第5章

Thethunderboomed，thelightningglared，thestorm-windsraged，thedelugepoureddown。Themimicroyaltyonthestage，withtheirsoakedsatinsclingingtotheirbodies，sloppedaboutankle-deepinwater，warblingtheirsweetestandbest，thefiddlersundertheeavesofthestatesawedawayfordearlife，withthecoldoverflowspoutingdownthebacksoftheirnecks，andthedryandhappyKingsatinhisloftyboxandworehisglovestoribbonsapplauding。

"Moreyet!"criedtheKing；"moreyet——letlooseallthethunder，turnonallthewater!Iwillhangthemanthatraisesanumbrella!"

Whenthismosttremendousandeffectivestormthathadeverbeenproducedinanytheaterwasatlastover，theKing"sapprobationwasmeasureless。Hecried:

"Magnificent，magnificent!ENCORE!Doitagain!"

Butthemanagersucceededinpersuadinghimtorecalltheencore，andsaidthecompanywouldfeelsufficientlyrewardedandcomplimentedinthemerefactthattheencorewasdesiredbyhisMajesty，withoutfatiguinghimwitharepetitiontogratifytheirownvanity。

Duringtheremainderoftheacttheluckyperformerswerethosewhosepartsrequiredchangesofdress；

theotherswereasoaked，bedraggled，anduncomfortablelot，butinthelastdegreepicturesque。Thestagescenerywasruined，trap-doorsweresoswollenthattheywouldn"tworkforaweekafterward，thefinecostumeswerespoiled，andnoendofminordamagesweredonebythatremarkablestorm。

Itwasroyalidea——thatstorm——androyallycarriedout。

ButobservethemoderationoftheKing；hedidnotinsistuponhisencore。Ifhehadbeenagladsome，unreflectingAmericanopera-audience，heprobablywouldhavehadhisstormrepeatedandrepeateduntilhedrownedallthosepeople。

CHAPTERXI

[IPainta"Turner"]

ThesummerdayspassedpleasantlyinHeidelberg。

Wehadaskilledtrainer，andunderhisinstructionsweweregettingourlegsintherightconditionforthecontemplatedpedestriantours；wewerewellsatisfiedwiththeprogresswhichwehadmadeintheGermanlanguage，[1。SeeAppendixDforinformationconcerningthisfearfultongue。]andmorethansatisfiedwithwhatwehadaccomplishedinart。WehadhadthebestinstructorsindrawingandpaintinginGermany——Ha"mmerling，Vogel，Mu"ller，Dietz，andSchumann。Ha"mmerlingtaughtuslandscape-painting。

Vogeltaughtusfigure-drawing，Mu"llertaughtustodostill-life，andDietzandSchumanngaveusafinishingcourseintwospecialties——battle-piecesandshipwrecks。

WhateverIaminArtIowetothesemen。Ihavesomethingofthemannerofeachandallofthem；buttheyallsaidthatI

hadalsoamannerofmyown，andthatitwasconspicuous。

Theysaidtherewasamarkedindividualityaboutmystyle——insomuchthatifIeverpaintedthecommonesttypeofadog，Ishouldbesuretothrowasomethingintotheaspectofthatdogwhichwouldkeephimfrombeingmistakenforthecreationofanyotherartist。

SecretlyIwantedtobelieveallthesekindsayings，butIcouldnot；Iwasafraidthatmymasters"

partialityforme，andprideinme，biasedtheirjudgment。

SoIresolvedtomakeatest。Privately，andunknowntoanyone，Ipaintedmygreatpicture，"HeidelbergCastleIlluminated"——myfirstreallyimportantworkinoils——andhadithungupinthemidstofawildernessofoil-picturesintheArtExhibition，withnonameattachedtoit。Tomygreatgratificationitwasinstantlyrecognizedasmine。

Allthetownflockedtoseeit，andpeopleevencamefromneighboringlocalitiestovisitit。ItmademorestirthananyotherworkintheExhibition。Butthemostgratifyingthingofallwas，thatchancestrangers，passingthrough，whohadnotheardofmypicture，werenotonlydrawntoit，asbyalodestone，themomenttheyenteredthegallery，butalwaystookitfora"Turner。"

Apparentlynobodyhadeverdonethat。Therewereruinedcastlesontheoverhangingcliffsandcragsalltheway；

theseweresaidtohavetheirlegends，likethoseontheRhine，andwhatwasbetterstill，theyhadneverbeeninprint。

