A WALK TO FISCHBACHAU. 43 



of; on getting nearer to the foot of the mountains 

 the seemingly narrow valley opens into breadth : hill, 

 mound, dell, all unperceived till now, start into sight ; 

 you become confused by a multitude of objects not 

 calculated on before, and, having already perhaps de- 

 viated from the straight line to evade a precipice or 

 to cross a torrent, are wholly at a loss what direction 

 to take. You look back to reconnoitre the ground 

 and find your starting-point. But it is not to be found : 

 all is changed; other forms are seen up against the 

 sky; no single feature that was there before is now 

 to be recognized. You turn round and ask yourself 

 if in coming downwards yonder peak with snow was 

 not on your right, and you are not sure of the answer, 

 for there is another very like it where snow is also 

 lying: how then distinguish between them? And 

 if you determine to go straight on toward the dis- 

 tant ridge, on getting there at last after two hours' 

 desperate climbing, all again is like an unknown land, 

 and not a single mountain-top that forms part of the 

 new horizon have you ever beheld before. Landmark 

 you have none the few you had are now irrecoverably 

 lost. There you stand in vast space, utterly helpless. 

 Far, far around you rise those sharp lines against the 

 sky which bounds your present world. How gladly 

 would you look into the space beyond, and strive to 

 catch at hope ! But this "beyond" is shut out from 

 you as impenetrably as that vague unknown which is 

 beyond the grave. And you still keep your look fixed 

 on those impassable barriers : a strange irresistible 



