\"Dutchpeople？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Andyoulikethelife？\"
Theboyhesitated。
\"Ondayslikethese。\"
\"Andwhyonthese？\"
Theboywaited。
\"Theyareverybeautiful。\"
Thestrangerlookedathim。Itseemedthatasthefellow’sdarkeyeslookedacrossthebrownearththeykindledwithanintensesatisfaction；
thentheylookedbackatthecarving。
Whathadthatcreature，socoarse—cladandclownish，todowiththesubtlejoysoftheweather？Himself，white—handedanddelicate，hemighthearthemusicwithshimmeringsunshineandsolitudeplayonthefinely—strungchordsofnature；butthatfellow！Wasnottheearinthatgreatbodytoogrossforsuchdelicatemutterings？
Presentlyhesaid：
\"MayIseewhatyouworkat？\"
Thefellowhandedhiswoodenpost。Itwasbynomeanslovely。Themenandbirdswerealmostgrotesqueintheirlabouredresemblancetonature，andboresignsofpatientthought。Thestrangerturnedthethingoveronhisknee。
\"Wheredidyoulearnthiswork？\"
\"Itaughtmyself。\"
\"Andthesezigzaglinesrepresent——\"
\"Amountain。\"
Thestrangerlooked。
\"Ithassomemeaning，hasitnot？\"
Theboymutteredconfusedly。
\"Onlythings。\"
Thequestionerlookeddownathim——thehuge，unwieldyfigure，insizeaman’s，inrightofhischildlikefeaturesandcurlinghairachild’s；andithurthim——itattractedhimandithurthim。Itwassomethingbetweenpityandsympathy。
\"Howlonghaveyouworkedatthis？\"
\"Ninemonths。\"
Fromhispocketthestrangerdrewhispocket—book，andtooksomethingfromit。Hecouldfastentheposttohishorseinsomeway，andthrowitawayinthesandwhenatasafedistance。
\"Willyoutakethisforyourcarving？\"
Theboyglancedatthefive—poundnoteandshookhishead。
\"No；Icannot。\"
\"Youthinkitisworthmore？\"askedthestrangerwithalittlesneer。
Hepointedwithhisthumbtoagrave。
\"No；itisforhim。\"
\"Andwhoisthere？\"askedthestranger。
\"Myfather。\"
Themansilentlyreturnedthenotetohispocket—book，andgavethecarvingtotheboy；and，drawinghishatoverhiseyes，composedhimselftosleep。
Notbeingabletodoso，afterawhileheglancedoverthefellow’sshouldertowatchhimwork。Theboycarvedlettersintotheback。
\"If，\"saidthestranger，withhismelodiousvoice，richwithasweetnessthatnevershoweditselfinthecloudedeyes——forsweetnesswilllingeroninthevoicelongafterithasdiedoutintheeyes——\"ifforsuchapurpose，whywritethatuponit？\"
Theboyglancedroundathim，butmadenoanswer。Hehadalmostforgottenhispresence。
\"Yousurelybelieve，\"saidthestranger，\"thatsomeday，soonerorlater，thesegraveswillopen，andthoseBoer—uncleswiththeirwiveswalkabouthereintheredsand，withtheveryfleshlylegswithwhichtheywenttosleep？Thenwhysay，’Hesleepsforever？’Youbelievehewillstandupagain？\"
\"Doyou？\"askedtheboy，liftingforaninstanthisheavyeyestothestranger’sface。
Halftakenabackthestrangerlaughed。Itwasasthoughacuriouslittletadpolewhichheheldunderhisglassshouldsuddenlyliftitstailandbegintoquestionhim。
\"I？——no。\"Helaughedhisshortthicklaugh。\"Iamamanwhobelievesnothing，hopesnothing，fearsnothing，feelsnothing。Iambeyondthepaleofhumanity；nocriterionofwhatyoushouldbewholivehereamongyourostrichesandbushes。\"
