Страна слепых

           Belowhimitseemedtherewasaprecipiceequallysteep,butbehindthesnowinthegullyhefoundasortofchimney-cleftdrippingwithsnow-waterdownwhichadesperatemanmightventure. Hefounditeasierthanitseemed,andcameatlasttoanotherdesolatealp,andthenafterarockclimbofnoparticulardifficultytoasteepslopeoftrees. Hetookhisbearingsandturnedhisfaceupthegorge,forhesawitopenedoutaboveupongreenmeadows,amongwhichhenowglimpsedquitedistinctlyaclusterofstonehutsofunfamiliarfashion. Attimeshisprogresswaslikeclamberingalongthefaceofawall,andafteratimetherisingsunceasedtostrikealongthegorge,thevoicesofthesingingbirdsdiedaway,andtheairgrewcoldanddarkabouthim. Butthedistantvalleywithitshouseswasallthebrighterforthat. Hecamepresentlytotalus,andamongtherockshenoted—forhewasanobservantman—anunfamiliarfernthatseemedtoclutchoutofthecreviceswithintensegreenhands. Hepickedafrondorsoandgnaweditsstalkandfoundithelpful. 

           Aboutmiddayhecameatlastoutofthethroatofthegorgeintotheplainandthesunlight. Hewasstiffandweary; hesatdownintheshadowofarock,filleduphisflaskwithwaterfromaspringanddrankitdown,andremainedforatimerestingbeforehewentontothehouses. 

           Theywereverystrangetohiseyes,andindeedthewholeaspectofthatvalleybecame,asheregardedit,queererandmoreunfamiliar.