordbeen sent from the Mighty Pyramid, I had been like to hear it veryplain, by reason of the force of the Earth-Current which was with themand to their command. But, as you do know, the Earth-Current was nighgone from the Peoples of the Lesser Refuge; so that they were over-weakto 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 harkthe better, I was come to doubt whether that I did truly hear theMaster-Word. And one moment I did say that it had surely beat in thenight about me; and immediately would I be just so unsure; and so in awhile I gat once more to my journey, and had doubt in my heart; yet, asyou shall conceive, more of hope. And because of this thing, I wentonward for thirty great hours from the time that I did wake; for myheart was excited within me. And when that I had gone so long forward asthis, I did see how that I did foolishly; and I lookt about for a placefor my slumber; and I found a small cave that was clean and empty, as Idid discover by the shining of the Diskos which I made to spin a littletime. And the cave was in the cliff of the mountain that made the rightside of the Gorge, and was nigh twenty good feet from the bottom of theGorge, and hard to approach.

  And when I was come secure into the cave, and sure that it was proper tomy 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 allthe while, very sweet and strong in my thoughts upon Naani; so thatsurely 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 untosuch wakening; yet was I still greatly yearning for sleep. But this didgo somewhat, when that I had fought a little with my need. Andafterward, I eat two of the tablets, and drank some of the water, anddid gat my gear upon me, and was presently down unto the Gorge; and soagain to my journey.

  Now in all that day I did go with a very stern speed; for it did seem asthat my soul did know for surety that I was truly come something nighunto that hid place in the night where I should find mine Olden Loveagain. And the sweet hope that was bred of the calling that had seemedtruly to sound about my spirit, was in all my being, and more sure onthat day, than before that I had slept.

  And I went thirty hours in all, even as before, ere that I did comeagain to sleep, and I eat and drank at every sixth hour, so that mystrength should abide within me. And by that I was come to the ending ofthe thirty hours, I was sorely awearied, and gat me upward of themonstrous cliff that did make the left side of the Gorge, havingperceived in a place a great ledge of the rock, that did seem veryproper for my purpose of slumber.

  And when I was come upward upon the ledge of the rock, I saw that theredid seem something, like to a mighty spider, that did stay half withoutof a hole in the back part of the ledge. And I smote the thing gentlywith the Diskos, so that it was very quickly dead; and afterward Isearched well about; but did gladly perceive that there abode there noother horrid creature.

  And I eat two of the tablets, and drank some of the water; and didafterward make me ready for slumber, as ever. But now I did put thecloak well about me; for truly there was grown a chill into the air ofthe Gorge; and here also will I tell how that it did seem unto me thatthe air was gone something from that great thickness and strength whichhad 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 adear thought and anxious, concerning Naani; but was so starved of thebody for slumber, that even mine anxiousness kept me not awake. And Iwas then so fast with sleep that I knew naught for eight hours of verysound slumber. And then did I awake, and very thankful of the heart thatno evil beast or creeping thing had come upon me whilst that I was soutter 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. Andafterward, I went upon my journey for eighteen hours, and did pause buta little while at the sixth and the twelfth hours that I should eat anddrink.

  And when the eighteenth hour was nigh come, I perceived that the natureof the Gorge was grown very horrid and dank. And in verity, I did feelas that afar upward in the night the black mountains that did make thesides of the Gorge had come together, and did make a monstrous roofunseen in the utter height.

  And this thing I do tell, only as of my belief; for I have no very sureproof. Yet, truly, my reason doth say likewise; for there did oft dripwater upon me out of the darkness, even though I walked in the middleway of the Gorge; and how should this thing be, save that there went anoverreaching of the sides, that should let the mildew down upon me.

  And in this
place, and for more than eleven great hours, there werefire-holes and fire-pits only in this part and in that, and each a greatway off from another. And they burned very dull, and did seem to throw afume of sulphur into all the air, as that there was no freedom above forthe stink to pass away. And in every place were the rocks of the Gorgevery thick and slippery with strange growths; so that it was a sorrow towalk upon them. And all that time was there an heavy wetness andslowness in the air; and a smell, beside the stink of the fire-pits, asthat 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 thatthe air was grown thick with the fumings of the fire-pits, as I dobelieve; and beside this thing there was, as I have said, but a dullfire here and another there; so that it was like that there should be aheavy dark. And because that it was so utter black, and because thatthere were growths upon the rocks in the bottom of the Gorge, I did gobut slowly, and with pain of stumblings; and always with the stink ofthat place to trouble me half unto a sickness.