Thenextmomentthestrangerwassurprisedbyasuddenmovementonthepartofthefellow，whichbroughthimclosetothestranger’sfeet。Soonafterheraisedhiscarvingandlaiditacrosstheman’sknee。
\"Yes，Iwilltellyou，\"hemuttered；\"Iwilltellyouallaboutit。\"
Heputhisfingeronthegrotesquelittlemannikinatthebottom（ah！thatmanwhobelievednothing，hopednothing，feltnothing；howhelovedhim！），andwitheagerfingerthefellowmovedupward，explainingoverfantasticfiguresandmountains，tothecrowningbirdfromwhosewingdroppedafeather。Attheendhespokewithbrokenbreath——shortwords，likeonewhouttersthingsofmightyimport。
Thestrangerwatchedmorethefacethanthecarving；andtherewasnowandthenashowofwhiteteethbeneaththemoustachesashelistened。
\"Ithink，\"hesaidblandly，whentheboyhaddone，\"thatIpartlyunderstandyou。Itissomethingafterthisfashion，isitnot？\"（Hesmiled。）\"Incertainvalleystherewasahunter。\"（Hetouchedthegrotesquelittlefigureatthebottom。）\"Daybydayhewenttohuntforwild—fowlinthewoods；anditchancedthatoncehestoodontheshoresofalargelake。Whilehestoodwaitingintherushesforthecomingofthebirds，agreatshadowfellonhim，andinthewaterhesawareflection。
Helookeduptothesky；butthethingwasgone。Thenaburningdesirecameoverhimtoseeonceagainthatreflectioninthewater，andalldayhewatchedandwaited；butnightcameandithadnotreturned。Thenhewenthomewithhisemptybag，moodyandsilent。Hiscomradescamequestioningabouthimtoknowthereason，butheansweredthemnothing；hesataloneandbrooded。Thenhisfriendcametohim，andtohimhespoke。
\"’Ihaveseentoday，’hesaid，’thatwhichIneversawbefore——avastwhitebird，withsilverwingsoutstretched，sailingintheeverlastingblue。Andnowitisasthoughagreatfireburntwithinmybreast。Itwasbutasheen，ashimmer，areflectioninthewater；butnowIdesirenothingmoreonearththantoholdher。’
\"Hisfriendlaughed。
\"’Itwasbutabeamplayingonthewater，ortheshadowofyourownhead。
Tomorrowyouwillforgether，’hesaid。
\"Buttomorrow，andtomorrow，andtomorrowthehunterwalkedalone。Hesoughtintheforestandinthewoods，bythelakesandamongtherushes，buthecouldnotfindher。Heshotnomorewildfowl；whatweretheytohim？
\"’Whatailshim？’saidhiscomrades。
\"’Heismad，’saidone。
\"’No；butheisworse，’saidanother；’hewouldseethatwhichnoneofushaveseen，andmakehimselfawonder。’
\"’Come，letusforswearhiscompany，’saidall。
\"Sothehunterwalkedalone。
\"Onenight，ashewanderedintheshade，veryheartsoreandweeping，anoldmanstoodbeforehim，granderandtallerthanthesonsofmen。
\"’Whoareyou？’askedthehunter。
\"’IamWisdom，’answeredtheoldman；’butsomemencallmeKnowledge。AllmylifeIhavegrowninthesevalleys；butnomanseesmetillhehassorrowedmuch。Theeyesmustbewashedwithtearsthataretobeholdme；
and，accordingasamanhassuffered，Ispeak。’
\"Andthehuntercried：
\"’Oh，youwhohavelivedheresolong，tellme，whatisthatgreatwildbirdIhaveseensailingintheblue？Theywouldhavemebelievesheisadream；theshadowofmyownhead。’
\"Theoldmansmiled。
\"’HernameisTruth。Hewhohasonceseenherneverrestsagain。Tilldeathhedesiresher。’
