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cooked； smoked； gave myself a nightcap of brandy and water； and by
and by rolled myself round in my blanket； with the dog curled up
beside me。 I will not dwell upon the strangeness of my feelings
nor the extreme beauty of the night。 But for the dog； and Doctor；
I should have been frightened； but I knew that there were no savage
creatures or venomous snakes in the country； and both the dog and
Doctor were such good companionable creatures； that I did not feel
so much oppressed by the solitude as I had feared I should be。 But
the night was cold； and my blanket was not enough to keep me
comfortably warm。
The following day was delightfully warm as soon as the sun got to
the bottom of the valley； and the fresh fallen snow disappeared so
fast from the snowy range that I was afraid it would raise the
riverwhich； indeed； rose in the afternoon and became slightly
discoloured； but it cannot have been more than three or four inches
deeper； for it never reached the bottom of my saddle…bags。 I
believe Doctor knew exactly where I was going； for he wanted no
guidance。 I halted again at midday； got two more ducks； crossed
and recrossed the river； or some of its streams； several times； and
at about six； caught sight； after a bend in the valley； of the
glacier descending on to the river…bed。 This I knew to be close to
the point at which I was to camp for the night； and from which I
was to ascend the mountain。 After another hour's slow progress
over the increasing roughness of the river…bed； I saw the
triangular delta of which my father had told me； and the stream
that had formed it； bounding down the mountain side。 Doctor went
right up to the place where my father's fire had been； and I again
found many pieces of charred wood and ashes。
As soon as I had unloaded Doctor and hobbled him； I went to a tree
hard by； on which I could see the mark of a blaze； and towards
which I thought I could see a line of wood ashes running。 There I
found a hole in which some bird had evidently been wont to build；
and surmised correctly that it must be the one in which my father
had hidden his box of sovereigns。 There was no box in the hole
now； and I began to feel that I was at last within measureable
distance of Erewhon and the Erewhonians。
I camped for the night here； and again found my single blanket
insufficient。 The next day； i。e。 Tuesday； December 8； I had to
pass as I best could； and it occurred to me that as I should find
the gold a great weight； I had better take it some three hours up
the mountain side and leave it there； so as to make the following
day less fatiguing； and this I did； returning to my camp for
dinner； but I was panic…stricken all the rest of the day lest I
should not have hidden it safely； or lest I should be unable to
find it next dayconjuring up a hundred absurd fancies as to what
might befall it。 And after all； heavy though it was； I could have
carried it all the way。 In the afternoon I saddled Doctor and rode
him up to the glaciers； which were indeed magnificent； and then I
made the few notes of my journey from which this chapter has been
taken。 I made excuses for turning in early； and at daybreak
rekindled my fire and got my breakfast。 All the time the
companionship of the dog was an unspeakable comfort to me。
It was now the day my father had fixed for my meeting with George；
and my excitement （with which I have not yet troubled the reader；
though it had been consuming me ever since I had left Harris's hut）
was beyond all bounds； so much so that I almost feared I was in a
fever which would prevent my completing the little that remained of
my task； in fact； I was in as great a panic as I had been about the
gold that I had left。 My hands trembled as I took the watches； and
the brooches for Yram and her daughters from my saddle…bags； which
I then hung； probably on the very bough on which my father had hung
them。 Needless to say； I also hung my saddle and bridle along with
the saddle…bags。
It was nearly seven before I started； and about ten before I
reached the hiding…place of my knapsack。 I found it； of course；
quite easily； shouldered it； and toiled on towards the statues。 At
a quarter before twelve I reached them； and almost beside myself as
I was； could not refrain from some disappointment at finding them a
good deal smaller than I expected。 My father； correcting the
measurement he had given in his book； said he thought that they
were about four or five times the size of life； but really I do not
think they were more than twenty feet high； any one of them。 In
other respects my father's description of them is quite accurate。
There was no wind； and as a matter of course； therefore； they were
not chanting。 I wiled away the quarter of an hour before the time
when George became due； with wondering at them； and in a way
admiring them； hideous though they were； but all the time I kept
looking towards the part from which George should come。
At last my watch pointed to noon； but there was no George。 A
quarter past twelve； but no George。 Half…past； still no George。
One o'clock； and all the quarters till three o'clock； but still no
George。 I tried to eat some of the ship's biscuits I had brought
with me； but I could not。 My disappointment was now as great as my
excitement had been all the forenoon； at three o'clock I fairly
cried； and for half an hour could only fling myself on the ground
and give way to all the unreasonable spleen that extreme vexation
could suggest。 True； I kept telling myself that for aught I knew
George might be dead； or down with a fever； but this would not do；
for in this last case he should have sent one of his brothers to
meet me； and it was not likely that he was dead。 I am afraid I
thought it most probable that he had been casualof which unworthy
suspicion I have long since been heartily ashamed。
I put the brooches inside my knapsack； and hid it in a place where
I was sure no one would find it； then； with a heavy heart； I
trudged down again to my campbroken in spirit； and hopeless for
the morrow。
I camped again； but it was some hours before I got a wink of sleep；
and when sleep came it was accompanied by a strange dream。 I
dreamed that I was by my father's bedside； watching his last
flicker of intelligence； and vainly trying to catch the words that
he was not less vainly trying to utter。 All of a sudden the bed
seemed to be at my camping ground； and the largest of the statues
appeared； quite small； high up the mountain side； but striding down
like a giant in seven league boots till it stood over me and my
father； and shouted out 〃Leap； John； leap。〃 In the horror of this
vision I woke with a loud cry that woke my dog also； and made him
shew such evident signs of fear； that it seemed to me as though he
too must have shared my dream。
Shivering with cold I started up in a frenzy； but there was
nothing； save a night of such singular beauty that I did not even
try to go to sleep again。 Naturally enough； on trying to keep
awake I dropped asleep before many minutes were over。
In the morning I again climbed up to the statues； without； to my
surprise； being depressed wi