Chap. XIII. 



A MOONLIGHT SCENE. 



235 



there was no longer any danger of my losing my 

 way, I was in no hurry to go in-doors. The shades 

 of evening gradually closed in, and it was night on 

 Woo-e-shan. A solemn stillness reigned around, 

 which was broken only by the occasional sound of a 

 gong or bell in the temple, where some priest was 

 engaged in his evening devotions. In the mean time 

 the moon had risen, and the scene appeared, if pos- 

 sible, more striking than it had been in daylight. 

 The strange rocks, as they reared their rugged forms 

 high above the temples, partly in bright light and 

 partly in deep shade, had a curious and unnatural 

 appearance. On the opposite side the wood assumed 

 a dark and dense appearance, and down in the bottom 

 of the dell the little lake sparkled as if covered with 

 gems. 



I sat down on a ledge of rock, and my eyes wan- 

 dered over these remarkable objects. Was it a 

 reality or a dream, or was I in some fairy land ? 

 The longer I looked the more indistinct the objects 

 became, and fancy seemed inclined to convert the 

 rocks and trees into strange living forms. In circum- 

 stances of this kind I like to let imagination roam 

 uncontrolled, and if now and then I built a few castles 

 in the air they were not very expensive and easily 

 pulled down again. 



Sing-Hoo now came out to seek me, and to say 

 that our evening meal was ready, and that the priests 

 were waiting. When I went in I found the viands 

 already served. We seated ourselves at the table, 

 pledged each other in a cup of wine, and the meal 



