第5章

Thethunderboomed，thelightningglared，thestorm-windsraged，thedelugepoureddown。Themimicroyaltyonthestage，withtheirsoakedsatinsclingingtotheirbodies，sloppedaboutankle-deepinwater，warblingtheirsweetestandbest，thefiddlersundertheeavesofthestatesawedawayfordearlife，withthecoldoverflowspoutingdownthebacksoftheirnecks，andthedryandhappyKingsatinhisloftyboxandworehisglovestoribbonsapplauding。 \"Moreyet!\"criedtheKing；\"moreyet——letlooseallthethunder，turnonallthewater!Iwillhangthemanthatraisesanumbrella!\" Whenthismosttremendousandeffectivestormthathadeverbeenproducedinanytheaterwasatlastover，theKing\'sapprobationwasmeasureless。Hecried: \"Magnificent，magnificent!ENCORE!Doitagain!\" Butthemanagersucceededinpersuadinghimtorecalltheencore，andsaidthecompanywouldfeelsufficientlyrewardedandcomplimentedinthemerefactthattheencorewasdesiredbyhisMajesty，withoutfatiguinghimwitharepetitiontogratifytheirownvanity。 Duringtheremainderoftheacttheluckyperformerswerethosewhosepartsrequiredchangesofdress； theotherswereasoaked，bedraggled，anduncomfortablelot，butinthelastdegreepicturesque。Thestagescenerywasruined，trap-doorsweresoswollenthattheywouldn\'tworkforaweekafterward，thefinecostumeswerespoiled，andnoendofminordamagesweredonebythatremarkablestorm。 Itwasroyalidea——thatstorm——androyallycarriedout。 ButobservethemoderationoftheKing；hedidnotinsistuponhisencore。Ifhehadbeenagladsome，unreflectingAmericanopera-audience，heprobablywouldhavehadhisstormrepeatedandrepeateduntilhedrownedallthosepeople。 CHAPTERXI [IPainta\"Turner\"] ThesummerdayspassedpleasantlyinHeidelberg。 Wehadaskilledtrainer，andunderhisinstructionsweweregettingourlegsintherightconditionforthecontemplatedpedestriantours；wewerewellsatisfiedwiththeprogresswhichwehadmadeintheGermanlanguage，[1。SeeAppendixDforinformationconcerningthisfearfultongue。]andmorethansatisfiedwithwhatwehadaccomplishedinart。WehadhadthebestinstructorsindrawingandpaintinginGermany——Ha\"mmerling，Vogel，Mu\"ller，Dietz，andSchumann。Ha\"mmerlingtaughtuslandscape-painting。 Vogeltaughtusfigure-drawing，Mu\"llertaughtustodostill-life，andDietzandSchumanngaveusafinishingcourseintwospecialties——battle-piecesandshipwrecks。 WhateverIaminArtIowetothesemen。Ihavesomethingofthemannerofeachandallofthem；buttheyallsaidthatI hadalsoamannerofmyown，andthatitwasconspicuous。 Theysaidtherewasamarkedindividualityaboutmystyle——insomuchthatifIeverpaintedthecommonesttypeofadog，Ishouldbesuretothrowasomethingintotheaspectofthatdogwhichwouldkeephimfrombeingmistakenforthecreationofanyotherartist。 SecretlyIwantedtobelieveallthesekindsayings，butIcouldnot；Iwasafraidthatmymasters\' partialityforme，andprideinme，biasedtheirjudgment。 SoIresolvedtomakeatest。Privately，andunknowntoanyone，Ipaintedmygreatpicture，\"HeidelbergCastleIlluminated\"——myfirstreallyimportantworkinoils——andhadithungupinthemidstofawildernessofoil-picturesintheArtExhibition，withnonameattachedtoit。Tomygreatgratificationitwasinstantlyrecognizedasmine。 Allthetownflockedtoseeit，andpeopleevencamefromneighboringlocalitiestovisitit。ItmademorestirthananyotherworkintheExhibition。Butthemostgratifyingthingofallwas，thatchancestrangers，passingthrough，whohadnotheardofmypicture，werenotonlydrawntoit，asbyalodestone，themomenttheyenteredthegallery，butalwaystookitfora\"Turner。\" Apparentlynobodyhadeverdonethat。