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ingredient to a cauldron in full bubble。 Goodchild sits down by
the cairn as if it was his study…table at home； Idle； drenched and
panting； stands up with his back to the wind； ascertains distinctly
that this is the top at last； looks round with all the little
curiosity that is left in him； and gets； in return； a magnificent
view of … Nothing！
The effect of this sublime spectacle on the minds of the exploring
party is a little injured by the nature of the direct conclusion to
which the sight of it points … the said conclusion being that the
mountain mist has actually gathered round them； as the landlord
feared it would。 It now becomes imperatively necessary to settle
the exact situation of the farm…house in the valley at which the
dog…cart has been left； before the travellers attempt to descend。
While the landlord is endeavouring to make this discovery in his
own way； Mr。 Goodchild plunges his hand under his wet coat； draws
out a little red morocco…case； opens it； and displays to the view
of his companions a neat pocket…compass。 The north is found； the
point at which the farm…house is situated is settled； and the
descent begins。 After a little downward walking； Idle （behind as
usual） sees his fellow…travellers turn aside sharply … tries to
follow them … loses them in the mist … is shouted after； waited
for； recovered … and then finds that a halt has been ordered；
partly on his account； partly for the purpose of again consulting
the compass。
The point in debate is settled as before between Goodchild and the
landlord； and the expedition moves on； not down the mountain； but
marching straight forward round the slope of it。 The difficulty of
following this new route is acutely felt by Thomas Idle。 He finds
the hardship of walking at all greatly increased by the fatigue of
moving his feet straight forward along the side of a slope； when
their natural tendency； at every step； is to turn off at a right
angle； and go straight down the declivity。 Let the reader imagine
himself to be walking along the roof of a barn； instead of up or
down it； and he will have an exact idea of the pedestrian
difficulty in which the travellers had now involved themselves。 In
ten minutes more Idle was lost in the distance again； was shouted
for； 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 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 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