  And sudden, as I did go past one of the fire-pits, I saw that the firemade 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 swiftsilence, and hid among the rocks of the bottom of the Gorge. And I looktvery cautious at the thing that moved beyond the fire, and surely I hadseen 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 shipdid move down out of the dark of the upper way of the Gorge. And it wentby the fire-hole, and onward into the dark of the lower way of theGorge; 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 inlength, and it went always without noise, so that I had not known it tobe there, but that I saw it plain with mine eyes. And, truly, if I dosay 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 thishorrid brute.

  And I stayed very quiet a time, and afterward I went upward again of theGorge, and did use a new caution to my way, and saw that the Diskos wasfree upon my hip; for even thus I did carry the weapon, being that Imust use both hands to my way, and to save me in my stumblings andslidings 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 greatwhile; and sure am I that there went some living monster past me, thatdid 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 afire-hole did shine more ruddy; and I did look well about me, that Ishould 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 lightupon my person, I did note how utter still was that place; and this totake me anew, as though it had come fresh upon me. And here, there wouldbe the drip of water, and again in that place, and again elsewhere; andall 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 thatthere was a monstrous slug-thing laid upward against the black side ofthe Gorge, as that it had stood up on end; and the one end of themonster went upward beyond the light from the fire-pit; but the otherpart did come down and trail into the Gorge, as a long hillock, veryugly and black and beslimed.

  And I near sweat with a disgust and horror of the thing; but afterward Ihad more courage, and spied well upon the brute. And surely, it movednot at all, any more than the side of the cliff of the Gorge; and Iconceived 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 veryquiet and moved not, neither did I make to hide, but stood there verystupid.

  Yet, in a time, I had more of courage which brought strength unto myheart, 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 thedank and weariful rocks and boulders that lay in the bottom of theGorge. And thrice between four hours was I passed by hidden andmonstrous things in the horrid dark places of the Gorge; yet with nonoise, save, as it might be, the odd rattle of a rock in this place andthat; but with an utter and dreadful stinking. And I to be quiet asthey went, as you shall think.

  And each time now that I did go by the fire-pits and fire-holes that layodd-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 slugcreatures did lie in this place and in that against the cliffs of theGorge. And I did go then utter still, from this space to that spaceamong the rocks, and oft upon the flat of my belly, and with a constantheed 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 ofsulphurous smoke very oft. And here and there, as mine heart dothbelieve, there were utter great caverns within the mountains to theright and to the left; and of this thing I have some small proof; foronce I did go by a place where a fire did burn, as it should be afire-hole, afar inward of the mountain side upon my right; so that I sawin a moment that I looked in the darkness through the mouth of a mightycave-place; and I went past very quick and silent, for I knew notwhether 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 werelike to be many; and mayhaps the slugs came forth from those caverns,where, as I did conceive there was naught save an eternal dripping ofwaters and the foul growth of things in all parts. Yet is this last buta thought, as I do say, and you shall wisely take it for no more thanthat.

  Now, I came clear of the darkness and the slime and the stinking inabout twelve hours after the time that I did think the mountains to be aroof unto the Gorge; and the air was now free and did seem as that somelife 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, sothat 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 agood speed; for there was much of light all about me, in that thereburned an hundred fire-pits here and in that place; so that I saw clearbefore me and behind, and conceived that the slugs did abide only in theclosed part of the Gorge. And oft I did take the air very full into mylungs, for the sweetness of it, after the horrid stenchings that I hadabode 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; forit was surely something over three and thirty hours since that I didlast come upon sleep; and I was utter worn and lost of strength with somuch of creeping and harking for monsters, as you shall believe;moreover, about that time I had gone bitter long whiles betweenslumberings through more than an hundred hours, as you shall haveperceived from my tellings.

  Now, presently, I saw a small cave that went inward of the side of theGorge. 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 thecave that did throw a good light for my purpose; so that I saw there wasno creeping thing or horror in the place; and I went in, and made toprepare for my slumber.

