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XV。
Toward the Pass。
I was waked by good news。 The porters had； to a certain extent；
come round。 If we would halve their burdens by doubling their number；
they would make an attempt on the pass； or； rather； they would go on
as far as they could。 This was a great advance。 To be already
moving implies a momentum of the mind which carries a man farther
than he means。 I acquiesced at once。 The recruits consisted of the
master of the househis father； the officiator at family prayers；
had retired from the cares of this worldand a peasant of the
neighborhood。 The charcoal burners were too busy with their own
affairs。 From the sill； as I put on my boots； I watched with
complacence the cording of the loads； and then； with quite a
lightsome gait； followed the lengthened file out into the street。
One after the other we tramped forth past the few houses of the
place； whose people watched us go； with the buoyant tread of those
about to do great things； and so out into the open。
The path appeared very well。 It trotted soberly along across a
mountain moor until it came out above the river。 It then wound up
stream； clinging to the slope several hundred feet above the valley
bottom。 It was precipitous in places； but within reason； and I was
just coming to consider the accounts exaggerated when it descended to
the river bed at a point where a butt of neve stuck a foot into the
shingle。 The stream； which had looked a thread from above； turned
out a torrent when we stood upon its brink。 The valley was nothing
but river bed； a mass of boulders of all sizes； through the midst of
which the stream plunged with deafening roar； and so deep that
fording was out of the question。 A man's life would not have been
worth a rush in it。
We followed up the boulder bank in search of a more propitious spot。
Then we followed down again。 Each place promised at a distance； and
baulked hope at hand。 At last； in despair； we came to a halt
opposite the widest and shallowest part； and after no end of urging；
one of the porters stripped； and； armed with his pole； ventured in。
The channel lay well over to the farther side； thrice he got to its
nearer edge and thrice he turned back； as the rush of water became
too great。 His life was worth too much to him； he said； not
unnaturally； for him to throw it away。 Yet cross the stream we must；
or return ignominiously； for the path we had so far followed had
fallen over the cliff in front。
We improved the moments of reflection to have lunch。 While we were
still discussing viae and viands； and had nearly come to the end of
both； we suddenly spied a string of men defiling slowly down through
the wide boulder desert on the other side。 We all rose and hailed
them。 They were so far away that at first they failed to hear us；
and even when they heard they stared vacantly about them like men who
hear they know not what。 When at last they caught sight of us； we
beckoned excitedly。 They consulted； apparently； and then one of them
came down to the edge of the stream。 The torrent made so much noise
that our men could make themselves intelligible only in part； and
that by bawling at the top of their lungs。 Through the envoy； they
invited the band to string themselves across the stream and so pass
our things over。 The man shook his head。 We rose to fabulous sums
and still he repeated his pantomime。 It then occurred to Yejiro that
a certain place lower down might possibly be bridged； and beckoning
to the man to follow； he led the way to the spot in mind。 A boulder；
two…thirds way in stream； seemed to offer a pier。 He tried to shout
his idea； but the roar of the torrent； narrow though it was； drowned
his voice； so； writing on a piece of paper： 〃What will you take to
build us a bridge？〃 he wrapped the paper round a stone and flung it
over。 After reading this missive； the spokesman held a consultation
with his friends and a bargain was struck。 For the huge sum of two
yen （a dollar and a half）； they agreed to build us a bridge； and at
once set off up the mountain side for a tree。
The men； it seemed； were a band of wood…cutters who had wintered；
as was their custom； in a hut at Kurobe； which was this side of the
Harinoki toge； and were just come out from their hibernation。
They were now on their way to Ashikura； where they belonged； to
report to their headman； obtain supplies and start to return on the
after…morrow。 It was a two…days' journey either out or in。
Bridges； therefore； came of their trade。 The distance across the
boulder bed was considerable； and as they toiled slowly up the face
of the opposite mountain； they looked like so many ants。 Picking out
a trunk； they began to drag it down。 By degrees they got it to the
river bed； and thence eventually to the edge of the stream。 To lay
it was quite a feat of engineering。 With some pieces of drift…wood
which they found lying about； they threw a span to the big boulder；
and from the boulder managed to get the trunk across。 Then； with
rope which they carried at their girdles； they lashed the whole
together until they had patched up a very workmanlike affair。
We trod across in triumph。 With praiseworthy care lest it should
be swept away they then took the thing all down again。
Such valuable people were not idly to be parted with。 Here was a
rare chance to get guides。 When； however； we approached them on the
point； they all proved so conscientious about going home first； that
the attempt failed。 But they gave us some important information on
the state of the streams ahead and the means of crossing them； and we
separated with much mutual good…will。
For my part I felt as if we had already arrived somewhere。 I little
knew what lay beyond。 While I was plodding along in this blissfully
ignorant state of mind； communing with a pipe； the path； which had
frisked in and out for some time among the boulders； suddenly took it
into its head to scale a cliff on the left。 It did this； as it
seemed to me； without provocation； after a certain reckless fashion
of its own。 The higher it climbed； the more foolhardy it got； till
the down…look grew unpleasant。 Then it took to coquetting with the
gulf on its right until； as I knew would happen； it lost its head
completely and fell over the edge。 The gap had been spanned by a few
loose boards。 Over the makeshift we all； one after the other；
gingerly crawled； each waiting his turn； with the abyss gaping on his
side； for the one in front to move on。
We had not yet recovered from the shock when we came to another place
not unlike the first。 Here again the path had given way； and a
couple of logs had been lashed across the inner elbow of the cliff。
We crossed this by balancing ourselves for the first two steps by the
stump of a bush that jutted out from a crevice in the rock； for the
next two we touched the cliff with the tips of our fingers； for the
last