Therewasnothinginthebooksaboutthatlovelyregion；

ithadbeenneglectedbythetourist，itwasvirginsoilfortheliterarypioneer。

Meantimetheknapsacks，theroughwalking-suitsandthestoutwalking-shoeswhichwehadordered，werefinishedandbroughttous。AMr。XandayoungMr。Zhadagreedtogowithus。

Wewentaroundoneeveningandbadegood-bytoourfriends，andafterwardhadalittlefarewellbanquetatthehotel。

Wegottobedearly，forwewantedtomakeanearlystart，soastotakeadvantageofthecoolofthemorning。

Wewereoutofbedatbreakofday，feelingfreshandvigorous，andtookaheartybreakfast，thenplungeddownthroughtheleafyarcadesoftheCastlegrounds，towardthetown。Whataglorioussummermorningitwas，andhowtheflowersdidpourouttheirfragrance，andhowthebirdsdidsing!Itwasjustthetimeforatrampthroughthewoodsandmountains。

Wewerealldressedalike:broadslouchhats，tokeepthesunoff；grayknapsacks；bluearmyshirts；blueoveralls；

leatherngaitersbuttonedtightfromkneedowntoankle；

high-quartercoarseshoessnuglylaced。Eachmanhadanopera-glass，acanteen，andaguide-bookcaseslungoverhisshoulder，andcarriedanalpenstockinonehandandasun-umbrellaintheother。Aroundourhatswerewoundmanyfoldsofsoftwhitemuslin，withtheendshangingandflappingdownourbacks——anideabroughtfromtheOrientandusedbytouristsalloverEurope。

Harriscarriedthelittlewatch-likemachinecalleda"pedometer，"whoseofficeistokeepcountofaman"sstepsandtellhowfarhehaswalked。Everybodystoppedtoadmireourcostumesandgiveusahearty"Pleasantmarchtoyou!"

WhenwegotdowntownIfoundthatwecouldgobyrailtowithinfivemilesofHeilbronn。Thetrainwasjuststarting，sowejumpedaboardandwenttearingawayinsplendidspirits。

Itwasagreedallaroundthatwehaddonewisely，becauseitwouldbejustasenjoyabletowalkDOWNtheNeckarasupit，anditcouldnotbeneedfultowalkbothways。

ThereweresomeniceGermanpeopleinourcompartment。

Igottotalkingsomeprettyprivatematterspresently，andHarrisbecamenervous；sohenudgedmeandsaid:

"SpeakinGerman——theseGermansmayunderstandEnglish。"

Ididso，itwaswellIdid；foritturnedoutthattherewasnotaGermaninthatpartywhodidnotunderstandEnglishperfectly。ItiscurioushowwidespreadourlanguageisinGermany。AfterawhilesomeofthosefolksgotoutandaGermangentlemanandhistwoyoungdaughtersgotin。

IspokeinGermanofoneofthelatterseveraltimes，butwithoutresult。Finallyshesaid:

"ICHVERSTEHENURDEUTCHUNDENGLISHE，"——orwordstothateffect。Thatis，"Idon"tunderstandanylanguagebutGermanandEnglish。"

Andsureenough，notonlyshebutherfatherandsisterspokeEnglish。Soafterthatwehadallthetalkwewanted；

andwewantedagooddeal，fortheywereagreeablepeople。

Theyweregreatlyinterestedinourcustoms；especiallythealpenstocks，fortheyhadnotseenanybefore。

TheysaidthattheNeckarroadwasperfectlylevel，sowemustbegoingtoSwitzerlandorsomeotherruggedcountry；

andaskedusifwedidnotfindthewalkingprettyfatiguinginsuchwarmweather。Butwesaidno。

WereachedWimpfen——IthinkitwasWimpfen——inaboutthreehours，andgotout，nottheleasttired；foundagoodhotelandorderedbeeranddinner——thentookastrollthroughthevenerableoldvillage。Itwasverypicturesqueandtumble-down，anddirtyandinteresting。

Ithadqueerhousesfivehundredyearsoldinit，andamilitarytower115feethigh，whichhadstoodtheremorethantencenturies。Imadealittlesketchofit。

Ikeptacopy，butgavetheoriginaltotheBurgomaster。

Ithinktheoriginalwasbetterthanthecopy，becauseithadmorewindowsinitandthegrassstoodupbetterandhadabriskerlook。Therewasnonearoundthetower，though；