\"Andthehuntercried：
\"’Oh，tellmewhereImayfindher。’
\"Buttheoldmansaid：
\"’Youhavenotsufferedenough，’andwent。
\"ThenthehuntertookfromhisbreasttheshuttleofImagination，andwoundonitthethreadofhisWishes；andallnighthesatandwoveanet。
\"Inthemorninghespreadthegoldennetupontheground，andintoithethrewafewgrainsofcredulity，whichhisfatherhadlefthim，andwhichhekeptinhisbreast—pocket。Theywerelikewhitepuff—balls，andwhenyoutrodonthemabrowndustflewout。Thenhesatbytoseewhatwouldhappen。Thefirstthatcameintothenetwasasnow—whitebird，withdove’seyes，andhesangabeautifulsong——’Ahuman—God！ahuman—God！ahuman—God！’itsang。Thesecondthatcamewasblackandmystical，withdark，lovelyeyes，thatlookedintothedepthsofyoursoul，andhesangonlythis——’Immortality！’
\"Andthehuntertookthembothinhisarmsforhesaid——
\"’TheyaresurelyofthebeautifulfamilyofTruth。’
\"Thencameanother，greenandgold，whosanginashrillvoice，likeonecryinginthemarketplace，——’RewardafterDeath！RewardafterDeath！’
\"Andhesaid——
\"’Youarenotsofair；butyouarefairtoo，’andhetookit。
\"Andotherscame，brightlycoloured，singingpleasantsongs，tillallthegrainswerefinished。Andthehuntergatheredallhisbirdstogether，andbuiltastrongironcagecalledanewcreed，andputallhisbirdsinit。
\"Thenthepeoplecameaboutdancingandsinging。
\"’Oh，happyhunter！’theycried。’Oh，wonderfulman！Oh，delightfulbirds！Oh，lovelysongs！’
\"Nooneaskedwherethebirdshadcomefrom，norhowtheyhadbeencaught；
buttheydancedandsangbeforethem。Andthehuntertoowasglad，forhesaid：
\"’SurelyTruthisamongthem。Intimeshewillmoultherfeathers，andI
shallseehersnow—whiteform。’
\"Butthetimepassed，andthepeoplesanganddanced；butthehunter’sheartgrewheavy。Hecreptalone，asofold，toweep；theterribledesirehadawakenedagaininhisbreast。Oneday，ashesataloneweeping，itchancedthatWisdommethim。Hetoldtheoldmanwhathehaddone。
\"AndWisdomsmiledsadly。
\"’Manymen，’hesaid，’havespreadthatnetforTruth；buttheyhaveneverfoundher。Onthegrainsofcredulityshewillnotfeed；inthenetofwishesherfeetcannotbeheld；intheairofthesevalleysshewillnotbreathe。ThebirdsyouhavecaughtareofthebroodofLies。Lovelyandbeautiful，butstilllies；Truthknowsthemnot。’
\"Andthehuntercriedoutinbitterness——
\"’AndmustIthensitstill，tobedevouredofthisgreatburning？’
\"Andtheoldmansaid，\"’Listen，andinthatyouhavesufferedmuchandweptmuch，IwilltellyouwhatIknow。HewhosetsouttosearchforTruthmustleavethesevalleysofsuperstitionforever，takingwithhimnotoneshredthathasbelongedtothem。AlonehemustwanderdownintotheLandofAbsoluteNegationandDenial；hemustabidethere；hemustresisttemptation；whenthelightbreakshemustariseandfollowitintothecountryofdrysunshine。Themountainsofsternrealitywillrisebeforehim；hemustclimbthem；beyondthemliesTruth。’
\"’Andhewillholdherfast！hewillholdherinhishands！’thehuntercried。
\"Wisdomshookhishead。
\"’Hewillneverseeher，neverholdher。Thetimeisnotyet。’
\"’Thenthereisnohope？’criedthehunter。
\"’Thereisthis，’saidWisdom：’Somemenhaveclimbedonthosemountains；
