第11章

"Dutchpeople？"

"Yes。"

"Andyoulikethelife？"

Theboyhesitated。

"Ondayslikethese。"

"Andwhyonthese？"

Theboywaited。

"Theyareverybeautiful。"

Thestrangerlookedathim。Itseemedthatasthefellow’sdarkeyeslookedacrossthebrownearththeykindledwithanintensesatisfaction；

thentheylookedbackatthecarving。

Whathadthatcreature，socoarse—cladandclownish，todowiththesubtlejoysoftheweather？Himself，white—handedanddelicate，hemighthearthemusicwithshimmeringsunshineandsolitudeplayonthefinely—strungchordsofnature；butthatfellow！Wasnottheearinthatgreatbodytoogrossforsuchdelicatemutterings？

Presentlyhesaid：

"MayIseewhatyouworkat？"

Thefellowhandedhiswoodenpost。Itwasbynomeanslovely。Themenandbirdswerealmostgrotesqueintheirlabouredresemblancetonature，andboresignsofpatientthought。Thestrangerturnedthethingoveronhisknee。

"Wheredidyoulearnthiswork？"

"Itaughtmyself。"

"Andthesezigzaglinesrepresent——"

"Amountain。"

Thestrangerlooked。

"Ithassomemeaning，hasitnot？"

Theboymutteredconfusedly。

"Onlythings。"

Thequestionerlookeddownathim——thehuge，unwieldyfigure，insizeaman’s，inrightofhischildlikefeaturesandcurlinghairachild’s；andithurthim——itattractedhimandithurthim。Itwassomethingbetweenpityandsympathy。

"Howlonghaveyouworkedatthis？"

"Ninemonths。"

Fromhispocketthestrangerdrewhispocket—book，andtooksomethingfromit。Hecouldfastentheposttohishorseinsomeway，andthrowitawayinthesandwhenatasafedistance。

"Willyoutakethisforyourcarving？"

Theboyglancedatthefive—poundnoteandshookhishead。

"No；Icannot。"

"Youthinkitisworthmore？"askedthestrangerwithalittlesneer。

Hepointedwithhisthumbtoagrave。

"No；itisforhim。"

"Andwhoisthere？"askedthestranger。

"Myfather。"

Themansilentlyreturnedthenotetohispocket—book，andgavethecarvingtotheboy；and，drawinghishatoverhiseyes，composedhimselftosleep。

Notbeingabletodoso，afterawhileheglancedoverthefellow’sshouldertowatchhimwork。Theboycarvedlettersintotheback。

"If，"saidthestranger，withhismelodiousvoice，richwithasweetnessthatnevershoweditselfinthecloudedeyes——forsweetnesswilllingeroninthevoicelongafterithasdiedoutintheeyes——"ifforsuchapurpose，whywritethatuponit？"

Theboyglancedroundathim，butmadenoanswer。Hehadalmostforgottenhispresence。

"Yousurelybelieve，"saidthestranger，"thatsomeday，soonerorlater，thesegraveswillopen，andthoseBoer—uncleswiththeirwiveswalkabouthereintheredsand，withtheveryfleshlylegswithwhichtheywenttosleep？Thenwhysay，’Hesleepsforever？’Youbelievehewillstandupagain？"

"Doyou？"askedtheboy，liftingforaninstanthisheavyeyestothestranger’sface。

Halftakenabackthestrangerlaughed。Itwasasthoughacuriouslittletadpolewhichheheldunderhisglassshouldsuddenlyliftitstailandbegintoquestionhim。

"I？——no。"Helaughedhisshortthicklaugh。"Iamamanwhobelievesnothing，hopesnothing，fearsnothing，feelsnothing。Iambeyondthepaleofhumanity；nocriterionofwhatyoushouldbewholivehereamongyourostrichesandbushes。"

Thenextmomentthestrangerwassurprisedbyasuddenmovementonthepartofthefellow，whichbroughthimclosetothestranger’sfeet。Soonafterheraisedhiscarvingandlaiditacrosstheman’sknee。

"Yes，Iwilltellyou，"hemuttered；"Iwilltellyouallaboutit。"

Heputhisfingeronthegrotesquelittlemannikinatthebottom（ah！thatmanwhobelievednothing，hopednothing，feltnothing；howhelovedhim！），andwitheagerfingerthefellowmovedupward，explainingoverfantasticfiguresandmountains，tothecrowningbirdfromwhosewingdroppedafeather。Attheendhespokewithbrokenbreath——shortwords，likeonewhouttersthingsofmightyimport。