Therewereruinedcastlesontheoverhangingcliffsandcragsalltheway； theseweresaidtohavetheirlegends，likethoseontheRhine，andwhatwasbetterstill，theyhadneverbeeninprint。 Therewasnothinginthebooksaboutthatlovelyregion； ithadbeenneglectedbythetourist，itwasvirginsoilfortheliterarypioneer。 Meantimetheknapsacks，theroughwalking-suitsandthestoutwalking-shoeswhichwehadordered，werefinishedandbroughttous。AMr。XandayoungMr。Zhadagreedtogowithus。 Wewentaroundoneeveningandbadegood-bytoourfriends，andafterwardhadalittlefarewellbanquetatthehotel。 Wegottobedearly，forwewantedtomakeanearlystart，soastotakeadvantageofthecoolofthemorning。 Wewereoutofbedatbreakofday，feelingfreshandvigorous，andtookaheartybreakfast，thenplungeddownthroughtheleafyarcadesoftheCastlegrounds，towardthetown。Whataglorioussummermorningitwas，andhowtheflowersdidpourouttheirfragrance，andhowthebirdsdidsing!Itwasjustthetimeforatrampthroughthewoodsandmountains。 Wewerealldressedalike:broadslouchhats，tokeepthesunoff；grayknapsacks；bluearmyshirts；blueoveralls； leatherngaitersbuttonedtightfromkneedowntoankle； high-quartercoarseshoessnuglylaced。Eachmanhadanopera-glass，acanteen，andaguide-bookcaseslungoverhisshoulder，andcarriedanalpenstockinonehandandasun-umbrellaintheother。Aroundourhatswerewoundmanyfoldsofsoftwhitemuslin，withtheendshangingandflappingdownourbacks——anideabroughtfromtheOrientandusedbytouristsalloverEurope。 Harriscarriedthelittlewatch-likemachinecalleda\"pedometer，\"whoseofficeistokeepcountofaman\'sstepsandtellhowfarhehaswalked。Everybodystoppedtoadmireourcostumesandgiveusahearty\"Pleasantmarchtoyou!\" WhenwegotdowntownIfoundthatwecouldgobyrailtowithinfivemilesofHeilbronn。Thetrainwasjuststarting，sowejumpedaboardandwenttearingawayinsplendidspirits。 Itwasagreedallaroundthatwehaddonewisely，becauseitwouldbejustasenjoyabletowalkDOWNtheNeckarasupit，anditcouldnotbeneedfultowalkbothways。 ThereweresomeniceGermanpeopleinourcompartment。 Igottotalkingsomeprettyprivatematterspresently，andHarrisbecamenervous；sohenudgedmeandsaid: \"SpeakinGerman——theseGermansmayunderstandEnglish。\" Ididso，itwaswellIdid；foritturnedoutthattherewasnotaGermaninthatpartywhodidnotunderstandEnglishperfectly。ItiscurioushowwidespreadourlanguageisinGermany。AfterawhilesomeofthosefolksgotoutandaGermangentlemanandhistwoyoungdaughtersgotin。 IspokeinGermanofoneofthelatterseveraltimes，butwithoutresult。Finallyshesaid: \"ICHVERSTEHENURDEUTCHUNDENGLISHE，\"——orwordstothateffect。Thatis，\"Idon\'tunderstandanylanguagebutGermanandEnglish。\" Andsureenough，notonlyshebutherfatherandsisterspokeEnglish。Soafterthatwehadallthetalkwewanted； andwewantedagooddeal，fortheywereagreeablepeople。 Theyweregreatlyinterestedinourcustoms；especiallythealpenstocks，fortheyhadnotseenanybefore。 TheysaidthattheNeckarroadwasperfectlylevel，sowemustbegoingtoSwitzerlandorsomeotherruggedcountry； andaskedusifwedidnotfindthewalkingprettyfatiguinginsuchwarmweather。Butwesaidno。 WereachedWimpfen——IthinkitwasWimpfen——inaboutthreehours，andgotout，nottheleasttired；foundagoodhotelandorderedbeeranddinner——thentookastrollthroughthevenerableoldvillage。Itwasverypicturesqueandtumble-down，anddirtyandinteresting。 Ithadqueerhousesfivehundredyearsoldinit，andamilitarytower115feethigh，whichhadstoodtheremorethantencenturies。Imadealittlesketchofit。 Ikeptacopy，butgavetheoriginaltotheBurgomaster。 Ithinktheoriginalwasbetterthanthecopy，becauseithadmorewindowsinitandthegrassstoodupbetterandhadabriskerlook。