Icomposedthegrassmyself，fromstudiesImadeinafieldbyHeidelberginHa"mmerling"stime。Themanontop，lookingattheview，isapparentlytoolarge，butIfoundhecouldnotbemadesmaller，conveniently。Iwantedhimthere，andIwantedhimvisible，soIthoughtoutawaytomanageit；Icomposedthepicturefromtwopointsofview；thespectatoristoobservethemanfromboutwherethatflagis，andhemustobservethetoweritselffromtheground。Thisharmonizestheseemingdiscrepancy。

[Figure2]

Nearanoldcathedral，underashed，werethreecrossesofstone——moldyanddamagedthings，bearinglife-sizestonefigures。Thetwothievesweredressedinthefancifulcourtcostumesofthemiddleofthesixteenthcentury，whiletheSaviourwasnude，withtheexceptionofaclotharoundtheloins。

WehaddinnerunderthegreentreesinagardenbelongingtothehotelandoverlookingtheNeckar；then，afterasmoke，wewenttobed。Wehadarefreshingnap，thengotupaboutthreeintheafternoonandputonourpanoply。

Aswetrampedgailyoutatthegateofthetown，weovertookapeasant"scart，partlyladenwithoddsandendsofcabbagesandsimilarvegetablerubbish，anddrawnbyasmallcowandasmallerdonkeyyokedtogether。

Itwasaprettyslowconcern，butitgotusintoHeilbronnbeforedark——fivemiles，orpossiblyitwasseven。

Westoppedattheverysameinnwhichthefamousoldrobber-knightandroughfighterGo"tzvonBerlichingen，abodeinafterhegotoutofcaptivityintheSquareTowerofHeilbronnbetweenthreehundredandfiftyandfourhundredyearsago。HarrisandIoccupiedthesameroomwhichhehadoccupiedandthesamepaperhadnotquitepeeledoffthewallsyet。Thefurniturewasquaintoldcarvedstuff，fullfourhundredyearsold，andsomeofthesmellswereoverathousand。Therewasahookinthewall，whichthelandlordsaidtheterrificoldGo"tzusedtohanghisironhandonwhenhetookitofftogotobed。

Thisroomwasverylarge——itmightbecalledimmense——

anditwasonthefirstfloor；whichmeansitwasinthesecondstory，forinEuropethehousesaresohighthattheydonotcountthefirststory，elsetheywouldgettiredclimbingbeforetheygottothetop。

Thewallpaperwasafieryred，withhugegoldfiguresinit，wellsmirchedbytime，anditcoveredallthedoors。

Thesedoorsfittedsosnuglyandcontinuedthefiguresofthepapersounbrokenly，thatwhentheywereclosedonehadtogofeelingandsearchingalongthewalltofindthem。Therewasastoveinthecorner——oneofthosetall，square，statelywhiteporcelainthingsthatlookslikeamonumentandkeepsyouthinkingofdeathwhenyououghttobeenjoyingyourtravels。

Thewindowslookedoutonalittlealley，andoverthatintoastableandsomepoultryandpigyardsintherearofsometenement-houses。Therewerethecustomarytwobedsintheroom，oneinoneend，theotherintheother，aboutanold-fashionedbrass-mounted，single-barreledpistol-shotapart。TheywerefullyasnarrowastheusualGermanbed，too，andhadtheGermanbed"sineradicablehabitofspillingtheblanketsontheflooreverytimeyouforgotyourselfandwenttosleep。

AroundtableaslargeasKingArthur"sstoodinthecenteroftheroom；whilethewaitersweregettingreadytoserveourdinneronitweallwentouttoseetherenownedclockonthefrontofthemunicipalbuildings。

CHAPTERXII

[WhattheWivesSaved]

TheRATHHAUS，ormunicipalbuilding，isofthequaintestandmostpicturesqueMiddle-Agearchitecture。Ithasamassiveporticoandsteps，beforeit，heavilybalustraded，andadornedwithlife-sizedrustyironknightsincompletearmor。Theclock-faceonthefrontofthebuildingisverylargeandofcuriouspattern。Ordinarily，agildedangelstrikesthehouronabigbellwithahammer；

asthestrikingceases，alife-sizedfigureofTimeraisesitshour-glassandturnsit；twogoldenramsadvanceandbutteachother；agildedcockliftsitswings；

butthemainfeaturesaretwogreatangels，whostandoneachsideofthedialwithlonghornsattheirlips；

itwassaidthattheyblewmelodiousblastsonthesehornseveryhour——buttheydidnotdoitforus。