Thestrangerwatchedmorethefacethanthecarving；andtherewasnowandthenashowofwhiteteethbeneaththemoustachesashelistened。

"Ithink，"hesaidblandly，whentheboyhaddone，"thatIpartlyunderstandyou。Itissomethingafterthisfashion，isitnot？"（Hesmiled。）"Incertainvalleystherewasahunter。"（Hetouchedthegrotesquelittlefigureatthebottom。）"Daybydayhewenttohuntforwild—fowlinthewoods；anditchancedthatoncehestoodontheshoresofalargelake。Whilehestoodwaitingintherushesforthecomingofthebirds，agreatshadowfellonhim，andinthewaterhesawareflection。

Helookeduptothesky；butthethingwasgone。Thenaburningdesirecameoverhimtoseeonceagainthatreflectioninthewater，andalldayhewatchedandwaited；butnightcameandithadnotreturned。Thenhewenthomewithhisemptybag，moodyandsilent。Hiscomradescamequestioningabouthimtoknowthereason，butheansweredthemnothing；hesataloneandbrooded。Thenhisfriendcametohim，andtohimhespoke。

"’Ihaveseentoday，’hesaid，’thatwhichIneversawbefore——avastwhitebird，withsilverwingsoutstretched，sailingintheeverlastingblue。Andnowitisasthoughagreatfireburntwithinmybreast。Itwasbutasheen，ashimmer，areflectioninthewater；butnowIdesirenothingmoreonearththantoholdher。’

"Hisfriendlaughed。

"’Itwasbutabeamplayingonthewater，ortheshadowofyourownhead。

Tomorrowyouwillforgether，’hesaid。

"Buttomorrow，andtomorrow，andtomorrowthehunterwalkedalone。Hesoughtintheforestandinthewoods，bythelakesandamongtherushes，buthecouldnotfindher。Heshotnomorewildfowl；whatweretheytohim？

"’Whatailshim？’saidhiscomrades。

"’Heismad，’saidone。

"’No；butheisworse，’saidanother；’hewouldseethatwhichnoneofushaveseen，andmakehimselfawonder。’

"’Come，letusforswearhiscompany，’saidall。

"Sothehunterwalkedalone。

"Onenight，ashewanderedintheshade，veryheartsoreandweeping，anoldmanstoodbeforehim，granderandtallerthanthesonsofmen。

"’Whoareyou？’askedthehunter。

"’IamWisdom，’answeredtheoldman；’butsomemencallmeKnowledge。AllmylifeIhavegrowninthesevalleys；butnomanseesmetillhehassorrowedmuch。Theeyesmustbewashedwithtearsthataretobeholdme；

and，accordingasamanhassuffered，Ispeak。’

"Andthehuntercried：

"’Oh，youwhohavelivedheresolong，tellme，whatisthatgreatwildbirdIhaveseensailingintheblue？Theywouldhavemebelievesheisadream；theshadowofmyownhead。’

"Theoldmansmiled。

"’HernameisTruth。Hewhohasonceseenherneverrestsagain。Tilldeathhedesiresher。’

"Andthehuntercried：

"’Oh，tellmewhereImayfindher。’

"Buttheoldmansaid：

"’Youhavenotsufferedenough，’andwent。

"ThenthehuntertookfromhisbreasttheshuttleofImagination，andwoundonitthethreadofhisWishes；andallnighthesatandwoveanet。

"Inthemorninghespreadthegoldennetupontheground，andintoithethrewafewgrainsofcredulity，whichhisfatherhadlefthim，andwhichhekeptinhisbreast—pocket。Theywerelikewhitepuff—balls，andwhenyoutrodonthemabrowndustflewout。Thenhesatbytoseewhatwouldhappen。Thefirstthatcameintothenetwasasnow—whitebird，withdove’seyes，andhesangabeautifulsong——’Ahuman—God！ahuman—God！ahuman—God！’itsang。Thesecondthatcamewasblackandmystical，withdark，lovelyeyes，thatlookedintothedepthsofyoursoul，andhesangonlythis——’Immortality！’

"Andthehuntertookthembothinhisarmsforhesaid——

"’TheyaresurelyofthebeautifulfamilyofTruth。’

"Thencameanother，greenandgold，whosanginashrillvoice，likeonecryinginthemarketplace，——’RewardafterDeath！RewardafterDeath！’

"Andhesaid——

"’Youarenotsofair；butyouarefairtoo，’andhetookit。

"Andotherscame，brightlycoloured，singingpleasantsongs，tillallthegrainswerefinished。Andthehuntergatheredallhisbirdstogether，andbuiltastrongironcagecalledanewcreed，andputallhisbirdsinit。

