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intimation, and is not in the least impressed by it. He
marches for the top that is never to be found, as if he was
the Wandering Jew, bound to go on for ever, in defiance of
everything. The landlord faithfully accompanies him. The
two, to the dim eye of Idle, far below, look in the
exaggerative mist, like a pair of friendly giants, mounting
up the steps of some invisible castle together. Up and up,
and then down a little, and then up, and then along a strip
of level ground, and then up again. The wind, a wind unknown
in the happy valley, blows keen and strong; the rain-mist
gets impenetrable; a dreary little cairn of stones appears.
The landlord adds one to the heap, first walking all round
the cairn as if he were about to perform an incantation,
then dropping the stone on to the top of the heap with the
gesture of a magician adding an ingredient to a cauldron in
full bubble. Goodchild sits down by the cairn as if it was
his study table at home; Idle, drenched and panting, stands
up with his back to the wind, ascertains distinctly that
this is the top at last, looks round with all the little
curiosity that is left in him, and gets, in return, a
magnificent view of - Nothing!
The affect of this sublime spectacle on the minds of the
exploring party is a little injured by the nature of the
direct conclusion to which the sight of it points - the said
conclusion being that the mountain mist has actually
gathered round them, as the landlord feared it would. It now
becomes imperatively necessary to settle the exact situation
of the farm-house in the valley at which the dog-cart has
been left, before the travellers attempt to descend. While
the landlord is endeavouring to make this discovery in his
own way, Mr. Goodchild plunges his hand under his wet coat,
draws out a little red morocco-case, opens it, and displays
to the view of his companions a neat pocket-compass. The
north is found, the pint at which the farm-house is situated
is settled, and the descent begins. After a little downward
walking, Idle (behind as usual) sees his fellow-travellers
turn sharply aside - tries to follow them - loses them in
the mist - is shouted after, waited for, recovered - and
then finds that a halt has been ordered, partly on his
account, partly for the purpose of again consulting the
compass.
The point in debate is settled as before between Goodchild
and the landlord, and the expedition moves on, not down the
mountain, but marching straight forward round the slope of
it.
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