circleabovecircleofbarerocktheyhavescaled；and，wanderingthere，inthosehighregions，somehavechancedtopickuponthegroundonewhitesilverfeather，droppedfromthewingofTruth。Anditshallcometopass，’saidtheoldman，raisinghimselfpropheticallyandpointingwithhisfingertothesky，’itshallcometopass，thatwhenenoughofthosesilverfeathersshallhavebeengatheredbythehandsofmen，andshallhavebeenwovenintoacord，andthecordintoanet，thatinthatnetTruthmaybecaptured。NothingbutTruthcanholdTruth。’
\"Thehunterarose。’Iwillgo，’hesaid。
\"Butwisdomdetainedhim。
\"’Markyouwell——wholeavesthesevalleysneverreturnstothem。Thoughheshouldweeptearsofbloodsevendaysandnightsupontheconfines，hecanneverputhisfootacrossthem。Left——theyareleftforever。Upontheroadwhichyouwouldtravelthereisnorewardoffered。Whogoes，goesfreely——forthegreatlovethatisinhim。Theworkishisreward。’
\"’Igo’saidthehunter；’butuponthemountains，tellme，whichpathshallItake？’
\"’IamthechildofThe—Accumulated—Knowledge—of—Ages，’saidtheman；’I
canwalkonlywheremanymenhavetrodden。Onthesemountainsfewfeethavepassed；eachmanstrikesoutapathforhimself。Hegoesathisownperil：myvoicehehearsnomore。Imayfollowafterhim，butcannotgobeforehim。’
\"ThenKnowledgevanished。
\"Andthehunterturned。Hewenttohiscage，andwithhishandsbrokedownthebars，andthejaggedirontorehisflesh。Itissometimeseasiertobuildthantobreak。
\"Onebyonehetookhisplumedbirdsandletthemfly。Butwhenhecametohisdark—plumedbirdheheldit，andlookedintoitsbeautifuleyes，andthebirduttereditslow，deepcry——’Immortality！’
\"Andhesaidquickly：’Icannotpartwithit。Itisnotheavy；iteatsnofood。Iwillhideitinmybreast；Iwilltakeitwithme。’Andheburieditthereandcovereditoverwithhiscloak。
\"Butthethinghehadhiddengrewheavier，heavier，heavier——tillitlayonhisbreastlikelead。Hecouldnotmovewithit。Hecouldnotleavethosevalleyswithit。Thenagainhetookitoutandlookedatit。
\"’Oh，mybeautiful！myheart’sown！’hecried，’mayInotkeepyou？’
\"Heopenedhishandssadly。
\"’Go！’hesaid。’ItmayhappenthatinTruth’ssongonenoteislikeyours；butIshallneverhearit。’
\"Sadlyheopenedhishand，andthebirdflewfromhimforever。
\"Thenfromtheshuttleofimaginationhetookthethreadofhiswishes，andthrewitontheground；andtheemptyshuttleheputintohisbreast，forthethreadwasmadeinthosevalleys，buttheshuttlecamefromanunknowncountry。Heturnedtogo，butnowthepeoplecameabouthim，howling。
\"’Fool，hound，dementedlunatic！’theycried。’Howdaredyoubreakyourcageandletthebirdsfly？’
\"Thehunterspoke；buttheywouldnothearhim。
\"’Truth！whoisshe？Canyoueather？canyoudrinkher？Whohaseverseenher？Yourbirdswerereal：allcouldhearthemsing！Oh，fool！vilereptile！atheist！’theycried，’youpollutetheair。’
\"’Come，letustakeupstonesandstonehim，’criedsome。
\"’Whataffairisitofours？’saidothers。’Lettheidiotgo，’andwentaway。Buttherestgatheredupstonesandmudandthrewathim。Atlast，whenhewasbruisedandcut，thehuntercreptawayintothewoods。Anditwaseveningabouthim。\"
Ateverywordthestrangerspokethefellow’seyesflashedbackonhim——