Therewasnonearoundthetower，though； Icomposedthegrassmyself，fromstudiesImadeinafieldbyHeidelberginHa\"mmerling\'stime。Themanontop，lookingattheview，isapparentlytoolarge，butIfoundhecouldnotbemadesmaller，conveniently。Iwantedhimthere，andIwantedhimvisible，soIthoughtoutawaytomanageit；Icomposedthepicturefromtwopointsofview；thespectatoristoobservethemanfromboutwherethatflagis，andhemustobservethetoweritselffromtheground。Thisharmonizestheseemingdiscrepancy。 [Figure2] Nearanoldcathedral，underashed，werethreecrossesofstone——moldyanddamagedthings，bearinglife-sizestonefigures。Thetwothievesweredressedinthefancifulcourtcostumesofthemiddleofthesixteenthcentury，whiletheSaviourwasnude，withtheexceptionofaclotharoundtheloins。 WehaddinnerunderthegreentreesinagardenbelongingtothehotelandoverlookingtheNeckar；then，afterasmoke，wewenttobed。Wehadarefreshingnap，thengotupaboutthreeintheafternoonandputonourpanoply。 Aswetrampedgailyoutatthegateofthetown，weovertookapeasant\'scart，partlyladenwithoddsandendsofcabbagesandsimilarvegetablerubbish，anddrawnbyasmallcowandasmallerdonkeyyokedtogether。 Itwasaprettyslowconcern，butitgotusintoHeilbronnbeforedark——fivemiles，orpossiblyitwasseven。 Westoppedattheverysameinnwhichthefamousoldrobber-knightandroughfighterGo\"tzvonBerlichingen，abodeinafterhegotoutofcaptivityintheSquareTowerofHeilbronnbetweenthreehundredandfiftyandfourhundredyearsago。HarrisandIoccupiedthesameroomwhichhehadoccupiedandthesamepaperhadnotquitepeeledoffthewallsyet。Thefurniturewasquaintoldcarvedstuff，fullfourhundredyearsold，andsomeofthesmellswereoverathousand。Therewasahookinthewall，whichthelandlordsaidtheterrificoldGo\"tzusedtohanghisironhandonwhenhetookitofftogotobed。 Thisroomwasverylarge——itmightbecalledimmense—— anditwasonthefirstfloor；whichmeansitwasinthesecondstory，forinEuropethehousesaresohighthattheydonotcountthefirststory，elsetheywouldgettiredclimbingbeforetheygottothetop。 Thewallpaperwasafieryred，withhugegoldfiguresinit，wellsmirchedbytime，anditcoveredallthedoors。 Thesedoorsfittedsosnuglyandcontinuedthefiguresofthepapersounbrokenly，thatwhentheywereclosedonehadtogofeelingandsearchingalongthewalltofindthem。Therewasastoveinthecorner——oneofthosetall，square，statelywhiteporcelainthingsthatlookslikeamonumentandkeepsyouthinkingofdeathwhenyououghttobeenjoyingyourtravels。 Thewindowslookedoutonalittlealley，andoverthatintoastableandsomepoultryandpigyardsintherearofsometenement-houses。Therewerethecustomarytwobedsintheroom，oneinoneend，theotherintheother，aboutanold-fashionedbrass-mounted，single-barreledpistol-shotapart。TheywerefullyasnarrowastheusualGermanbed，too，andhadtheGermanbed\'sineradicablehabitofspillingtheblanketsontheflooreverytimeyouforgotyourselfandwenttosleep。 AroundtableaslargeasKingArthur\'sstoodinthecenteroftheroom；whilethewaitersweregettingreadytoserveourdinneronitweallwentouttoseetherenownedclockonthefrontofthemunicipalbuildings。 CHAPTERXII [WhattheWivesSaved] TheRATHHAUS，ormunicipalbuilding，isofthequaintestandmostpicturesqueMiddle-Agearchitecture。Ithasamassiveporticoandsteps，beforeit，heavilybalustraded，andadornedwithlife-sizedrustyironknightsincompletearmor。Theclock-faceonthefrontofthebuildingisverylargeandofcuriouspattern。