Weweretold，later，thantheyblewonlyatnight，whenthetownwasstill。

WithintheRATHHAUSwereanumberofhugewildboars"

heads，preserved，andmountedonbracketsalongthewall；

theyboreinscriptionstellingwhokilledthemandhowmanyhundredyearsagoitwasdone。Oneroominthebuildingwasdevotedtothepreservationofancientarchives。

Theretheyshowedusnoendofageddocuments；someweresignedbyPopes，somebyTillyandothergreatgenerals，andonewasaletterwrittenandsubscribedbyGo"tzvonBerlichingeninHeilbronnin1519justafterhisreleasefromtheSquareTower。

Thisfineoldrobber-knightwasadevoutlyandsincerelyreligiousman，hospitable，charitabletothepoor，fearlessinfight，active，enterprising，andpossessedofalargeandgenerousnature。Hehadinhimaqualityofbeingabletooverlookmoderateinjuries，andbeingabletoforgiveandforgetmortalonesassoonashehadsoundlytrouncedtheauthorsofthem。

Hewasprompttotakeupanypoordevil"squarrelandriskhisnecktorighthim。Thecommonfolkheldhimdear，andhismemoryisstillgreeninballadandtradition。

Heusedtogoonthehighwayandrobrichwayfarers；

andothertimeshewouldswoopdownfromhishighcastleonthehillsoftheNeckarandcapturepassingcargoesofmerchandise。InhismemoirshepiouslythankstheGiverofallGoodforrememberinghiminhisneedsanddeliveringsundrysuchcargoesintohishandsattimeswhenonlyspecialprovidencescouldhaverelievedhim。

Hewasadoughtywarriorandfoundadeepjoyinbattle。

InanassaultuponastrongholdinBavariawhenhewasonlytwenty-threeyearsold，hisrighthandwasshotaway，buthewassointerestedinthefightthathedidnotobserveitforawhile。Hesaidthattheironhandwhichwasmadeforhimafterward，andwhichheworeformorethanhalfacentury，wasnearlyascleveramemberasthefleshyonehadbeen。IwasgladtogetafacsimileoftheletterwrittenbythisfineoldGermanRobinHood，thoughIwasnotabletoreadit。Hewasabetterartistwithhisswordthanwithhispen。

WewentdownbytheriverandsawtheSquareTower。

Itwasaveryvenerablestructure，verystrong，andveryornamental。Therewasnoopeningneartheground。

Theyhadtousealaddertogetintoit，nodoubt。

Wevisitedtheprincipalchurch，also——acuriousoldstructure，withatowerlikespireadornedwithallsortsofgrotesqueimages。Theinnerwallsofthechurchwereplacardedwithlargemuraltabletsofcopper，bearingengravedinscriptionscelebratingthemeritsofoldHeilbronnworthiesoftwoorthreecenturiesago，andalsobearingrudelypaintedeffigiesofthemselvesandtheirfamiliestrickedoutinthequeercostumesofthosedays。Theheadofthefamilysatintheforeground，andbeyondhimextendedasharplyrecedinganddiminishingrowofsons；facinghimsathiswife，andbeyondherextendedalowrowofdiminishingdaughters。

Thefamilywasusuallylarge，buttheperspectivebad。

ThenwehiredthehackandthehorsewhichGo"tzvonBerlichingenusedtouse，anddroveseveralmilesintothecountrytovisittheplacecalledWEIBERTREU——Wife"sFidelityIsupposeitmeans。ItwasafeudalcastleoftheMiddleAges。Whenwereacheditsneighborhoodwefounditwasbeautifullysituated，butontopofamound，orhill，roundandtolerablysteep，andabouttwohundredfeethigh。Therefore，asthesunwasblazinghot，wedidnotclimbupthere，buttooktheplaceontrust，andobserveditfromadistancewhilethehorseleanedupagainstafenceandrested。Theplacehasnointerestexceptthatwhichislentitbyitslegend，whichisaveryprettyone——tothiseffect:

THELEGEND

IntheMiddleAges，acoupleofyoungdukes，brothers，tookoppositesidesinoneofthewars，theonefightingfortheEmperor，theotheragainsthim。OneofthemownedthecastleandvillageontopofthemoundwhichI

havebeenspeakingof，andinhisabsencehisbrothercamewithhisknightsandsoldiersandbeganasiege。