  But truly, when I was come to look upon myself, I was utter soiled anddid seem as that I stank with the slime and disgust of the dark part ofthe Gorge, where I had gone upon my hands, and upon my belly. Andbecause 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 thefire-pit, as was oft in that part of the Gorge. And the spring was hotand did fill a hollow of the rock, very quiet and with a fuming ofsulphur, as I did bend above it. And I washed mine hands and face andmine armour and gear, in the hot spring, and did dry me with mypocket-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 wasgone a mortal long while without, and afterward I drank some of thewater. And as I did eat and drink, I lookt out upon the lightness of theGorge before me, and with a cheerful and composed heart.

  And I saw presently that there came certain creatures out from theirholes, even as it might be that they were part rats; but very strangelooking, 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 asnake by the neck. And it stood upon the snake, and did eat it, evenwhile that the snake did lash about upon the rock. And the snake didlash until that it was nigh all eat; and a very strange thing this wasto see, and something troublesome to the pity. Yet was I glad toperceive that there were enemies to the serpents of that place.

  And when the rat creature did make an end of the snake, it made acrossto the spring, and did drink the hot water a while; and afterward backunto the fire, and there laid down anigh to the edge, and seeming verysweetly comforted of the belly, which, in truth, was much otherwise withme. And, after that, I saw many creatures that went about the fire, anddid have warmth from the fire and drink from the spring; and surely Idid ponder that the Peoples of this our Age should say, if they hadstood with me, that Providence had made nigh together the warmth and thedrink that were needful unto life (for it was grown to a bitter chillnow in the Gorge). But rather did this thing seem to me otherwise, thatthese creatures did be but of their circumstance, and if that it hadbeen another way, then had they grown of their wits to meet it to theirmeans of life. Yet, as some would say, the arguments do but meet, and bethe same thing. And neither way do I care in this place; but do no morethan to show unto you the working of my brain, in this way and that, asI made my journey.

  Now, presently, when I was done eating, and come very ready to fall uponsleep, I went out from the cave and gat me certain boulders, the which Idid carry into the cave. And when I was come back for the last time, Iput them very secure in the entrance-way, that no small stingingcreature come at me as I slept. And after that, I made ready, and wentto my sleep, having sweet thoughts and slumbrous, of the Maid.

  Now I slept very quiet that time, and was not over troubled with thechill of the Gorge, which was but little in that place, both by reasonof the fire-pit and because that the cave did help to keep my warmth tome. And I had a deep slumber for eight hours, and waked then prettytired, but strong to go upon my way. And after that I had sat a littlewhile, I came full to wakefulness and afterward did eat two of thetablets and drink some of the water, the which I did, sitting in themouth-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 ofthe fires; and oft there did be a little steam that did hiss from thispart or that of the bottom of the Gorge and did blow very quaint andnoisy in the quiet of that place. And oft there did be hot pools, andeverywhere the great boulders in the bottom way, and to the right and tothe left the black and mighty sides of the Gorge that did go upward forever into the everlasting night.

  And so I did go, and had eat and drunk at the sixth hour, and goneonward again. And, lo! at the eighth hour, I did thrill sudden with awondrous great thrilling; for, in verity, it did seem to me that theMaster-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 beatof the Word unsure, so that I knew not truly whether my spirit hadindeed heard aught, for there was immediately a silence, as ever, aboutmine inward being. Yet, as you shall believe, there was a new hope andstrength of courage in all my body and soul.

  And I went forward very swift, and all renewed, as it were; and mystrength and hope did make naught of any terror that should lie to barmy way, neither did I have further heed of the boulders that lay alwaysupon my path, but did go over them with quick leapings, and a wondrousand thrilling eagerness of the heart within me.

  And, sudden, in the end of the tenth hour, I perceived that the mightywalls of blackness that made the sides of the Gorge did be no morethere, and that I was come truly upon the end of the Gorge. And I neartrembled with hope and astonishment; for when I was gone a little wayon, I had ceased to go upward any more, and was come clear out from themouth 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 Strangematters, even as the Night Land where did lie the wonder of the MightyPyramid. And surely, I did think within my heart that I was come at lastto that far and hidden place of the world where did be the LesserRedoubt. But yet was there no place in all that night where did towerthe shining lights of the Lesser Pyramid, the which I did hope vainly toperceive. And because that I saw them not, a great heaviness came uponmy spirits for a time; but afterward the heaviness did go; for I putReason to help my courage, and did plan this cause and that to show whythat I was not come to sight of the shining embrasures of the LesserRedoubt. But yet was there left an ache of doubting, as you shall wellconceive.