Ordinarily，agildedangelstrikesthehouronabigbellwithahammer； asthestrikingceases，alife-sizedfigureofTimeraisesitshour-glassandturnsit；twogoldenramsadvanceandbutteachother；agildedcockliftsitswings； butthemainfeaturesaretwogreatangels，whostandoneachsideofthedialwithlonghornsattheirlips； itwassaidthattheyblewmelodiousblastsonthesehornseveryhour——buttheydidnotdoitforus。 Weweretold，later，thantheyblewonlyatnight，whenthetownwasstill。 WithintheRATHHAUSwereanumberofhugewildboars\' heads，preserved，andmountedonbracketsalongthewall； theyboreinscriptionstellingwhokilledthemandhowmanyhundredyearsagoitwasdone。Oneroominthebuildingwasdevotedtothepreservationofancientarchives。 Theretheyshowedusnoendofageddocuments；someweresignedbyPopes，somebyTillyandothergreatgenerals，andonewasaletterwrittenandsubscribedbyGo\"tzvonBerlichingeninHeilbronnin1519justafterhisreleasefromtheSquareTower。 Thisfineoldrobber-knightwasadevoutlyandsincerelyreligiousman，hospitable，charitabletothepoor，fearlessinfight，active，enterprising，andpossessedofalargeandgenerousnature。Hehadinhimaqualityofbeingabletooverlookmoderateinjuries，andbeingabletoforgiveandforgetmortalonesassoonashehadsoundlytrouncedtheauthorsofthem。 Hewasprompttotakeupanypoordevil\'squarrelandriskhisnecktorighthim。Thecommonfolkheldhimdear，andhismemoryisstillgreeninballadandtradition。 Heusedtogoonthehighwayandrobrichwayfarers； andothertimeshewouldswoopdownfromhishighcastleonthehillsoftheNeckarandcapturepassingcargoesofmerchandise。InhismemoirshepiouslythankstheGiverofallGoodforrememberinghiminhisneedsanddeliveringsundrysuchcargoesintohishandsattimeswhenonlyspecialprovidencescouldhaverelievedhim。 Hewasadoughtywarriorandfoundadeepjoyinbattle。 InanassaultuponastrongholdinBavariawhenhewasonlytwenty-threeyearsold，hisrighthandwasshotaway，buthewassointerestedinthefightthathedidnotobserveitforawhile。Hesaidthattheironhandwhichwasmadeforhimafterward，andwhichheworeformorethanhalfacentury，wasnearlyascleveramemberasthefleshyonehadbeen。IwasgladtogetafacsimileoftheletterwrittenbythisfineoldGermanRobinHood，thoughIwasnotabletoreadit。Hewasabetterartistwithhisswordthanwithhispen。 WewentdownbytheriverandsawtheSquareTower。 Itwasaveryvenerablestructure，verystrong，andveryornamental。Therewasnoopeningneartheground。 Theyhadtousealaddertogetintoit，nodoubt。 Wevisitedtheprincipalchurch，also——acuriousoldstructure，withatowerlikespireadornedwithallsortsofgrotesqueimages。Theinnerwallsofthechurchwereplacardedwithlargemuraltabletsofcopper，bearingengravedinscriptionscelebratingthemeritsofoldHeilbronnworthiesoftwoorthreecenturiesago，andalsobearingrudelypaintedeffigiesofthemselvesandtheirfamiliestrickedoutinthequeercostumesofthosedays。Theheadofthefamilysatintheforeground，andbeyondhimextendedasharplyrecedinganddiminishingrowofsons；facinghimsathiswife，andbeyondherextendedalowrowofdiminishingdaughters。 Thefamilywasusuallylarge，buttheperspectivebad。 ThenwehiredthehackandthehorsewhichGo\"tzvonBerlichingenusedtouse，anddroveseveralmilesintothecountrytovisittheplacecalledWEIBERTREU——Wife\'sFidelityIsupposeitmeans。ItwasafeudalcastleoftheMiddleAges。Whenwereacheditsneighborhoodwefounditwasbeautifullysituated，butontopofamound，orhill，roundandtolerablysteep，andabouttwohundredfeethigh。Therefore，asthesunwasblazinghot，wedidnotclimbupthere，buttooktheplaceontrust，andobserveditfromadistancewhilethehorseleanedupagainstafenceandrested。Theplacehasnointerestexceptthatwhichislentitbyitslegend，whichisaveryprettyone——tothiseffect: THELEGEND IntheMiddleAges，acoupleofyoungdukes，brothers，tookoppositesidesinoneofthewars，theonefightingfortheEmperor，theotheragainsthim。