Itwasalongandtediousbusiness，forthepeoplemadeastubbornandfaithfuldefense。Butatlasttheirsuppliesranoutandstarvationbeganitswork；

morefellbyhungerthanbythemissilesoftheenemy。

Theybyandbysurrendered，andbeggedforcharitableterms。

Butthebeleagueringprincewassoincensedagainstthemfortheirlongresistancethathesaidhewouldsparenonebutthewomenandchildren——allmenshouldbeputtotheswordwithoutexception，andalltheirgoodsdestroyed。

Thenthewomencameandfellontheirkneesandbeggedforthelivesoftheirhusbands。

"No，"saidtheprince，"notamanofthemshallescapealive；

youyourselvesshallgowithyourchildrenintohouselessandfriendlessbanishment；butthatyoumaynotstarveIgrantyouthisonegrace，thateachwomanmaybearwithherfromthisplaceasmuchofhermostvaluablepropertyassheisabletocarry。"

Verywell，presentlythegatesswungopenandoutfiledthosewomencarryingtheirHUSBANDSontheirshoulders。

Thebesiegers，furiousatthetrick，rushedforwardtoslaughterthemen，buttheDukesteppedbetweenandsaid:

"No，putupyourswords——aprince"swordisinviolable。"

Whenwegotbacktothehotel，KingArthur"sRoundTablewasreadyforusinitswhitedrapery，andtheheadwaiterandhisfirstassistant，inswallow-tailsandwhitecravats，broughtinthesoupandthehotplatesatonce。

Mr。Xhadorderedthedinner，andwhenthewinecameon，hepickedupabottle，glancedatthelabel，andthenturnedtothegrave，themelancholy，thesepulchralheadwaiterandsaiditwasnotthesortofwinehehadaskedfor。

Theheadwaiterpickedupthebottle，casthisundertaker-eyeonitandsaid:

"Itistrue；Ibegpardon。"Thenheturnedonhissubordinateandcalmlysaid，"Bringanotherlabel。"

Atthesametimeheslidthepresentlabeloffwithhishandandlaiditaside；ithadbeennewlyputon，itspastewasstillwet。Whenthenewlabelcame，heputiton；

ourFrenchwinebeingnowturnedintoGermanwine，accordingtodesire，theheadwaiterwentblandlyabouthisotherduties，asiftheworkingofthissortofmiraclewasacommonandeasythingtohim。

Mr。Xsaidhehadnotknown，before，thattherewerepeoplehonestenoughtodothismiracleinpublic，buthewasawarethatthousandsuponthousandsoflabelswereimportedintoAmericafromEuropeeveryyear，toenabledealerstofurnishtotheircustomersinaquietandinexpensivewayallthedifferentkindsofforeignwinestheymightrequire。

Wetookaturnaroundthetown，afterdinner，andfounditfullyasinterestinginthemoonlightasithadbeeninthedaytime。Thestreetswerenarrowandroughlypaved，andtherewasnotasidewalkorastreet-lampanywhere。

Thedwellingswerecenturiesold，andvastenoughforhotels。

Theywidenedallthewayup；thestoriesprojectedfurtherandfurtherforwardandasideastheyascended，andthelongrowsoflightedwindows，filledwithlittlebitsofpanes，curtainedwithfiguredwhitemuslinandadornedoutsidewithboxesofflowers，madeaprettyeffect。

Themoonwasbright，andthelightandshadowverystrong；

andnothingcouldbemorepicturesquethanthosecurvingstreets，withtheirrowsofhugehighgablesleaningfarovertowardeachotherinafriendlygossipingway，andthecrowdsbelowdriftingthroughthealternatingblotsofgloomandmellowbarsofmoonlight。Nearlyeverybodywasabroad，chatting，singing，romping，ormassedinlazycomfortableattitudesinthedoorways。

Inoneplacetherewasapublicbuildingwhichwasfencedaboutwithathick，rustychain，whichsaggedfromposttopostinasuccessionoflowswings。

Thepavement，here，wasmadeofheavyblocksofstone。

Intheglareofthemoonapartyofbarefootedchildrenwereswingingonthosechainsandhavinganoisygoodtime。