yes，andyes，andyes！Thestrangersmiled。Itwasalmostworththetroubleofexertingoneself，evenonalazyafternoon，towinthosepassionateflashes，morethirstyanddesiringthanthelove—glancesofawoman。
\"Hewanderedonandon，\"saidthestranger，\"andtheshadegrewdeeper。Hewasonthebordersnowofthelandwhereitisalwaysnight。Thenhesteppedintoit，andtherewasnolightthere。Withhishandshegroped；
buteachbranchashetoucheditbrokeoff，andtheearthwascoveredwithcinders。Ateverystephisfootsankin，andafinecloudofimpalpableashesflewupintohisface；anditwasdark。Sohesatdownuponastoneandburiedhisfaceinhishands，towaitintheLandofNegationandDenialtillthelightcame。
\"Anditwasnightinhisheartalso。
\"Thenfromthemarshestohisrightandleftcoldmistsaroseandclosedabouthim。Afine，imperceptiblerainfellinthedark，andgreatdropsgatheredonhishairandclothes。Hisheartbeatslowly，andanumbnesscreptthroughallhislimbs。Then，lookingup，twomerrywisplightscamedancing。Heliftedhisheadtolookatthem。Nearer，nearertheycame。
Sowarm，sobright，theydancedlikestarsoffire。Theystoodbeforehimatlast。Fromthecentreoftheradiatingflameinonelookedoutawoman’sface，laughing，dimpled，withstreamingyellowhair。Inthecentreoftheotherweremerrylaughingripples，likethebubblesonaglassofwine。Theydancedbeforehim。
\"’Whoareyou，’askedthehunter，’whoalonecometomeinmysolitudeanddarkness？’
\"’WearethetwinsSensuality，’theycried。’Ourfather’snameisHuman—
Nature，andourmother’snameisExcess。Weareasoldasthehillsandrivers，asoldasthefirstman；butweneverdie，’theylaughed。
\"’Oh，letmewrapmyarmsaboutyou！；criedthefirst；’theyaresoftandwarm。Yourheartisfrozennow，butIwillmakeitbeat。Oh，cometome！’
\"’Iwillpourmyhotlifeintoyou，’saidthesecond；’yourbrainisnumb，andyourlimbsaredeadnow；buttheyshalllivewithafiercefreelife。
Oh，letmepouritin！’
\"’Oh，followus，’theycried，’andlivewithus。Noblerheartsthanyourshavesathereinthisdarknesstowait，andtheyhavecometousandwetothem；andtheyhaveneverleftus，never。Allelseisadelusion，butwearereal，wearereal，wearereal。Truthisashadow；thevalleysofsuperstitionareafarce：theearthisofashes，thetreesallrotten；butwe——feelus——welive！Youcannotdoubtus。Feelushowwarmweare！Oh，cometous！Comewithus！’
\"Nearerandnearerroundhisheadtheyhovered，andthecolddropsmeltedonhisforehead。Thebrightlightshotintohiseyes，dazzlinghim，andthefrozenbloodbegantorun。Andhesaid：
\"’Yes，whyshouldIdiehereinthisawfuldarkness？Theyarewarm，theymeltmyfrozenblood！’andhestretchedouthishandstotakethem。
\"Theninamomenttherearosebeforehimtheimageofthethinghehadloved，andhishanddroppedtohisside。
\"’Oh，cometous！’theycried。
\"Butheburiedhisface。
\"’Youdazzlemyeyes，’hecried，’youmakemyheartwarm；butyoucannotgivemewhatIdesire。Iwillwaithere——waittillIdie。Go！’
\"Hecoveredhisfacewithhishandsandwouldnotlisten；andwhenhelookedupagaintheyweretwotwinklingstars，thatvanishedinthedistance。
\"Andthelong，longnightrolledon。
\"Allwholeavethevalleyofsuperstitionpassthroughthatdarkland；butsomegothroughitinafewdays，somelingerthereformonths，someforyears，andsomediethere。\"