OneofthemownedthecastleandvillageontopofthemoundwhichI havebeenspeakingof，andinhisabsencehisbrothercamewithhisknightsandsoldiersandbeganasiege。 Itwasalongandtediousbusiness，forthepeoplemadeastubbornandfaithfuldefense。Butatlasttheirsuppliesranoutandstarvationbeganitswork； morefellbyhungerthanbythemissilesoftheenemy。 Theybyandbysurrendered，andbeggedforcharitableterms。 Butthebeleagueringprincewassoincensedagainstthemfortheirlongresistancethathesaidhewouldsparenonebutthewomenandchildren——allmenshouldbeputtotheswordwithoutexception，andalltheirgoodsdestroyed。 Thenthewomencameandfellontheirkneesandbeggedforthelivesoftheirhusbands。 \"No，\"saidtheprince，\"notamanofthemshallescapealive； youyourselvesshallgowithyourchildrenintohouselessandfriendlessbanishment；butthatyoumaynotstarveIgrantyouthisonegrace，thateachwomanmaybearwithherfromthisplaceasmuchofhermostvaluablepropertyassheisabletocarry。\" Verywell，presentlythegatesswungopenandoutfiledthosewomencarryingtheirHUSBANDSontheirshoulders。 Thebesiegers，furiousatthetrick，rushedforwardtoslaughterthemen，buttheDukesteppedbetweenandsaid: \"No，putupyourswords——aprince\'swordisinviolable。\" Whenwegotbacktothehotel，KingArthur\'sRoundTablewasreadyforusinitswhitedrapery，andtheheadwaiterandhisfirstassistant，inswallow-tailsandwhitecravats，broughtinthesoupandthehotplatesatonce。 Mr。Xhadorderedthedinner，andwhenthewinecameon，hepickedupabottle，glancedatthelabel，andthenturnedtothegrave，themelancholy，thesepulchralheadwaiterandsaiditwasnotthesortofwinehehadaskedfor。 Theheadwaiterpickedupthebottle，casthisundertaker-eyeonitandsaid: \"Itistrue；Ibegpardon。\"Thenheturnedonhissubordinateandcalmlysaid，\"Bringanotherlabel。\" Atthesametimeheslidthepresentlabeloffwithhishandandlaiditaside；ithadbeennewlyputon，itspastewasstillwet。Whenthenewlabelcame，heputiton； ourFrenchwinebeingnowturnedintoGermanwine，accordingtodesire，theheadwaiterwentblandlyabouthisotherduties，asiftheworkingofthissortofmiraclewasacommonandeasythingtohim。 Mr。Xsaidhehadnotknown，before，thattherewerepeoplehonestenoughtodothismiracleinpublic，buthewasawarethatthousandsuponthousandsoflabelswereimportedintoAmericafromEuropeeveryyear，toenabledealerstofurnishtotheircustomersinaquietandinexpensivewayallthedifferentkindsofforeignwinestheymightrequire。 Wetookaturnaroundthetown，afterdinner，andfounditfullyasinterestinginthemoonlightasithadbeeninthedaytime。Thestreetswerenarrowandroughlypaved，andtherewasnotasidewalkorastreet-lampanywhere。 Thedwellingswerecenturiesold，andvastenoughforhotels。 Theywidenedallthewayup；thestoriesprojectedfurtherandfurtherforwardandasideastheyascended，andthelongrowsoflightedwindows，filledwithlittlebitsofpanes，curtainedwithfiguredwhitemuslinandadornedoutsidewithboxesofflowers，madeaprettyeffect。 Themoonwasbright，andthelightandshadowverystrong； andnothingcouldbemorepicturesquethanthosecurvingstreets，withtheirrowsofhugehighgablesleaningfarovertowardeachotherinafriendlygossipingway，andthecrowdsbelowdriftingthroughthealternatingblotsofgloomandmellowbarsofmoonlight。Nearlyeverybodywasabroad，chatting，singing，romping，ormassedinlazycomfortableattitudesinthedoorways。 Inoneplacetherewasapublicbuildingwhichwasfencedaboutwithathick，rustychain，whichsaggedfromposttopostinasuccessionoflowswings。 Thepavement，here，wasmadeofheavyblocksofstone。 