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announced that we were to camp。 The camping； however；
turned out to be a very simple process； and consisted；
in fact； in sitting down on the ground round a scanty
fire made of dry reeds and some wood that had been
brought with us。 However； we made the best we could of
it； and smoked and ate with such appetite as the smell
of damp； stifling heat would allow； for it was very
hot on this low land； and yet； oddly enough； chilly at
times。 But； however hot it was； we were glad enough to
keep near the fire； because we found that the
mosquitoes did not like the smoke。 Presently we rolled
ourselves up in our blankets and tried to go to sleep；
but so far as I was concerned the bullfrogs； and the
extraordinary roaring and alarming sound produced by
hundreds of snipe hovering high in the air； made sleep
an impossibility； to say nothing of our other
discomforts。 I turned and looked at Leo； who was next
to me； he was dozing； but his face had a flushed
appearance that I did not like； and by the flickering
firelight I saw Ustane； who was lying on the other
side of him； raise herself from time to time upon her
elbow； and look at him anxiously enough； However； I
could do nothing for him for we had all already taken
a good dose of quinine； which was the only preventive
we had； so I lay and watched the stars come out by
thousands； till all the immense arch of heaven was
sewn with glittering points； and every point a world！
Here was a glorious sight by which man might well
measure his own insignificance！ Soon I gave up
thinking about it； for the mind wearies easily when it
strives to grapple with the Infinite； and to trace the
footsteps of the Almighty as he strides from sphere to
sphere； or deduce his purpose from his works。 Such
things are not for us to know。 Knowledge is to the
strong； and we are weak。 Too much wisdom would
perchance blind our imperfect sight； and too much
strength would make us drunk； and overweight our
feeble reason till it fell； and we were drowned in the
depths of our own vanity。 For what is the first result
of man's increased knowledge interpreted from Nature's
book by the persistent effort of his purblind
observation？ Is it not but too often to make him
question the existence of his Maker； or indeed of any
intelligent purpose beyond his own？ The truth is
veiled； because we could no more look upon her glory
than we can upon the sun。 It would destroy us。 Full
knowledge is not for man as man is here； for his
capacities； which he is apt to think so great； are
indeed but small。 The vessel is soon filled； and； were
one thousandth part of the unutterable and silent
wisdom that directs the rolling of those shining
spheres； and the force which makes them roll； pressed
into it； it would be shattered into fragments。 Perhaps
in some other place and time it may be otherwise； who
can tell？ Herethe lot of man born of the flesh is but
to endure midst toil and tribulation； to catch at the
bubbles blown by Fate； which he calls pleasures；
thankful if before they burst they rest a moment in
his hand； and when the tragedy is played out； and his
hour comes to perish； to pass humbly whither he knows
not。
Above me； as I lay； shone the eternal stars； and there
at my feet the impish marsh…born balls of fire rolled
this way and that； vapor…tossed and earth…desiring；
and methought that in the two I saw a type and image
of what man is； and what perchance man may one day be；
if the living Force who ordained him and them should
so ordain this also。 Oh； that it might be ours to rest
year by year upon that high level of the heart to
which at times we momentarily attain！ Oh； that we
could shake loose the prisoned pinions of the soul and
soar to that superior point； whence； like to some
traveller looking out through space from Darien's
giddiest peak； we might gaze with the spiritual eyes
of noble thoughts deep into Infinity！
What would it be to cast off this earthy robe； to have
done forever with these earthy thoughts and miserable
desires； no longer； like those corpse candles； to be
tossed this way and that； by forces beyond our
control； or which； if we can theoretically control
them； we are at times driven by the exigencies of our
nature to obey！ Yes； to cast them off； to have done
with the foul and thorny places of the world； and；
like to those glittering points above me； to rest on
high wrapped forever in the brightness of our better
selves； that even now shines in us as fire faintly
shines within those lurid balls； and lay down our
littleness in that wide glory of our dreams； that
invisible but surrounding good； from which all truth
and beauty comes！
These and many such thoughts passed through my mind
that night。 They come to torment us all at times。 I
say to torment； for； alas！ thinking can only serve to
measure out the helplessness of thought。 What is the
use of our feeble crying in the awful silences of
space！ Can our dim intelligence read the secrets of
that star…strewn sky？ Does any answer come out of it？
Never any at all； nothing but echoes and fantastic
visions。 And yet we believe that there is an answer；
and that upon a time a new Dawn will come blushing
down the ways of our enduring night。 We believe it；
for its reflected beauty even now shines up
continually in our hearts from beneath the horizon of
the grave； and we call it Hope。 Without Hope we should
suffer moral death； and by the help of Hope we yet may
climb to heaven； or at the worst； if she also prove
but a kindly mockery given to hold us from despair； be
gently lowered into the abysses of eternal sleep。
Then I fell to reflecting upon the undertaking on
which we were bent； and what a wild one it was； and
yet how strangely the story seemed to fit in with what
had been written centuries ago upon the sherd。 Who was
this extraordinary woman； queen over a people
apparently as extraordinary as herself； and reigning
amidst the vestiges of a lost civilization？ And what
was the meaning of this story of the Fire that gave
unending life？ Could it be possible that any fluid or
essence should exist which might so fortify these
fleshy walls that they should from age to age resist
the mines and batterings of decay？ It was possible；
though not probable。 The indefinite continuation of
life would not； as poor Vincey said； be so marvellous
a thing as the production of life and its temporary
endurance。 And if it were true； what then？ The person
who found it could no doubt rule the world。 He could
accumulate all the wealth in the world； and all the
power； and all the wisdom that is power。 He might give
a lifetime to the study of each art or science。 Well；
if that were so； and this _i_ She _i_ were practically
immortal； which I did not for one moment believe； how
was it that； with all these things at her feet； she
preferred to remain in a cave among a society of
cannibals？ This surely settled the question。 The whole
story was monstrous； and only worthy of the
superstitious days in which it was written。 At any
rate I was very sure that I woul