Theboyhadcreptcloser；hishotbreathalmosttouchedthestranger’shand；amysticwonderfilledhiseyes。
\"Atlastforthehunterafaintlightplayedalongthehorizon，andherosetofollowit；andhereachedthatlightatlast，andsteppedintothebroadsunshine。ThenbeforehimrosethealmightymountainsofDry—factsandRealities。Theclearsunshineplayedonthem，andthetopswerelostintheclouds。Atthefootmanypathsranup。Anexultantcryburstfromthehunter。Hechosethestraightestandbegantoclimb；andtherocksandridgesresoundedwithhissong。Theyhadexaggerated；afterall，itwasnotsohigh，norwastheroadsosteep！Afewdays，afewweeks，afewmonthsatmost，andthenthetop！Notonefeatheronlywouldhepickup；
hewouldgatherallthatothermenhadfound——weavethenet——captureTruth—
—holdherfast——touchherwithhishands——claspher！
\"Helaughedinthemerrysunshine，andsangloud。Victorywasverynear。
Nevertheless，afterawhilethepathgrewsteeper。Heneededallhisbreathforclimbing，andthesingingdiedaway。Ontherightandleftrosehugerocks，devoidoflichenormoss，andinthelava—likeearthchasmsyawned。Hereandtherehesawasheenofwhitebones。Nowtoothepathbegantogrowlessandlessmarked；thenitbecameameretrace，withafootmarkhereandthere；thenitceasedaltogether。Hesangnomore，butstruckforthapathforhimself，untilitreachedamightywallofrock，smoothandwithoutbreak，stretchingasfarastheeyecouldsee。’Iwillrearastairagainstit；and，oncethiswallclimbed，Ishallbealmostthere，’hesaidbravely；andworked。Withhisshuttleofimaginationhedugoutstones；buthalfofthemwouldnotfit，andhalfamonth’sworkwouldrolldownbecausethosebelowwereillchosen。Butthehunterworkedon，sayingalwaystohimself，’Oncethiswallclimbed，Ishallbealmostthere。Thisgreatworkended！’
\"Atlasthecameoutuponthetop，andhelookedabouthim。Farbelowrolledthewhitemistoverthevalleysofsuperstition，andabovehimtoweredthemountains。Theyhadseemedlowbefore；theywereofanimmeasurableheightnow，fromcrowntofoundationsurroundedbywallsofrock，thatrosetierabovetierinmightycircles。Uponthemplayedtheeternalsunshine。Heutteredawildcry。Hebowedhimselfontotheearth，andwhenherosehisfacewaswhite。Inabsolutesilencehewalkedon。Hewasverysilentnow。Inthosehighregionstherarefiedairishardtobreathebythoseborninthevalleys；everybreathhedrewhurthim，andthebloodoozedoutfromthetipsofhisfingers。Beforethenextwallofrockhebegantowork。Theheightofthisseemedinfinite，andhesaidnothing。Thesoundofhistoolrangnightanddayupontheironrocksintowhichhecutsteps。Yearspassedoverhim，yetheworkedon；butthewalltoweredupalwaysabovehimtoheaven。Sometimesheprayedthatalittlemossorlichenmightspringuponthosebarewallstobeacompaniontohim；butitnevercame。\"Thestrangerwatchedtheboy’sface。
\"Andtheyearsrolledon；hecountedthembythestepshehadcut——afewforayear——onlyafew。Hesangnomore；hesaidnomore，’Iwilldothisorthat’——heonlyworked。Andatnight，whenthetwilightsettleddown，therelookedoutathimfromtheholesandcrevicesintherocksstrangewildfaces。
\"’Stopyourwork，youlonelyman，andspeaktous，’theycried。