Theywerenotthefirstoneswhohavedonethat；

eventheirgreat-great-grandfathershadnotbeenthefirsttodoitwhentheywerechildren。Thestrokesofthebarefeethadworngroovesinchesdeepinthestoneflags；

ithadtakenmanygenerationsofswingingchildrentoaccomplishthat。Everywhereinthetownwerethemoldanddecaythatgowithantiquity，andevidenceofit；

butIdonotknowthatanythingelsegaveussovividasenseoftheoldageofHeilbronnasthosefootworngroovesinthepaving-stones。

CHAPTERXIII

[MyLongCrawlintheDark]

WhenwegotbacktothehotelIwoundandsetthepedometerandputitinmypocket，forIwastocarryitnextdayandkeeprecordofthemileswemade。

Theworkwhichwehadgiventheinstrumenttododuringwhichhadjustclosedhadnotfatigueditperceptibly。

Wewereinbedbyten，forwewantedtobeupandawayonourtramphomewardwiththedawn。Ihungfire，butHarriswenttosleepatonce。Ihateamanwhogoestosleepatonce；thereisasortofindefinablesomethingaboutitwhichisnotexactlyaninsult，andyetisaninsolence；

andonewhichishardtobear，too。Ilaytherefrettingoverthisinjury，andtryingtogotosleep；buttheharderItried，thewiderawakeIgrew。Igottofeelingverylonelyinthedark，ithnocompanybutanundigesteddinner。

Mymindgotastartbyandby，andbegantoconsiderthebeginningofeverysubjectwhichhaseverbeenthoughtof；

butitneverwentfurtherthanthebeginning；itwastouchandgo；itfledfromtopictotopicwithafranticspeed。

AttheendofanhourmyheadwasinaperfectwhirlandI

wasdeadtired，faggedout。

Thefatiguewassogreatthatitpresentlybegantomakesomeheadagainstthenervousexcitement；whileimaginingmyselfwideawake，Iwouldreallydozeintomomentaryunconsciousness，andcomesuddenlyoutofitwithaphysicaljerkwhichnearlywrenchedmyjointsapart——thedelusionoftheinstantbeingthatIwastumblingbackwardoveraprecipice。

AfterIhadfallenovereightornineprecipicesandthusfoundoutthatonehalfofmybrainhadbeenasleepeightorninetimeswithoutthewide-awake，hard-workingotherhalfsuspectingit，theperiodicalunconsciousnessesbegantoextendtheirspellgraduallyovermoreofmybrain-territory，andatlastIsankintoadrowsewhichgrewdeeperanddeeperandwasdoubtlessjustontheverypointofbeingasolid，blesseddreamlessstupor，when——whatwasthat?

Mydulledfacultiesdraggedthemselvespartlybacktolifeandtookareceptiveattitude。Nowoutofanimmense，alimitlessdistance，cameasomethingwhichgrewandgrew，andapproached，andpresentlywasrecognizableasasound——

ithadratherseemedtobeafeeling，before。Thissoundwasamileaway，now——perhapsitwasthemurmurofastorm；

andnowitwasnearer——notaquarterofamileaway；

wasitthemuffledraspingandgrindingofdistantmachinery?No，itcamestillnearer；wasitthemeasuredtrampofamarchingtroop?Butitcamenearerstill，andstillnearer——andatlastitwasrightintheroom:itwasmerelyamousegnawingthewoodwork。SoIhadheldmybreathallthattimeforsuchatrifle。

Well，whatwasdonecouldnotbehelped；Iwouldgotosleepatonceandmakeupthelosttime。Thatwasathoughtlessthought。Withoutintendingit——hardlyknowingit——Ifelltolisteningintentlytothatsound，andevenunconsciouslycountingthestrokesofthemouse"snutmeg-grater。PresentlyIwasderivingexquisitesufferingfromthisemployment，yetmaybeIcouldhaveendureditifthemousehadattendedsteadilytohiswork；

buthedidnotdothat；hestoppedeverynowandthen，andIsufferedmorewhilewaitingandlisteningforhimtobeginagainthanIdidwhilehewasgnawing。

AlongatfirstIwasmentallyofferingarewardoffive——six——seven——ten——dollarsforthatmouse；

buttowardthelastIwasofferingrewardswhichwereentirelybeyondmymeans。Iclose-reefedmyears——

thatistosay，Ibenttheflapsofthemdownandfurledthemintofiveorsixfolds，andpressedthemagainstthehearing-orifice——butitdidnogood:thefacultywassosharpenedbynervousexcitementthatitwasbecomeamicrophoneandcouldhearthroughtheoverlayswithouttrouble。

