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is not a breath of air； Nature sleeps so calmly that she dares not
even breathe for fear of waking； the very river has hushed his
flow。 Without； the starlit calm of a summer's night in a great
wilderness； within； a hurricane of wild and incoherent thoughts
battling with one another in their fury to fall upon him and rend
himand on the other side the great wall of mountain； thousands of
children praying at their mother's knee to this poor dazed thing。
I suppose this half delirious wretch must have been myself。 But I
must have been more ill when I left England than I thought I was；
or Erewhon would not have broken me down as it did。〃
No doubt he was right。 Indeed it was because Mr。 Cathie and his
doctor saw that he was out of health and in urgent need of change；
that they left off opposing his wish to travel。 There is no use；
however； in talking about this now。
I never got from him how he managed to reach the shepherd's hut；
but I learned some little from the shepherd； when I stayed with him
both on going towards Erewhon； and on returning。
〃He did not seem to have drink in him；〃 said the shepherd； 〃when he
first came here； but he must have been pretty full of it； or he
must have had some bottles in his saddle…bags； for he was awful
when he came back。 He had got them worse than any man I ever saw；
only that he was not awkward。 He said there was a bird flying out
of a giant's mouth and laughing at him； and he kept muttering about
a blue pool； and hanky…panky of all sorts； and he said he knew it
was all hanky…panky； at least I thought he said so； but it was no
use trying to follow him； for it was all nothing but horrors。 He
said I was to stop the people from trying to worship him。 Then he
said the sky opened and he could see the angels going about and
singing 'Hallelujah。'〃
〃How long did he stay with you？〃 I asked。
〃About ten days； but the last three he was himself again； only too
weak to move。 He thought he was cured except for weakness。〃
〃Do you know how he had been spending the last two days or so
before he got down to your hut？〃
I said two days； because this was the time I supposed he would take
to descend the river。
〃I should say drinking all the time。 He said he had fallen off his
horse two or three times； till he took to leading him。 If he had
had any other horse than old Doctor he would have been a dead man。
Bless you； I have known that horse ever since he was foaled； and I
never saw one like him for sense。 He would pick fords better than
that gentleman could； I know； and if the gentleman fell off him he
would just stay stock still。 He was badly bruised； poor man； when
he got here。 I saw him through the gorge when he left me； and he
gave me a sovereign； he said he had only one other left to take him
down to the port； or he would have made it more。〃
〃He was my father；〃 said I； 〃and he is dead； but before he died he
told me to give you five pounds which I have brought you。 I think
you are wrong in saying that he had been drinking。〃
〃That is what they all say； but I take it very kind of him to have
thought of me。〃
My father's illness for the first three weeks after his return
played with him as a cat plays with a mouse； now and again it would
let him have a day or two's run； during which he was so cheerful
and unclouded that his doctor was quite hopeful about him。 At
various times on these occasions I got from him that when he left
the shepherd's hut； he thought his illness had run itself out； and
that he should now reach the port from which he was to sail for S。
Francisco without misadventure。 This he did； and he was able to do
all he had to do at the port； though frequently attacked with
passing fits of giddiness。 I need not dwell upon his voyage to S。
Francisco； and thence home； it is enough to say that he was able to
travel by himself in spite of gradually； but continually；
increasing failure。
〃When；〃 he said； 〃I reached the port； I telegraphed as you know；
for more money。 How puzzled you must have been。 I sold my horse
to the man from whom I bought it； at a loss of only about 10
pounds； and I left with him my saddle； saddlebags； small hatchet；
my hobbles； and in fact everything that I had taken with me； except
what they had impounded in Erewhon。 Yram's rug I dropped into the
river when I knew that I should no longer need itas also her
substitutes for my billy and pannikin； and I burned her basket。
The shepherd would have asked me questions。 You will find an order
to deliver everything up to bearer。 You need therefore take
