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waited for； recovered as before； found Goodchild repeating his
observation of the compass； and remonstrated warmly against the sideway
route that his companions persisted in following。 It appeared to the
uninstructed mind of Thomas that when three men want to get to the
bottom of a mountain； their business is to walk down it； and he put this
view of the case； not only with emphasis； but even with some irritability。
He was answered from the scientific eminence of the compass on which
his companions were mounted； that there was a frightful chasm
somewhere near the foot of Carrock； called The Black Arches； into which
the travellers were sure to march in the mist； if they risked continuing the
descent from the place where they had now halted。 Idle received this
answer with the silent respect which was due to the commanders of the
expedition； and followed along the roof of the barn； or rather the side of
the mountain； reflecting upon the assurance which he received on starting
again； that the object of the party was only to gain 'a certain point；' and；
this haven attained； to continue the descent afterwards until the foot of
Carrock was reached。 Though quite unexceptionable as an abstract form of
expression； the phrase 'a certain point' has the disadvantage of sounding
rather vaguely when it is pronounced on unknown ground； under a canopy
of mist much thicker than a London fog。 Nevertheless； after the compass；
this phrase was all the clue the party had to hold by； and Idle clung to the
extreme end of it as hopefully as he could。
More sideway walking； thicker and thicker mist； all sorts of points
reached except the 'certain point；' third loss of Idle； third shouts for him；
third recovery of him； third consultation of compass。 Mr。 Goodchild
draws it tenderly from his pocket； and prepares to adjust it on a stone。
Something falls on the turf … it is the glass。 Something else drops
immediately after … it is the needle。 The compass is broken； and the
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THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
exploring party is lost！
It is the practice of the English portion of the human race to receive all
great disasters in dead silence。 Mr。 Goodchild restored the useless
compass to his pocket without saying a word； Mr。 Idle looked at the
landlord； and the landlord looked at Mr。 Idle。 There was nothing for it
now but to go on blindfold； and trust to the chapter of chances。
Accordingly； the lost travellers moved forward； still walking round the
slope of the mountain； still desperately resolved to avoid the Black Arches；
and to succeed in reaching the 'certain point。'
A quarter of an hour brought them to the brink of a ravine； at the
bottom of which there flowed a muddy little stream。 Here another halt
was called； and another consultation took place。 The landlord； still
clinging pertinaciously to the idea of reaching the 'point；' voted for
crossing the ravine； and going on round the slope of the mountain。 Mr。
Goodchild； to the great relief of his fellow…traveller； took another view of
the case； and backed Mr。 Idle's proposal to descend Carrock at once； at any
hazard … the rather as the running stream was a sure guide to follow from
the mountain to the valley。 Accordingly； the party descended to the
rugged and stony banks of the stream； and here again Thomas lost ground
sadly； and fell far behind his travelling companions。 Not much more than
six weeks had elapsed since he had sprained one of his ankles； and he
began to feel this same ankle getting rather weak when he found himself
among the stones that were strewn about the running water。 Goodchild
and the landlord were getting farther and farther ahead of him。 He saw
them cross the stream and disappear round a projection on its banks。 He
heard them shout the moment after as a signal that they had halted and
were waiting for him。 Answering the shout； he mended his pace； crossed
the stream where they had crossed it； and was within one step of the
opposite bank； when his foot slipped on a wet stone； his weak ankle gave a
twist outwards； a hot； rending； tearing pain ran through it at the same
moment； and down fell the idlest of the Two Idle Apprentices； crippled in
an instant。
The situation was now； in plain terms； one of absolute danger。 There
lay Mr。 Idle writhing with pain； there was the mist as thick as ever； there
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THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
was the landlord as completely lost as the strangers whom he was
conducting； and there was the compass broken in Goodchild's pocket。 To
leave the wretched Thomas on unknown ground was plainly impossible；
and to get him to walk with a badly sprained ankle seemed equally out of
the question。 However； Goodchild （brought back by his cry for help）
bandaged the ankle with a pocket…handkerchief； and assisted by the
landlord； raised the crippled Apprentice to his legs； offered him a shoulder
to lean on； and exhorted him for the sake of the whole party to try if he
could walk。 Thomas； assisted by the shoulder on one side； and a stick on
the other； did try； with what pain and difficulty those only can imagine
who have sprained an ankle and have had to tread on it afterwards。 At a
pace adapted to the feeble hobbling of a newly…lamed man； the lost party
moved on； perfectly ignorant whether they were on the right side of the
mountain or the wrong； and equally uncertain how long Idle would be able
to contend with the pain in his ankle； before he gave in altogether and fell
down again； unable to stir another step。
Slowly and more slowly； as the clog of crippled Thomas weighed
heavily and more heavily on the march of the expedition； the lost
travellers followed the windings of the stream； till they came to a faintly…
marked cart…track； branching off nearly at right angles； to the left。 After a
little consultation it was resolved to follow this dim vestige of a road in the
hope that it might lead to some farm or cottage； at which Idle could be left
in safety。 It was now getting on towards the afternoon； and it was fast
becoming more than doubtful whether the party； delayed in their progress
as they now were； might not be overtaken by the darkness before the right
route was found； and be condemned to pass the night on the mountain；
without bit or drop to comfort them； in their wet clothes。
The cart…track grew fainter and fainter； until it was washed out
altogether by another little stream； dark； turbulent； and rapid。 The landlord
suggested； judging by the colour of the water； that it must be flowing from
one of the lead mines in the neighbourhood of Carrock； and the travellers
accordingly kept by the stream for a little while； in the hope of possibly
wandering towards help in that way。 After walking forward about two
hundred yards； they came upon a mine indeed； but a mine； exhausted and
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abandoned； a dismal； ruinous place； with nothing but the wreck of its
works and buildings left to speak for it。 Here； there were a few sheep
feeding。 The landlord looked at them earnestly； thought he recognised
the marks on them … then thought he did not … finally gave up the sheep in
despair … and walked on just as ignorant of the whereabouts of the party as
ever。
The march in the dark； literally as well as metaphorically in the dark；
had now been continued for three…quarters of an hour from the time when
the crippled Apprentice had met with his accident。 Mr。 Idle； with