258 Poachers and Poaching. 



Precisely what happened next is not known. 

 Suddenly it seemed as though the mountain had 

 exploded. There was a terrible glare, some- 

 thing like an earthquake shook the ground, and 

 thousands of tons of rock and debris rushed 

 down into the White Quartz Valley. 



That was all. The great, green mountain had 

 taken Mould to her broader bosom, and the night 

 wanderings of the old man had led him in 

 the way of the Delectable Mountains whence 

 there is no return. 



IV. 



After an hour's hard climbing we gain one of 

 the topmost outliers, whence we command an 

 extensive map-like view of the circumjacent 

 mountains. A final struggle for the last ridge, 

 and then along its crest. We are at an angle 

 formed by the vales of Grasmere, Legberthwaite, 

 and Patterdale, when a magnificent effect is pro- 

 duced as the sun suddenly pierces the clouds. 

 A golden mass of molten sea stretches east- 

 ward. Bright sunny patches light up the land- 

 scape below ; and a billowy sea of mountains 

 rolls away, with every wave a name. Purple 

 pavilions of hills stretch far and beyond on 

 every side. Now we are among the clouds, and 

 look down on all things mundane. 



We "rush" the last slope, and at last stand 