  Now this Land was very new and strange, and had a great light in thispart, and a wondrous grim darkness in that. And I did pause a greatwhile to determine how that I should go properly. And presently Ibethought me of the compass, and did draw it forth, and set it upon theearth, that I should see how it did act. And truly it did go almost asNaani had told to me; so that I was very sure in all my being that I wasin verity come anigh to the hidden Refuge. But yet did the compass giveme no proper guiding to my way; so that I was no more wise to this endthan before, only that I had the comfort of that which it did seem toassure.

  And, in a little while, I went forward into the Land, and did hope thatI should come presently to some matter to help my choice. And I wentfirst toward a certain great glowing of fire that lay before me, and didseem 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 tohave 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 maybesix long hours. And by that time, I was come anigh to the glowing oflight; and did keep now a strong caution to my going; for truly, as Idid know from the tellings of the Maid, there were very horrid anddreadful Powers in that Land, and I did well to remember that I was comeagain to parts where might be the destruction of the spirit. Now I madea pause, and lookt toward the glowing light; and it seemed to me thatfor a monstrous way unto the right and unto the left, there did besurely a great, hid valley in the earth before me. For the shining didseem as that it came up from out of a valley, as that there burned adeep light in such a place; but yet was I all unsure, and had no properknowing whether indeed there did be any valley there, but only a strangeand luminous shining that did come upward from the earth.

  And I made no great haste now to go unto that place; but went downsudden into the bushes, and lay upon my belly, and had a new great fearupon my spirit. And presently, I parted the bushes a little, and made aplace for spying.

  And I looked a great time unto the place of the light, and now to thispart and now to that. And sudden, I saw, as it did seem, a monstroushead within the glowing; for the glowing did seem at whiles as that itswept to and fore, as should a shining smoke that went obedient to aquiet wind: and so to hide and again to uncover. And in a moment I lostthe 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 bethe shape of some utter monster of eternity--even as the Watchers aboutthe Mighty Pyramid--or whether it did be no more than a carven mountainof rock, shaped unto the dire picturing of a Monster, I did have noknowing. But I made that I should get hence very quick, and I did turnme about in the bushes, and went upon my hands and knees; and so came atlast a great way off.

  Now, presently, I came again upon my feet, and did take a
new lookaround that Land. And I had the mouth of the Gorge to my back, and thisI perceived by the shining of the fire-pits that made the place shown tome.

  And to the left of the Gorge was an utter blackness, as I did conceiveof black and monstrous mountains, through which the Gorge did come. Andto the right side of the Gorge there were many low volcanoes, that wentalways along the feet of the great mountains that made the right wall ofthe Gorge. And I saw the feet of these dark mountains, because that thelight 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 ofNight.

  And a good way off, was the shining that I had journeyed unto, and theshining went into a distant light through a part of the Land that layafar to my left, for it stretched a great and strange way toward me, outof the leftward gloom, and came unto my front, and so away into an utterdistance. Yet, though it was so great, you shall not think that it madeany huge light in the Land; but was rather as that it had a shining madeunto 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 myback part and unto my left, and somewhat before my face. And becausethat I did think to have no profit to my search, if that I went to theleft, I made attention unto the Right. And here there was much ofdarkness; yet oft the shining of fire-holes in this place and that amidthe darkness. And, as I did look, it grew very plain upon me how greatwas the spread and drear wideness of that Country of Night; and howthat I did be an utter lonesome person in all that dark. And so shallyou be with me in sympathy of the utter greatness of my task, and knowof the fear that did breed, odd whiles, that I should search until Idie, 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 thechain of the little volcanoes something level to my course; though agreat way off. And I went thus with a strange growing of hope, and anexcitement, for ten hours, and had eat not then for more than twentyhours, and surely not since the sixth hour of that day and this becausethat 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 Imust swoon. And lo! I bethought me how that I was gone so long withoutaught for my belly. And surely, when I was quiet a time, I eat four ofthe tablets, and in a good while did feel all renewed, and would rest nomore, after that I had drunk some of the water, but went onward; for, inverity, my spirit did be as that it had slain me, if that I had laindown at that time. And this because hope was so fierce in me; for I tofeel 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 somewaysof 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 asthat I should come any little minute upon the wonder of the LesserPyramid, shining afar in the night. Yet, truly, there was nowhereanything that might be likened unto it.

