Країна сліпих

           Herecalledthathehadbeenlookingforloosestonestoraisehispieceoftheshelterwall. Hisice-axehaddisappeared. 

           Hedecidedhemusthavefallen,andlookeduptosee,exaggeratedbytheghastlylightoftherisingmoon,thetremendousflighthehadtaken. Forawhilehelay,gazingblanklyatthatvastpaleclifftoweringabove,risingmomentbymomentoutofasubsidingtideofdarkness. Itsphantasmal,mysteriousbeautyheldhimforaspace,andthenhewasseizedwithaparoxysmofsobbinglaughter... 

           Afteragreatintervaloftimehebecameawarethathewasneartheloweredgeofthesnow. Below,downwhatwasnowamoonlitandpracticableslope,hesawthedarkandbrokenappearanceofrock-strewnturf. Hestruggledtohisfeet,achingineveryjointandlimb,gotdownpainfullyfromtheheapedloosesnowabouthim,wentdownwarduntilhewasontheturf,andtheredroppedratherthanlaybesideaboulder,drankdeepfromtheflaskinhisinnerpocket,andinstantlyfellasleep... 

           Hewasawakenedbythesingingofbirdsinthetreesfarbelow. 

           Hesatupandperceivedhewasonalittlealpatthefootofavastprecipice,thatwasgroovedbythegullydownwhichheandhissnowhadcome. Overagainsthimanotherwallofrockreareditselfagainstthesky. Thegorgebetweentheseprecipicesraneastandwestandwasfullofthemorningsunlight,whichlittothewestwardthemassoffallenmountainthatclosedthedescendinggorge.