"Thenthepeoplecameaboutdancingandsinging。

"’Oh，happyhunter！’theycried。’Oh，wonderfulman！Oh，delightfulbirds！Oh，lovelysongs！’

"Nooneaskedwherethebirdshadcomefrom，norhowtheyhadbeencaught；

buttheydancedandsangbeforethem。Andthehuntertoowasglad，forhesaid：

"’SurelyTruthisamongthem。Intimeshewillmoultherfeathers，andI

shallseehersnow—whiteform。’

"Butthetimepassed，andthepeoplesanganddanced；butthehunter’sheartgrewheavy。Hecreptalone，asofold，toweep；theterribledesirehadawakenedagaininhisbreast。Oneday，ashesataloneweeping，itchancedthatWisdommethim。Hetoldtheoldmanwhathehaddone。

"AndWisdomsmiledsadly。

"’Manymen，’hesaid，’havespreadthatnetforTruth；buttheyhaveneverfoundher。Onthegrainsofcredulityshewillnotfeed；inthenetofwishesherfeetcannotbeheld；intheairofthesevalleysshewillnotbreathe。ThebirdsyouhavecaughtareofthebroodofLies。Lovelyandbeautiful，butstilllies；Truthknowsthemnot。’

"Andthehuntercriedoutinbitterness——

"’AndmustIthensitstill，tobedevouredofthisgreatburning？’

"Andtheoldmansaid，"’Listen，andinthatyouhavesufferedmuchandweptmuch，IwilltellyouwhatIknow。HewhosetsouttosearchforTruthmustleavethesevalleysofsuperstitionforever，takingwithhimnotoneshredthathasbelongedtothem。AlonehemustwanderdownintotheLandofAbsoluteNegationandDenial；hemustabidethere；hemustresisttemptation；whenthelightbreakshemustariseandfollowitintothecountryofdrysunshine。Themountainsofsternrealitywillrisebeforehim；hemustclimbthem；beyondthemliesTruth。’

"’Andhewillholdherfast！hewillholdherinhishands！’thehuntercried。

"Wisdomshookhishead。

"’Hewillneverseeher，neverholdher。Thetimeisnotyet。’

"’Thenthereisnohope？’criedthehunter。

"’Thereisthis，’saidWisdom：’Somemenhaveclimbedonthosemountains；

circleabovecircleofbarerocktheyhavescaled；and，wanderingthere，inthosehighregions，somehavechancedtopickuponthegroundonewhitesilverfeather，droppedfromthewingofTruth。Anditshallcometopass，’saidtheoldman，raisinghimselfpropheticallyandpointingwithhisfingertothesky，’itshallcometopass，thatwhenenoughofthosesilverfeathersshallhavebeengatheredbythehandsofmen，andshallhavebeenwovenintoacord，andthecordintoanet，thatinthatnetTruthmaybecaptured。NothingbutTruthcanholdTruth。’

"Thehunterarose。’Iwillgo，’hesaid。

"Butwisdomdetainedhim。

"’Markyouwell——wholeavesthesevalleysneverreturnstothem。Thoughheshouldweeptearsofbloodsevendaysandnightsupontheconfines，hecanneverputhisfootacrossthem。Left——theyareleftforever。Upontheroadwhichyouwouldtravelthereisnorewardoffered。Whogoes，goesfreely——forthegreatlovethatisinhim。Theworkishisreward。’

"’Igo’saidthehunter；’butuponthemountains，tellme，whichpathshallItake？’

"’IamthechildofThe—Accumulated—Knowledge—of—Ages，’saidtheman；’I

canwalkonlywheremanymenhavetrodden。Onthesemountainsfewfeethavepassed；eachmanstrikesoutapathforhimself。Hegoesathisownperil：myvoicehehearsnomore。Imayfollowafterhim，butcannotgobeforehim。’

"ThenKnowledgevanished。

"Andthehunterturned。Hewenttohiscage，andwithhishandsbrokedownthebars，andthejaggedirontorehisflesh。Itissometimeseasiertobuildthantobreak。

"Onebyonehetookhisplumedbirdsandletthemfly。Butwhenhecametohisdark—plumedbirdheheldit，andlookedintoitsbeautifuleyes，andthebirduttereditslow，deepcry——’Immortality！’

"Andhesaidquickly：’Icannotpartwithit。Itisnotheavy；iteatsnofood。Iwillhideitinmybreast；Iwilltakeitwithme。’Andheburieditthereandcovereditoverwithhiscloak。