  And I lay down there, just as I did be, and with no proper heed to mysafety. And I was gone asleep in one moment, as it did seem; and wakednot for twelve hours; and then did come suddenly unto knowledge; andthankful was I in the heart that no monster had come upon me in thatdead-time of slumbering. And I eat four of the tablets, as was surelydue unto me, and drank some of the water, and so gat forward again intothe night.

  And truly I was mortal stiff and did ache for a great while, and thisdid be in part because that I had wrapped not the cloak about me, ere Islept; 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 didmind now to be wise and keep my strength good within me. And I wentonward again at a very great speed, and full of an excitement. Andsurely, I did be glad at last that the tablets were so easy gone in themouth, and unfilling to the belly; for I had been without power andpatience to eat proper victual.

  And at the tenth hour, I saw that there rose a red-shining out of theLand before me, as that it came upward from a mighty pit. And I madeslow my way, and so, when I was gone on for two great hours more, I sawthat monstrous figures went about, against the red glare of the shining.And I gat me down into the bushes which were very plentiful in thatpart.

  And I stayed there for a certain while, and made a watch upon thered-shining and the figures; and, truly, it did seem to me that therewere horrid giants in that Land, even as in the Night Land. Andafterward, 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 theglare of fire-holes in this part and that.

  And I went now with an utter care; for the giants had put a new cautioninto my heart, and I did surely mean that I should live to rescue mineown Maid, and have joy through all my life. And thereafter, I went withthe Diskos in my hand, and at each hour that was the sixth, I eat two ofthe tablets, and drank some of the water, and so did keep my strengthvery good within me.

  Now, presently, I was come to a place where the Land did go downward agreat slope, and there was a difference in the earth that went beneathmy feet, and no great plenty of the bushes; but only one in this placeand one in that, and nowhere any fire-hole.

  And I gat me down and did feel the earth with my hands, and lo! I didfind presently smooth stones, and afterward olden shells. Andimmediately, a great delight took me; for Naani had told how that theLesser Pyramid stood something nigh to the shore of an ancient sea, thatwas long dried up in the years of eternity. And surely it might be thatI was come down into the dry bottom of that same olden sea, and shouldpresently 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 Ihad no sight of the lights of the Lesser Redoubt. And a great troublebegan to take me; for, indeed, Naani had not told me how great was thesea; 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 thatmy way was very straight, so that I waste not my strength in uselesswanderings. And I had a great care now to observe that the red-shiningdid be always upon my right, to my rear; and by this reasonable cunningdid 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 strangesounds, now in this part of the darkness, and now in that; and oft didthere be a noise, as if things did run this way and that way in the bedof the sea. And once, afar off in the night, there did be a strange andhorrid screaming; so that I did know truly that the monsters of thatLand were out, and did go about in the dark.

  And, as you shall perceive and understand, I was all unknowing of thelore of that Land; so that I knew not what to think of this strangesound or that, neither knew I what they might portend, but only that, asI did say, there were Monsters abroad. And I could do no more than havemy way forward with an utter care always, and be very ready with theDiskos, or to hide, each as maybe according to the need.

  And, surely, I went one-and-forty hours that day, and eat and drankafter every sixth hour. And before this, in the seven-and-thirtiethhour, I heard a great roaring and bellowing in the night, coming nighunto me; and afterward the thudding of monstrous feet, as that a giantran past me in the darkness, and did make a chase of some creature. Andthe 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, alittle screaming; but of this thing I had no surety; and I abode veryhushed in a clump of bush, until quietness was come again all about; forthere had been an utter frightening sound in the horrid voice and in thethudding of the great feet.

  Now, in the one-and-fortieth hour of that day, I came upon the farthershore of the olden sea. But lo! there was nowhere any light to tell meaught of the Lesser Refuge. And truly, a great doubt and bewildermenttook me; for, indeed, I could
not perceive how it might be that I sawnot the lights of the embrasures of the Lesser Pyramid. And a greatdespair took me; so that I sat down there upon the shore of the oldensea, and had no heed of anything for a while.

  But afterward, I ate and drunk, and went into a clump of bush, and wraptthe cloak about me, and so went fast unto sleep, with the Diskos handyto my breast. And, in verity, the pain of the despair and thebewilderment of mine heart did make rather for sleep, than to keep mewakeful; 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 everI had been.

