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although no sense in particular was as yet appealed to。 I held my
breath and waited； and then I heardwas it fancy？ Nay； I listened
again and again； and I DID hear a faint and extremely distant sound
of music； like that of an AEolian harp； borne upon the wind which
was blowing fresh and chill from the opposite mountains。
The roots of my hair thrilled。 I listened； but the wind had died；
and； fancying that it must have been the wind itselfno； on a
sudden I remembered the noise which Chowbok had made in the wool…
shed。 Yes； it was that。
Thank Heaven； whatever it was； it was over now。 I reasoned with
myself； and recovered my firmness。 I became convinced that I had
only been dreaming more vividly than usual。 Soon I began even to
laugh； and think what a fool I was to be frightened at nothing；
reminding myself that even if I were to come to a bad end it would
be no such dreadful matter after all。 I said my prayers； a duty
which I had too often neglected； and in a little time fell into a
really refreshing sleep； which lasted till broad daylight； and
restored me。 I rose； and searching among the embers of my fire； I
found a few live coals and soon had a blaze again。 I got
breakfast； and was delighted to have the company of several small
birds； which hopped about me and perched on my boots and hands。 I
felt comparatively happy； but I can assure the reader that I had
had a far worse time of it than I have told him； and I strongly
recommend him to remain in Europe if he can； or； at any rate； in
some country which has been explored and settled； rather than go
into places where others have not been before him。 Exploring is
delightful to look forward to and back upon； but it is not
comfortable at the time； unless it be of such an easy nature as not
to deserve the name。
CHAPTER V： THE RIVER AND THE RANGE
My next business was to descend upon the river。 I had lost sight
of the pass which I had seen from the saddle； but had made such
notes of it that I could not fail to find it。 I was bruised and
stiff； and my boots had begun to give； for I had been going on
rough ground for more than three weeks； but； as the day wore on；
and I found myself descending without serious difficulty； I became
easier。 In a couple of hours I got among pine forests where there
was little undergrowth； and descended quickly till I reached the
edge of another precipice； which gave me a great deal of trouble；
though I eventually managed to avoid it。 By about three or four
o'clock I found myself on the river…bed。
From calculations which I made as to the height of the valley on
the other side the saddle over which I had come； I concluded that
the saddle itself could not be less than nine thousand feet high；
and I should think that the river…bed； on to which I now descended；
was three thousand feet above the sea…level。 The water had a
terrific current； with a fall of not less than forty to fifty feet
per mile。 It was certainly the river next to the northward of that
which flowed past my master's run； and would have to go through an
impassable gorge （as is commonly the case with the rivers of that
country） before it came upon known parts。 It was reckoned to be
nearly two thousand feet above the sea…level where it came out of
the gorge on to the plains。
As soon as I got to the river side I liked it even less than I
thought I should。 It was muddy； being near its parent glaciers。
The stream was wide； rapid； and rough； and I could hear the smaller
stones knocking against each other under the rage of the waters； as
upon a seashore。 Fording was out of the question。 I could not
swim and carry my swag； and I dared not leave my swag behind me。
My only chance was to make a small raft； and that would be
difficult to make； and not at all safe when it was made；not for
one man in such a current。
As it was too late to do much that afternoon； I spent the rest of
it in going up and down the river side； and seeing where I should
find the most favourable crossing。 Then I camped early； and had a
quiet comfortable night with no more music； for which I was
thankful； as it had haunted me all day； although I perfectly well
knew that it had been nothing but my own fancy； brought on by the
reminiscence of what I had heard from Chowbok and by the over…
excitement of the preceding evening。
Next day I began gathering the dry bloom stalks of a kind of flag
or iris…looking plant； which was abundant； and whose leaves； when
torn into strips； were as strong as the strongest string。 I
brought them to the waterside； and fell to making myself a kind of
rough platform； which should suffice for myself and my swag if I
could only stick to it。 The stalks were ten or twelve feet long；
and very strong； but light and hollow。 I made my raft entirely of
them； binding bundles of them at right angles to each other； neatly
and strongly； with strips from the leaves of the same plant； and
tying other rods across。 It took me all day till nearly four
o'clock to finish the raft； but I had still enough daylight for
crossing； and resolved on doing so at once。
I had selected a place where the river was broad and comparatively
still； some seventy or eighty yards above a furious rapid。 At this
spot I had built my raft。 I now launched it； made my swag fast to
the middle； and got on to it myself； keeping in my hand one of the
longest blossom stalks； so that I might punt myself across as long
as the water was shallow enough to let me do so。 I got on pretty
well for twenty or thirty yards from the shore； but even in this
short space I nearly upset my raft by shifting too rapidly from one
side to the other。 The water then became much deeper； and I leaned
over so far in order to get the bloom rod to the bottom that I had
to stay still； leaning on the rod for a few seconds。 Then； when I
lifted up the rod from the ground； the current was too much for me
and I found myself being carried down the rapid。 Everything in a
second flew past me； and I had no more control over the raft；
neither can I remember anything except hurry； and noise； and waters
which in the end upset me。 But it all came right； and I found
myself near the shore； not more than up to my knees in water and
pulling my raft to land； fortunately upon the left bank of the
river； which was the one I wanted。 When I had landed I found that
I was about a mile； or perhaps a little less； below the point from
which I started。 My swag was wet upon the outside； and I was
myself dripping； but I had gained my point； and knew that my
difficulties were for a time over。 I then lit my fire and dried
myself； having done so I caught some of the young ducks and sea…
gulls； which were abundant on and near the river…bed； so that I had
not only a good meal； of which I was in great want； having had an
insufficient diet from the time that Chowbok left me； but was also
well provided for the morrow。
I thought of Chowbok； and felt how useful he had been to me； and in
how many ways I was the loser by his absence； having now to do all
sorts of things for myself which he had hitherto done for me； and
could do infinitely better than I could。 Moreover； I had set my
heart upon making him a real convert to the Christian religion；
which he had already embraced outwardly； though I cannot think that
it had taken deep root in his impenetrably stupid nature。 I used
to catechise him by our camp fire； and explain to him the mysteries
of the Trinity and of original sin； with which I was myself
familiar； having been the grandson of an archdeacon by my mother's
side； to say nothing of the fact that my father was a clergyman of
the English Church。 I was therefore sufficiently qualified for the
task； and was the more inclined to it； over and above my real
desire to save the unhappy creature from an eternity of torture； by
recollecting the promise of St。 James； that if any one converted a
sinner （which Chowbok surely was） he should hide a multitude of
sins。 I reflected； therefore； that the conversion of Chowbok might
in some degree compensate for irregularities and short…comings in
my own previous life； the remembrance of which had been more tha