"Butthethinghehadhiddengrewheavier，heavier，heavier——tillitlayonhisbreastlikelead。Hecouldnotmovewithit。Hecouldnotleavethosevalleyswithit。Thenagainhetookitoutandlookedatit。

"’Oh，mybeautiful！myheart’sown！’hecried，’mayInotkeepyou？’

"Heopenedhishandssadly。

"’Go！’hesaid。’ItmayhappenthatinTruth’ssongonenoteislikeyours；butIshallneverhearit。’

"Sadlyheopenedhishand，andthebirdflewfromhimforever。

"Thenfromtheshuttleofimaginationhetookthethreadofhiswishes，andthrewitontheground；andtheemptyshuttleheputintohisbreast，forthethreadwasmadeinthosevalleys，buttheshuttlecamefromanunknowncountry。Heturnedtogo，butnowthepeoplecameabouthim，howling。

"’Fool，hound，dementedlunatic！’theycried。’Howdaredyoubreakyourcageandletthebirdsfly？’

"Thehunterspoke；buttheywouldnothearhim。

"’Truth！whoisshe？Canyoueather？canyoudrinkher？Whohaseverseenher？Yourbirdswerereal：allcouldhearthemsing！Oh，fool！vilereptile！atheist！’theycried，’youpollutetheair。’

"’Come，letustakeupstonesandstonehim，’criedsome。

"’Whataffairisitofours？’saidothers。’Lettheidiotgo，’andwentaway。Buttherestgatheredupstonesandmudandthrewathim。Atlast，whenhewasbruisedandcut，thehuntercreptawayintothewoods。Anditwaseveningabouthim。"

Ateverywordthestrangerspokethefellow’seyesflashedbackonhim——

yes，andyes，andyes！Thestrangersmiled。Itwasalmostworththetroubleofexertingoneself，evenonalazyafternoon，towinthosepassionateflashes，morethirstyanddesiringthanthelove—glancesofawoman。

"Hewanderedonandon，"saidthestranger，"andtheshadegrewdeeper。Hewasonthebordersnowofthelandwhereitisalwaysnight。Thenhesteppedintoit，andtherewasnolightthere。Withhishandshegroped；

buteachbranchashetoucheditbrokeoff，andtheearthwascoveredwithcinders。Ateverystephisfootsankin，andafinecloudofimpalpableashesflewupintohisface；anditwasdark。Sohesatdownuponastoneandburiedhisfaceinhishands，towaitintheLandofNegationandDenialtillthelightcame。

"Anditwasnightinhisheartalso。

"Thenfromthemarshestohisrightandleftcoldmistsaroseandclosedabouthim。Afine，imperceptiblerainfellinthedark，andgreatdropsgatheredonhishairandclothes。Hisheartbeatslowly，andanumbnesscreptthroughallhislimbs。Then，lookingup，twomerrywisplightscamedancing。Heliftedhisheadtolookatthem。Nearer，nearertheycame。

Sowarm，sobright，theydancedlikestarsoffire。Theystoodbeforehimatlast。Fromthecentreoftheradiatingflameinonelookedoutawoman’sface，laughing，dimpled，withstreamingyellowhair。Inthecentreoftheotherweremerrylaughingripples，likethebubblesonaglassofwine。Theydancedbeforehim。

"’Whoareyou，’askedthehunter，’whoalonecometomeinmysolitudeanddarkness？’

"’WearethetwinsSensuality，’theycried。’Ourfather’snameisHuman—

Nature，andourmother’snameisExcess。Weareasoldasthehillsandrivers，asoldasthefirstman；butweneverdie，’theylaughed。

"’Oh，letmewrapmyarmsaboutyou！；criedthefirst；’theyaresoftandwarm。Yourheartisfrozennow，butIwillmakeitbeat。Oh，cometome！’

"’Iwillpourmyhotlifeintoyou，’saidthesecond；’yourbrainisnumb，andyourlimbsaredeadnow；buttheyshalllivewithafiercefreelife。

Oh，letmepouritin！’

"’Oh，followus，’theycried，’andlivewithus。Noblerheartsthanyourshavesathereinthisdarknesstowait，andtheyhavecometousandwetothem；andtheyhaveneverleftus，never。Allelseisadelusion，butwearereal，wearereal，wearereal。Truthisashadow；thevalleysofsuperstitionareafarce：theearthisofashes，thetreesallrotten；butwe——feelus——welive！Youcannotdoubtus。Feelushowwarmweare！Oh，cometous！Comewithus！’

"Nearerandnearerroundhisheadtheyhovered，andthecolddropsmeltedonhisforehead。Thebrightlightshotintohiseyes，dazzlinghim，andthefrozenbloodbegantorun。Andhesaid：

