Країна сліпих
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.
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