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speed； we should plunge much sooner than seemed at all desirable。 In
truth； I expected nothing better than to find myself in the ditch on
one side； or the quag on the other。 But on communicating my
apprehensions to Mr。 Smooth…it…away； he assured me that the
difficulties of this passage； even in its worst condition； had been
vastly exaggerated； and that； in its present state of improvement； I
might consider myself as safe as on any railroad in Christendom。
Even while we were speaking； the train shot into the entrance of
this dreaded Valley。 Though I plead guilty to some foolish
palpitations of the heart； during our headlong rush over the
causeway here constructed； yet it were unjust to withhold the
highest encomiums on the boldness of its original conception； and
the ingenuity of those who executed it。 It was gratifying； likewise；
to observe how much care had been taken to dispel the everlasting
gloom； and supply the defect of cheerful sunshine； not a ray of
which has ever penetrated among these awful shadows。 For this purpose；
the inflammable gas； which exudes plentifully from the soil； is
collected by means of pipes； and thence communicated to a quadruple
row of lamps； along the whole extent of the passage。 Thus a radiance
has been created； even out of the fiery and sulphurous curse that
rests for ever upon the Valley； a radiance hurtful； however； to the
eyes； and somewhat bewildering； as I discovered by the changes which
it wrought in the visages of my companions。 In this respect； as
compared with natural daylight； there is the same difference as
between truth and falsehood； but if the reader have ever travelled
through the dark Valley； he will have learned to be thankful for any
light that he could get； if not from the sky above； then from the
blasted soil beneath。 Such was the red brilliancy of these lamps； that
they appeared to build walls of fire on both sides of the track；
between which we held our course at lightning speed； while a
reverberating thunder filled the Valley with its echoes。 Had the
engine run off the track… a catastrophe； it is whispered； by no
means unprecedented… the bottomless pit； if there be any such place；
would undoubtedly have received us。 Just as some dismal fooleries of
this nature had made my heart quake； there came a tremendous shriek；
careering along the Valley as if a thousand devils had burst their
lungs to utter it； but which proved to be merely the whistle of the
engine； on arriving at a stopping…place。
The spot； where we had now paused； is the same that our friend
Bunyan… truthful man； but infected with many fantastic notions… has
designated； in terms plainer than I like to repeat； as the mouth of
the infernal region。 This； however； must be a mistake； inasmuch as Mr。
Smooth…it…away； while we remained in the smoky and lurid cavern；
took occasion to prove that Tophet has not even a metaphorical
existence。 The place； he assured us； is no other than the crater of
a half…extinct volcano； in which the Directors had caused forges to be
set up； for the manufacture of railroad iron。 Hence； also； is obtained
a plentiful supply of fuel for the use of the engines。 Whoever had
gazed into the dismal obscurity of the broad cavern…mouth； whence ever
and anon darted huge tongues of dusky flame… and had seen the strange；
half…shaped monsters； and visions of faces horribly grotesque； into
which the smoke seemed to wreathe itself… and had heard the awful
murmurs； and shrieks； and deep shuddering whispers of the blast；
sometimes forming themselves into words almost articulate… would
have seized upon Mr。 Smooth…it…away's comfortable explanation； as
greedily as we did。 The inhabitants of the cavern； moreover； were
unlovely personages； dark； smoke…begrimed； generally deformed； with
mis…shapen feet； and a glow of dusky redness in their eyes； as if
their hearts had caught fire； and were blazing out of the upper
windows。 It struck me as a peculiarity； that the laborers at the
forge； and those who brought fuel to the engine； when they began to
draw short breath； positively emitted smoke from their mouth and
nostrils。
Among the idlers about the train； most of whom were puffing
cigars which they had lighted at the flame of the crater； I was
perplexed to notice several who； to my certain knowledge； had
heretofore set forth by railroad for the Celestial City。 They looked
dark； wild； and smoky； with a singular resemblance； indeed； to the
native inhabitants； like whom； also； they had a disagreeable
propensity to ill…natured gibes and sneers； the habit of which had
wrought a settled contortion of their visages。 Having been on speaking
terms with one of these persons… an indolent； good…for…nothing fellow；
who went by the name of Take…it…easy… I called him； and inquired
what was his business there。
〃Did you not start；〃 said I； 〃for the Celestial City？〃
〃That's a fact；〃 said Mr。 Take…it…easy； carelessly puffing some
smoke into my eyes。 〃But I heard such bad accounts； that I never
took pains to climb the hill； on which the city stands。 No business
doing… no fun going on… nothing to drink； and no smoking allowed…
and a thrumming of church…music from morning till night！ I would not
stay in such a place； if they offered me house…room and living free。〃
〃But； my good Mr。 Take…it…easy；〃 cried I； 〃why take up your
residence here； of all places in the world？〃
〃Oh；〃 said the loafer； with a grin； 〃it is very warm hereabouts；
and I meet with plenty of old acquaintances； and altogether the
place suits me。 I hope to see you back again； some day soon。 A
pleasant journey to you！〃
While he was speaking； the bell of the engine rang； and we dashed
away； after dropping a few passengers； but receiving no new ones。
Rattling onward through the Valley； we were dazzled with the
fiercely gleaming gas…lamps； as before。 But sometimes； in the dark
of intense brightness； grim faces； that bore the aspect and expression
of individual sins； or evil passions； seemed to thrust themselves
through the veil of light； glaring upon us； and stretching forth a
great dusky hand； as if to impede our progress。 I almost thought； that
they were my own sins that appalled me there。 These were freaks of
imagination… nothing more； certainly… mere delusions； which I ought to
be heartily ashamed of… but； all through the Dark Valley； I was
tormented； and pestered； and dolefully bewildered； with the same
kind of waking dreams。 The mephitic gases of that region intoxicate
the brain。 As the light of natural day； however； began to struggle
with the glow of the lanterns； these vain imaginations lost their
vividness； and finally vanished with the first ray of sunshine that
greeted our escape from the Valley of the Shadow of Death。 Ere we
had gone a mile beyond it； I could well nigh have taken my oath；
that this whole gloomy passage was a dream。
At the end of the Valley； as John Bunyan mentions； is a cavern；
where； in his days； dwelt two cruel giants； Pope and Pagan； who had
strewn the ground about their residence with the bones of
slaughtered pilg