"’Yes，whyshouldIdiehereinthisawfuldarkness？Theyarewarm，theymeltmyfrozenblood！’andhestretchedouthishandstotakethem。

"Theninamomenttherearosebeforehimtheimageofthethinghehadloved，andhishanddroppedtohisside。

"’Oh，cometous！’theycried。

"Butheburiedhisface。

"’Youdazzlemyeyes，’hecried，’youmakemyheartwarm；butyoucannotgivemewhatIdesire。Iwillwaithere——waittillIdie。Go！’

"Hecoveredhisfacewithhishandsandwouldnotlisten；andwhenhelookedupagaintheyweretwotwinklingstars，thatvanishedinthedistance。

"Andthelong，longnightrolledon。

"Allwholeavethevalleyofsuperstitionpassthroughthatdarkland；butsomegothroughitinafewdays，somelingerthereformonths，someforyears，andsomediethere。"

Theboyhadcreptcloser；hishotbreathalmosttouchedthestranger’shand；amysticwonderfilledhiseyes。

"Atlastforthehunterafaintlightplayedalongthehorizon，andherosetofollowit；andhereachedthatlightatlast，andsteppedintothebroadsunshine。ThenbeforehimrosethealmightymountainsofDry—factsandRealities。Theclearsunshineplayedonthem，andthetopswerelostintheclouds。Atthefootmanypathsranup。Anexultantcryburstfromthehunter。Hechosethestraightestandbegantoclimb；andtherocksandridgesresoundedwithhissong。Theyhadexaggerated；afterall，itwasnotsohigh，norwastheroadsosteep！Afewdays，afewweeks，afewmonthsatmost，andthenthetop！Notonefeatheronlywouldhepickup；

hewouldgatherallthatothermenhadfound——weavethenet——captureTruth—

—holdherfast——touchherwithhishands——claspher！

"Helaughedinthemerrysunshine，andsangloud。Victorywasverynear。

Nevertheless，afterawhilethepathgrewsteeper。Heneededallhisbreathforclimbing，andthesingingdiedaway。Ontherightandleftrosehugerocks，devoidoflichenormoss，andinthelava—likeearthchasmsyawned。Hereandtherehesawasheenofwhitebones。Nowtoothepathbegantogrowlessandlessmarked；thenitbecameameretrace，withafootmarkhereandthere；thenitceasedaltogether。Hesangnomore，butstruckforthapathforhimself，untilitreachedamightywallofrock，smoothandwithoutbreak，stretchingasfarastheeyecouldsee。’Iwillrearastairagainstit；and，oncethiswallclimbed，Ishallbealmostthere，’hesaidbravely；andworked。Withhisshuttleofimaginationhedugoutstones；buthalfofthemwouldnotfit，andhalfamonth’sworkwouldrolldownbecausethosebelowwereillchosen。Butthehunterworkedon，sayingalwaystohimself，’Oncethiswallclimbed，Ishallbealmostthere。Thisgreatworkended！’

"Atlasthecameoutuponthetop，andhelookedabouthim。Farbelowrolledthewhitemistoverthevalleysofsuperstition，andabovehimtoweredthemountains。Theyhadseemedlowbefore；theywereofanimmeasurableheightnow，fromcrowntofoundationsurroundedbywallsofrock，thatrosetierabovetierinmightycircles。Uponthemplayedtheeternalsunshine。Heutteredawildcry。Hebowedhimselfontotheearth，andwhenherosehisfacewaswhite。Inabsolutesilencehewalkedon。Hewasverysilentnow。Inthosehighregionstherarefiedairishardtobreathebythoseborninthevalleys；everybreathhedrewhurthim，andthebloodoozedoutfromthetipsofhisfingers。Beforethenextwallofrockhebegantowork。Theheightofthisseemedinfinite，andhesaidnothing。Thesoundofhistoolrangnightanddayupontheironrocksintowhichhecutsteps。Yearspassedoverhim，yetheworkedon；butthewalltoweredupalwaysabovehimtoheaven。Sometimesheprayedthatalittlemossorlichenmightspringuponthosebarewallstobeacompaniontohim；butitnevercame。"Thestrangerwatchedtheboy’sface。

"Andtheyearsrolledon；hecountedthembythestepshehadcut——afewforayear——onlyafew。Hesangnomore；hesaidnomore，’Iwilldothisorthat’——heonlyworked。Andatnight，whenthetwilightsettleddown，therelookedoutathimfromtheholesandcrevicesintherocksstrangewildfaces。

"’Stopyourwork，youlonelyman，andspeaktous，’theycried。