  And I slept six hours, and waked then, sudden. And I leaned up upon mineelbow in the bush, and harked very quiet, perchance some noise hadshaken my sleep from me. But, indeed, there was nothing, only that I waswakeful, and did mind me of my trouble of failure. Yet now, I did inventthis thing and that thing to make natural account that I was not come tothe Lesser Redoubt; and so had hope again within me; yet much also ofdoubt and bewilderment.

  And I eat two of the tablets, and drank some of the water, and again tomy 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 indoubt as ever.

  And I ceased from my journeying, and lookt about me over the Land, andlo! I did note how that a weak and strange shining was in the air of theLand, at a great way; as it had been that a far spreaded and faintglowing made a little glare into all the night unto my left and beforeme.

  Now I ate and drank, and made to steady my spirit; for I did fear lest Ishould feel utter lost in all the night of the world, and to know notwhere 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 didseem that the dull shining was something bright. And I went thus througheighteen hours, and did make pause at each sixth hour, and ate and drankvery resolute; though, in verity, it did seem as that even so small amatter as the tablets did be like to choke me. And by this is it plainto me how great an anguish was come upon my spirit, lest that I was allastray, and should have no joy to succour mine Own.

  And thrice in the time that I did go, there did be a running of feetamid the darkness; and odd whiles strange and horrid cryings in thenight; so that I put a force upon my despair, and hid me; for, indeed, Ihad no right to lose care of my life, if there did be any chance yetthat I find the Maid.

  And lo! in the eighteenth hour, which was truly the thirtieth of thatday, I found the shining in the night to be grown very plain, and anutter stinking of sulphur; and truly I did be aware that the Land wentupward.

  And I made upward through seven hours, and the light did grow moreplain, and was of a dull redness, very sombre and heavy. And in the endof six more hours, I ceased to go upward, and did know of a strange lowsound, that did be like to no other sound that ever I did hear; and waslike 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 wentover an upland plain. And I did go thus through five hours, and the lowroar did grow ever upon mine ears. And truly! even as I did shape mythoughts 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 constantroar did moan upward against me with an everlasting muttering. And Ilookt downward a monstrous way, and surely there was spread out a mightysea, as it did seem, of dull fire, as that a red-hot mud did lap verydeep and quiet below me in all that night.

  And I lookt outward across the strange sea, and the far side was hidfrom me; for, surely, there were dull and solemn clouds that came offthe sea, and hid the distance from me. And the clouds to glow a littleredly; and so to rise, and presently to blacken into the night. And Ilookt to the right and to the left, and it was plain that the blackcliffs did stretch out both ways, and did go downward ever into thatmonstrous sea of slow fire. And there were great headlands that went outinto the fire, as into a sea; and the fire did lap very quiet aboutthese, and where the fire lapt about them, there did shine and spirt outgreen flames and vapours at diverse times.

  And, indeed, as I did perceive, I was come to an upward sea of fire, asit were the deep inwards of a low and utter monstrous volcano, that wasflat of the top and utter big across. And, in verity, I did lookdownward into the fires of the inward earth, and a very wondrous sightwas 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 gloomysea, and a reek of sulphur; so that I was like to be choked, and did gobackward from the edge of the cliff.

  And surely, I was come to the end of that Dark Land upon that side, andhad 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 allastray in the night of the World, and did nowise have any knowingwhether I stood near to the Country of the Lesser Redoubt, or whetherthat I was gone half across the World unto a strange place.

  And, then, as the despair troubled my spirit and dulled the beating ofmy 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 didsurely have a huge view over all that Land; and mayhaps the LesserPyramid did lie somewhere in a valley, if, in verity, it did beanywheres at all in that Country. And I turned me from the cliffs, andlookt backward over all the night of the Land; but there was nowhere inall 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 wasthe black shape of a great pyramid afar off in the night, that did showagainst the shining of the distant light; for it did stand between meand the far-off fires. But until I was come to that place, whence I didlook, I had not stood to have it plain against the shining upon theother 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 leapwith joy and hope, and all my body thrilled with an excitement thatwould not have me to be silent; so that, suddenly, I began to shoutfoolishly across the night. But I came soon to wisdom and silence, asyou shall think.

 

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