Myangergrewtoafrenzy。Ifinallydidwhatallpersonsbeforemehavedone，clearbacktoAdam，——resolvedtothrowsomething。Ireacheddownandgotmywalking-shoes，thensatupinbedandlistened，inordertoexactlylocatethenoise。ButIcouldn"tdoit；itwasasunlocatableasacricket"snoise；andwhereonethinksthatthatis，isalwaystheveryplacewhereitisn"t。SoIpresentlyhurledashoeatrandom，andwithaviciousvigor。

ItstruckthewalloverHarris"sheadandfelldownonhim；

IhadnotimaginedIcouldthrowsofar。ItwokeHarris，andIwasgladofituntilIfoundhewasnotangry；

thenIwassorry。Hesoonwenttosleepagain，whichpleasedme；butstraightwaythemousebeganagain，whichrousedmytemperoncemore。IdidnotwanttowakeHarrisasecondtime，butthegnawingcontinueduntilI

wascompelledtothrowtheothershoe。ThistimeIbrokeamirror——thereweretwointheroom——Igotthelargestone，ofcourse。Harriswokeagain，butdidnotcomplain，andIwassorrierthanever。IresolvedthatIwouldsufferallpossibletorturebeforeIwoulddisturbhimathirdtime。

Themouseeventuallyretired，andbyandbyIwassinkingtosleep，whenaclockbegantostrike；Icountedtillitwasdone，andwasabouttodrowseagainwhenanotherclockbegan；Icounted；thenthetwogreatRATHHAUSclockangelsbegantosendforthsoft，rich，melodiousblastsfromtheirlongtrumpets。Ihadneverheardanythingthatwassolovely，orweird，ormysterious——butwhentheygottoblowingthequarter-hours，theyseemedtometobeoverdoingthething。EverytimeIdroppedoffforthemoment，anewnoisewokeme。EachtimeIwokeImissedmycoverlet，andhadtoreachdowntothefloorandgetitagain。

Atlastallsleepinessforsookme。IrecognizedthefactthatIwashopelesslyandpermanentlywideawake。

Wideawake，andfeverishandthirsty。WhenIhadlaintossingthereaslongasIcouldendureit，itoccurredtomethatitwouldbeagoodideatodressandgooutinthegreatsquareandtakearefreshingwashinthefountain，andsmokeandreflectthereuntiltheremnantofthenightwasgone。

IbelievedIcoulddressinthedarkwithoutwakingHarris。

Ihadbanishedmyshoesafterthemouse，butmyslipperswoulddoforasummernight。SoIrosesoftly，andgraduallygotoneverything——downtoonesock。Icouldn"tseemtogetonthetrackofthatsock，anywayIcouldfixit。

ButIhadtohaveit；soIwentdownonmyhandsandknees，withoneslipperonandtheotherinmyhand，andbegantopawgentlyaroundandrakethefloor，butwithnosuccess。

Ienlargedmycircle，andwentonpawingandraking。

Witheverypressureofmyknee，howthefloorcreaked!

andeverytimeIchancedtorakeagainstanyarticle，itseemedtogiveoutthirty-fiveorthirty-sixtimesmorenoisethanitwouldhavedoneinthedaytime。

InthosecasesIalwaysstoppedandheldmybreathtillI

wassureHarrishadnotawakened——thenIcreptalongagain。

Imovedonandon，butIcouldnotfindthesock；

Icouldnotseemtofindanythingbutfurniture。

IcouldnotrememberthattherewasmuchfurnitureintheroomwhenIwenttobed，buttheplacewasalivewithitnow——especiallychairs——chairseverywhere——

hadacoupleoffamiliesmovedin，inthemeantime?AndInevercouldseemtoGLANCEononeofthosechairs，butalwaysstruckitfullandsquarewithmyhead。

Mytemperrose，bysteadyandsuredegrees，andasI

pawedonandon，Ifelltomakingviciouscommentsundermybreath。

Finally，withavenomousaccessofirritation，IsaidI

wouldleavewithoutthesock；soIroseupandmadestraightforthedoor——asIsupposed——andsuddenlyconfrontedmydimspectralimageintheunbrokenmirror。Itstartledthebreathoutofme，foraninstant；italsoshowedmethatIwaslost，andhadnosortofideawhereIwas。