nothing from England。〃
At another time he said； 〃When you go； for it is plain I cannot；
and go one or other of us must； try and get the horse I had： he
will be nine years old； and he knows all about the rivers： if you
leave everything to him； you may shut your eyes； but do not
interfere with him。 Give the shepherd what I said and he will
attend to you； but go a day or two too soon； for the margin of one
day was not enough to allow in case of a fresh in the river； if the
water is discoloured you must not cross itnot even with Doctor。
I could not ask George to come up three days running from
Sunch'ston to the statues and back。〃
Here he became exhausted。 Almost the last coherent string of
sentences I got from him was as follows：…
〃About George's money if I send him 2000 pounds you will still have
nearly 150；000 pounds left； and Mr。 Cathie will not let you try to
make it more。 I know you would give him four or five thousand； but
the Mayor and I talked it over； and settled that 2000 pounds in
gold would make him a rich man。 Consult our good friend Alfred〃
（meaning； of course； Mr。 Cathie） 〃about the best way of taking the
money。 I am afraid there is nothing for it but gold； and this will
be a great weight for you to carryabout； I believe 36 lbs。 Can
you do this？ I really think that if you lead your horse you 。 。 。
nothere will be the getting him down again〃
〃Don't worry about it； my dear father；〃 said I； 〃I can do it easily
if I stow the load rightly； and I will see to this。 I shall have
nothing else to carry； for I shall camp down below both morning and
evening。 But would you not like to send some present to the Mayor；
Yram； their other children； and Mrs。 Humdrum's grand…daughter？〃
〃Do what you can；〃 said my father。 And these were the last
instructions he gave me about those adventures with which alone
this work is concerned。
The day before he died； he had a little flicker of intelligence；
but all of a sudden his face became clouded as with great anxiety；
he seemed to see some horrible chasm in front of him which he had
to cross； or which he feared that I must cross； for he gasped out
words； which； as near as I could catch them； were； 〃Look out！
John！ Leap！ Leap！ Le 。 。 。 〃 but he could not say all that he
was trying to say and closed his eyes； having； as I then deemed；
seen that he was on the brink of that gulf which lies between life
and death； I took it that in reality he died at that moment； for
there was neither struggle； nor hardly movement of any kind
afterwardsnothing but a pulse which for the next several hours
grew fainter and fainter so gradually； that it was not till some
time after it had ceased to beat that we were certain of its having
done so。
CHAPTER XXVII： I MEET MY BROTHER GEORGE AT THE STATUES； ON THE TOP
OF THE PASS INTO EREWHON
This book has already become longer than I intended； but I will ask
the reader to have patience while I tell him briefly of my own
visit to the threshold of that strange country of which I fear that
he may be already beginning to tire。
The winding…up of my father's estate was a very simple matter； and
by the beginning of September 1891 I should have been free to
start； but about that time I became engaged； and naturally enough I
did not want to be longer away than was necessary。 I should not
have gone at all if I could have helped it。 I left； however； a
fortnight later than my father had done。
Before starting I bought a handsome gold repeater for the Mayor；
and a brooch for Yram； of pearls and diamonds set in gold； for
which I paid 200 pounds。 For Yram's three daughters and for Mrs。
Humdrum's grand…daughter I took four brooches each of which cost
about 15 pounds； 15s。； and for the boys I got three ten…guinea
silver watches。 For George I only took a strong English knife of
the best make； and the two thousand pounds worth of uncoined gold；
which for convenience' sake I had had made into small bars。 I also
had a knapsack made that would hold these and nothing elseeach
bar being strongly sewn into its place； so that none of them could
shift。 Whenever I went on board ship； or went on shore； I put this
on my back； so that no one handled it except myselfand I can
assure the reader that I did not find it a light weight to handle。
I ought to have taken something for old Mrs。 Humdrum； but I am
ashamed to say that I forgot her。
I went as directly as I could to the port of which my father had
told me； and reached it on November 27； one day later than he had
done in the preceding year。
On the following day； which was a Saturday； I went to the