"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。