WhenIrealizedthis，IwassoangrythatIhadtositdownonthefloorandtakeholdofsomethingtokeepfromliftingtheroofoffwithanexplosionofopinion。

Iftherehadbeenonlyonemirror，itmightpossiblyhavehelpedtolocateme；butthereweretwo，andtwowereasbadasathousand；besides，thesewereonoppositesidesoftheroom。Icouldseethedimblurofthewindows，butinmyturned-aroundconditiontheywereexactlywheretheyoughtnottobe，andsotheyonlyconfusedmeinsteadofhelpingme。

Istartedtogetup，andknockeddownanumbrella；

itmadeanoiselikeapistol-shotwhenitstruckthathard，slick，carpetlessfloor；Igratedmyteethandheldmybreath——Harrisdidnotstir。Isettheumbrellaslowlyandcarefullyonendagainstthewall，butassoonasItookmyhandaway，itsheelslippedfromunderit，anddownitcameagainwithanotherbang。

Ishrunktogetherandlistenedamomentinsilentfury——

noharmdone，everythingquiet。Withthemostpainstakingcareandnicety，Istoodtheumbrellauponcemore，tookmyhandaway，anddownitcameagain。

Ihavebeenstrictlyreared，butifithadnotbeensodarkandsolemnandawfulthereinthatlonely，vastroom，IdobelieveIshouldhavesaidsomethingthenwhichcouldnotbeputintoaSunday-schoolbookwithoutinjuringthesaleofit。Ifmyreasoningpowershadnotbeenalreadysappeddrybymyharassments，IwouldhaveknownbetterthantotrytosetanumbrellaonendononeofthoseglassyGermanfloorsinthedark；

itcan"tbedoneinthedaytimewithoutfourfailurestoonesuccess。Ihadonecomfort，though——Harriswasyetstillandsilent——hehadnotstirred。

Theumbrellacouldnotlocateme——therewerefourstandingaroundtheroom，andallalike。IthoughtI

wouldfeelalongthewallandfindthedoorinthatway。

Iroseupandbeganthisoperation，butrakeddownapicture。Itwasnotalargeone，butitmadenoiseenoughforapanorama。Harrisgaveoutnosound，butI

feltthatifIexperimentedanyfurtherwiththepicturesIshouldbesuretowakehim。Bettergiveuptryingtogetout。Yes，IwouldfindKingArthur"sRoundTableoncemore——Ihadalreadyfounditseveraltimes——anduseitforabaseofdepartureonanexploringtourformybed；

ifIcouldfindmybedIcouldthenfindmywaterpitcher；

Iwouldquenchmyragingthirstandturnin。SoIstartedonmyhandsandknees，becauseIcouldgofasterthatway，andwithmoreconfidence，too，andnotknockdownthings。

ByandbyIfoundthetable——withmyhead——rubbedthebruisealittle，thenroseupandstarted，withhandsabroadandfingersspread，tobalancemyself。Ifoundachair；thenawall；thenanotherchair；thenasofa；

thenanalpenstock，thenanothersofa；thisconfoundedme，forIhadthoughttherewasonlyonesofa。Ihuntedupthetableagainandtookafreshstart；foundsomemorechairs。

Itoccurredtome，now，asitoughttohavedonebefore，thatasthetablewasround，itwasthereforeofnovalueasabasetoaimfrom；soImovedoffoncemore，andatrandomamongthewildernessofchairsandsofas——

wanderingoffintounfamiliarregions，andpresentlyknockedacandlestickandknockedoffalamp，grabbedatthelampandknockedoffawaterpitcherwitharattlingcrash，andthoughttomyself，"I"vefoundyouatlast——I

judgedIwascloseuponyou。"Harrisshouted"murder，"

and"thieves，"andfinishedwith"I"mabsolutelydrowned。"

Thecrashhadrousedthehouse。Mr。Xprancedin，inhislongnight-garment，withacandle，youngZafterhimwithanothercandle；aprocessionsweptinatanotherdoor，withcandlesandlanterns——landlordandtwoGermanguestsintheirnightgownsandachambermaidinhers。

Ilookedaround；IwasatHarris"sbed，aSabbath-day"sjourneyfrommyown。Therewasonlyonesofa；itwasagainstthewall；therewasonlyonechairwhereabodycouldgetatit——Ihadbeenrevolvingarounditlikeaplanet，andcollidingwithitlikeacomethalfthenight。