emed
stupendous, and regard them as mere tiny steps in the great steep we are
climbing.

I breakfasted at a little waterfall in the midst of the wildest
mountain, not a sound save the plashing waters to break the stillness;
the birds gathered round me for the crumbs of my meal, and ate them
within a few paces of where I sat. There was something that I felt as
indescribably touching, in the trustfulness of the humbler creation, in
scenes deserted and forsaken of men; and musing on the theme, I arose
and pursued my way.

When I reached the Verlohrnes Loch it was still early, and I was
delighted to find that the stream at the foot of the castle rock was
dwindled down to a mere rivulet, and fordable with ease. I crossed, and
at once began the ascent of the crag. Before I had spent half an hour at
my task, however, I found that its difficulties were far greater than
I had anticipated. The path was often interrupted by masses of fallen
rock, and frequently, from long disuse, difficult to hit upon when once
lost. Brambles and prickly pears, too, formed terrible obstacles at some
places, while at others the rocks were rendered slippery by dripping
water, and the danger of a false step was very great. In no wise
discouraged, I struggled on; but to my astonishment I could perceive
that it was wearing nigh to noon before I had accomplished more than
half the ascent. I had therefore to take counsel with myself whether I
should abandon my enterprise at once, or resolve to pass the night on
the crag, for I readily saw that before I could reach the level plain
again it would be too late to resume my homeward road over the mountain,
many parts of which required daylight to traverse. Although I had never
passed a night away from home, I had often told my mother that I should
probably be led to do so, and that she should not feel any alarm at
my absence; and she, who well knew the honest character of the
mountaineers, also knew that I was known to them for miles far around.
My resolve was at length taken to pass the night in the shelter of the
old castle, and take the following morning for my return.

As the day wore on, the heat grew more and more oppressive; occasional
gusts of wind would sweep past, followed by a dead, unbroken stillness,
in which not a leaf moved. It seemed as though mysterious spirits of the
elemental world were conversing together in this lone region, and the
thought impressed me more powerfully as at intervals