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man's outer coat to a brand…new shooting…jacket； for which he had
reluctantly paid the large sum of two guineas on leaving town； he
had no stimulating refreshment about him but a small packet of
clammy gingerbread nuts； he had nobody to give him an arm； nobody
to push him gently behind； nobody to pull him up tenderly in front；
nobody to speak to who really felt the difficulties of the ascent；
the dampness of the rain； the denseness of the mist； and the
unutterable folly of climbing； undriven； up any steep place in the
world； when there is level ground within reach to walk on instead。
Was it for this that Thomas had left London？ London； where there
are nice short walks in level public gardens； with benches of
repose set up at convenient distances for weary travellers …
London； where rugged stone is humanely pounded into little lumps
for the road； and intelligently shaped into smooth slabs for the
pavement！ No！ it was not for the laborious ascent of the crags of
Carrock that Idle had left his native city； and travelled to
Cumberland。 Never did he feel more disastrously convinced that he
had committed a very grave error in judgment than when he found
himself standing in the rain at the bottom of a steep mountain； and
knew that the responsibility rested on his weak shoulders of
actually getting to the top of it。
The honest landlord went first； the beaming Goodchild followed； the
mournful Idle brought up the rear。 From time to time； the two
foremost members of the expedition changed places in the order of
march； but the rearguard never altered his position。 Up the
mountain or down the mountain； in the water or out of it； over the
rocks； through the bogs； skirting the heather； Mr。 Thomas Idle was
always the last； and was always the man who had to be looked after
and waited for。 At first the ascent was delusively easy； the sides
of the mountain sloped gradually； and the material of which they
were composed was a soft spongy turf； very tender and pleasant to
walk upon。 After a hundred yards or so； however； the verdant scene
and the easy slope disappeared； and the rocks began。 Not noble；
massive rocks； standing upright； keeping a certain regularity in
their positions； and possessing； now and then； flat tops to sit
upon； but little irritating； comfortless rocks； littered about
anyhow； by Nature； treacherous； disheartening rocks of all sorts of
small shapes and small sizes； bruisers of tender toes and trippers…
up of wavering feet。 When these impediments were passed； heather
and slough followed。 Here the steepness of the ascent was slightly
mitigated； and here the exploring party of three turned round to
look at the view below them。 The scene of the moorland and the
fields was like a feeble water…colour drawing half sponged out。
The mist was darkening； the rain was thickening； the trees were
dotted about like spots of faint shadow； the division…lines which
mapped out the fields were all getting blurred together； and the
lonely farm…house where the dog…cart had been left； loomed spectral
in the grey light like the last human dwelling at the end of the
habitable world。 Was this a sight worth climbing to see？ Surely …
surely not！
Up again … for the top of Carrock is not reached yet。 The land…
lord； just as good…tempered and obliging as he was at the bottom of
the mountain。 Mr。 Goodchild brighter in the eyes and rosier in the
face than ever； full of cheerful remarks and apt quotations； and
walking with a springiness of step wonderful to behold。 Mr。 Idle；
farther and farther in the rear； with the water squeaking in the
toes of his boots； with his two…guinea shooting…jacket clinging
damply to his aching sides； with his overcoat so full of rain； and
standing out so pyramidically stiff； in consequence； from his
shoulders downwards； that he felt as if he was walking in a
gigantic extinguisher … the despairing spirit within him
representing but too aptly the candle that had just been put out。
Up and up and up again； till a ridge is reached and the outer edge
of the mist on the summit of Carrock is darkly and drizzingly near。
Is this the top？ No； nothing like the top。 It is an aggravating
peculiarity of all mountains； that； although they have only one top
when they are seen （as they ought always to be seen） from below；
they turn out to have a perfect eruption of false tops whenever the
traveller is sufficiently ill…advised to go out of his way for the
purpose of ascending them。 Carrock is but a trumpery little
mountain of fifteen hundred feet； and it presumes to have false
tops； and even precipices； as if it were Mont Blanc。 No matter；
Goodchild enjoys it； and will go on； and Idle； who is afraid of
being left behind by himself； must follow。 On entering the edge of
the mist； the landlord stops； and says he hopes that it will not
get any thicker。 It is twenty years since he last ascended
Carrock； and it is barely possible； if the mist increases； that the
party may be lost on the mountain。 Goodchild hears this dreadful
intimation； and is not in the least impressed by it。 He marches
for the top that is never to be found； as if he was the Wandering
Jew； bound to go on for ever； in defiance of everything。 The
landlord faithfully accompanies him。 The two； to the dim eye of
Idle； far below； look in the exaggerative mist； like a pair of
friendly giants； mounting the steps of some invisible castle
together。 Up and up； and then down a little； and then up； and then
along a strip of level ground； and then up again。 The wind； a wind
unknown in the happy valley； blows keen and strong； the rain…mist
gets impenetrable； a dreary little cairn of stones appears。 The
landlord adds one to the heap； first walking all round the cairn as
if he were about to perform an incantation； then dropping the stone
on to the top of the heap with the gesture of a magician adding an
ingredient to a cauldron in full bubble。 Goodchild sits down by
the cairn as if it was his study…table at home； Idle； drenched and
panting； stands up with his back to the wind； ascertains distinctly
that this is the top at last； looks round with all the little
curiosity that is left in him； and gets； in return； a magnificent
view of … Nothing！
The effect of this sublime spectacle on the minds of the exploring
party is a little injured by the nature of the direct conclusion to
which the sight of it points … the said conclusion being that the
mountain mist has actually gathered round them； as the landlord
feared it would。 It now becomes imperatively necessary to settle
the exact situation of the farm…house in the valley at which the
dog…cart has been left； before the travellers attempt to descend。
While the landlord is endeavouring to make this discovery in his
own way； Mr。 Goodchild plunges his hand under his wet coat； draws
out a little red morocco…case； opens it； and displays to the view
of his companions a neat pocket…compass。 The north is found； th