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of the statues above me。 I clasped my hands in fear。 I felt like
a rat caught in a trap； as though I would have turned and bitten at
whatever thing was nearest me。 The wildness of the wind increased；
the moans grew shriller； coming from several statues； and swelling
into a chorus。 I almost immediately knew what it was； but the
sound was so unearthly that this was but little consolation。 The
inhuman beings into whose hearts the Evil One had put it to
conceive these statues； had made their heads into a sort of organ…
pipe； so that their mouths should catch the wind and sound with its
blowing。 It was horrible。 However brave a man might be； he could
never stand such a concert； from such lips； and in such a place。 I
heaped every invective upon them that my tongue could utter as I
rushed away from them into the mist； and even after I had lost
sight of them； and turning my head round could see nothing but the
storm…wraiths driving behind me； I heard their ghostly chanting；
and felt as though one of them would rush after me and grip me in
his hand and throttle me。
I may say here that； since my return to England； I heard a friend
playing some chords upon the organ which put me very forcibly in
mind of the Erewhonian statues （for Erewhon is the name of the
country upon which I was now entering）。 They rose most vividly to
my recollection the moment my friend began。 They are as follows；
and are by the greatest of all musicians：… ｛2｝
＇Music score which cannot be reproduced＇
CHAPTER VI： INTO EREWHON
And now I found myself on a narrow path which followed a small
watercourse。 I was too glad to have an easy track for my flight；
to lay hold of the full significance of its existence。 The
thought； however； soon presented itself to me that I must be in an
inhabited country； but one which was yet unknown。 What； then； was
to be my fate at the hands of its inhabitants？ Should I be taken
and offered up as a burnt…offering to those hideous guardians of
the pass？ It might be so。 I shuddered at the thought； yet the
horrors of solitude had now fairly possessed me； and so dazed was
I； and chilled； and woebegone； that I could lay hold of no idea
firmly amid the crowd of fancies that kept wandering in upon my
brain。
I hurried onwarddown； down； down。 More streams came in； then
there was a bridge； a few pine logs thrown over the water； but they
gave me comfort； for savages do not make bridges。 Then I had a
treat such as I can never convey on papera moment； perhaps； the
most striking and unexpected in my whole lifethe one I think
that； with some three or four exceptions； I would most gladly have
again； were I able to recall it。 I got below the level of the
clouds； into a burst of brilliant evening sunshine； I was facing
the north…west； and the sun was full upon me。 Oh； how its light
cheered me！ But what I saw！ It was such an expanse as was
revealed to Moses when he stood upon the summit of Mount Sinai； and
beheld that promised land which it was not to be his to enter。 The
beautiful sunset sky was crimson and gold； blue； silver； and
purple； exquisite and tranquillising； fading away therein were
plains； on which I could see many a town and city； with buildings
that had lofty steeples and rounded domes。 Nearer beneath me lay
ridge behind ridge； outline behind outline； sunlight behind shadow；
and shadow behind sunlight； gully and serrated ravine。 I saw large
pine forests； and the glitter of a noble river winding its way upon
the plains； also many villages and hamlets； some of them quite near
at hand； and it was on these that I pondered most。 I sank upon the
ground at the foot of a large tree and thought what I had best do；
but I could not collect myself。 I was quite tired out； and
presently； feeling warmed by the sun； and quieted； I fell off into
a profound sleep。
I was awoke by the sound of tinkling bells； and looking up； I saw
four or five goats feeding near me。 As soon as I moved； the
creatures turned their heads towards me with an expression of
infinite wonder。 They did not run away； but stood stock still； and
looked at me from every side； as I at them。 Then came the sound of
chattering and laughter； and there approached two lovely girls； of
about seventeen or eighteen years old； dressed each in a sort of
linen gaberdine； with a girdle round the waist。 They saw me。 I
sat quite still and looked at them； dazzled with their extreme
beauty。 For a moment they looked at me and at each other in great
amazement； then they gave a little frightened cry and ran off as
hard as they could。
〃So that's that；〃 said I to myself； as I watched them scampering。
I knew that I had better stay where I was and meet my fate；
whatever it was to be； and even if there were a better course； I
had no strength left to take it。 I must come into contact with the
inhabitants sooner or later； and it might as well be sooner。
Better not to seem afraid of them； as I should do by running away
and being caught with a hue and cry to…morrow or next day。 So I
remained quite still and waited。 In about an hour I heard distant
voices talking excitedly； and in a few minutes I saw the two girls
bringing up a party of six or seven men； well armed with bows and
arrows and pikes。 There was nothing for it； so I remained sitting
quite still； even after they had seen me； until they came close up。
Then we all had a good look at one another。
Both the girls and the men were very dark in colour； but not more
so than the South Italians or Spaniards。 The men wore no trousers；
but were dressed nearly the same as the Arabs whom I have seen in
Algeria。 They were of the most magnificent presence； being no less
strong and handsome than the women were beautiful； and not only
this； but their expression was courteous and benign。 I think they
would have killed me at once if I had made the slightest show of
violence； but they gave me no impression of their being likely to
hurt me so long as I was quiet。 I am not much given to liking
anybody at first sight； but these people impressed me much more
favourably than I should have thought possible； so that I could not
fear them as I scanned their faces one after another。 They were
all powerful men。 I might have been a match for any one of them
singly； for I have been told that I have more to glory in the flesh
than in any other respect； being over six feet and proportionately
strong； but any two could have soon mastered me； even were I not so
bereft of energy by my recent adventures。 My colour seemed to
surprise them most； for I have light hair； blue eyes； and a fresh
complexion。 They could not understand how these things could be；
my clothes also seemed quite beyond them。 Their eyes kept
wandering all over me； and the more they looked the less they
seemed able to make me out。
At last I raised myself upon my feet； and leaning upon my stick； I
spoke whatever came into my head to the man who seemed foremost
among them。 I spoke in English； though I was very sure that he
would not understand。 I said that I had no idea what country I was
in； that I had stumbled upon it almost by accident； after a series
of hairbreadth escapes； and that I trusted they would not allow any
evil to overtake me now that I was completely at their mercy。 All
this I said quietly and firmly； with hardly any change of
expression。 They could not understand me； but they looked
approvingly to one another； and seemed pleased （so I thought） that
I showed no fear nor acknowledgment of inferioritythe fact being
that I was exhausted beyond the sense of fear。 Then one of them
pointed to the mountain； in the direction of the statues； and made
a grimace in imitation of one of them。 I laughed and shuddered
expressively； whereon they all burst out laughing too； and
chattered hard to one another。 I could make out nothing of what
they said； but I think they thought it rather a good joke that I
had come past the statues。 Then one among them came forward and
motioned me to follow； which I did without hesitation； for I dared
not thwart them； moreover； I liked them well enough； and felt
tolerably sure that they had no intention of hurtin