Intheglareofthemoonapartyofbarefootedchildrenwereswingingonthosechainsandhavinganoisygoodtime。 Theywerenotthefirstoneswhohavedonethat； eventheirgreat-great-grandfathershadnotbeenthefirsttodoitwhentheywerechildren。Thestrokesofthebarefeethadworngroovesinchesdeepinthestoneflags； ithadtakenmanygenerationsofswingingchildrentoaccomplishthat。Everywhereinthetownwerethemoldanddecaythatgowithantiquity，andevidenceofit； butIdonotknowthatanythingelsegaveussovividasenseoftheoldageofHeilbronnasthosefootworngroovesinthepaving-stones。 CHAPTERXIII [MyLongCrawlintheDark] WhenwegotbacktothehotelIwoundandsetthepedometerandputitinmypocket，forIwastocarryitnextdayandkeeprecordofthemileswemade。 Theworkwhichwehadgiventheinstrumenttododuringwhichhadjustclosedhadnotfatigueditperceptibly。 Wewereinbedbyten，forwewantedtobeupandawayonourtramphomewardwiththedawn。Ihungfire，butHarriswenttosleepatonce。Ihateamanwhogoestosleepatonce；thereisasortofindefinablesomethingaboutitwhichisnotexactlyaninsult，andyetisaninsolence； andonewhichishardtobear，too。Ilaytherefrettingoverthisinjury，andtryingtogotosleep；buttheharderItried，thewiderawakeIgrew。Igottofeelingverylonelyinthedark，ithnocompanybutanundigesteddinner。 Mymindgotastartbyandby，andbegantoconsiderthebeginningofeverysubjectwhichhaseverbeenthoughtof； butitneverwentfurtherthanthebeginning；itwastouchandgo；itfledfromtopictotopicwithafranticspeed。 AttheendofanhourmyheadwasinaperfectwhirlandI wasdeadtired，faggedout。 Thefatiguewassogreatthatitpresentlybegantomakesomeheadagainstthenervousexcitement；whileimaginingmyselfwideawake，Iwouldreallydozeintomomentaryunconsciousness，andcomesuddenlyoutofitwithaphysicaljerkwhichnearlywrenchedmyjointsapart——thedelusionoftheinstantbeingthatIwastumblingbackwardoveraprecipice。 AfterIhadfallenovereightornineprecipicesandthusfoundoutthatonehalfofmybrainhadbeenasleepeightorninetimeswithoutthewide-awake，hard-workingotherhalfsuspectingit，theperiodicalunconsciousnessesbegantoextendtheirspellgraduallyovermoreofmybrain-territory，andatlastIsankintoadrowsewhichgrewdeeperanddeeperandwasdoubtlessjustontheverypointofbeingasolid，blesseddreamlessstupor，when——whatwasthat? Mydulledfacultiesdraggedthemselvespartlybacktolifeandtookareceptiveattitude。Nowoutofanimmense，alimitlessdistance，cameasomethingwhichgrewandgrew，andapproached，andpresentlywasrecognizableasasound—— ithadratherseemedtobeafeeling，before。Thissoundwasamileaway，now——perhapsitwasthemurmurofastorm； andnowitwasnearer——notaquarterofamileaway； wasitthemuffledraspingandgrindingofdistantmachinery?No，itcamestillnearer；wasitthemeasuredtrampofamarchingtroop?Butitcamenearerstill，andstillnearer——andatlastitwasrightintheroom:itwasmerelyamousegnawingthewoodwork。SoIhadheldmybreathallthattimeforsuchatrifle。 Well，whatwasdonecouldnotbehelped；Iwouldgotosleepatonceandmakeupthelosttime。Thatwasathoughtlessthought。Withoutintendingit——hardlyknowingit——Ifelltolisteningintentlytothatsound，andevenunconsciouslycountingthestrokesofthemouse\'snutmeg-grater。PresentlyIwasderivingexquisitesufferingfromthisemployment，yetmaybeIcouldhaveendureditifthemousehadattendedsteadilytohiswork； buthedidnotdothat；hestoppedeverynowandthen，andIsufferedmorewhilewaitingandlisteningforhimtobeginagainthanIdidwhilehewasgnawing。 AlongatfirstIwasmentallyofferingarewardoffive——six——seven——ten——dollarsforthatmouse； buttowardthelastIwasofferingrewardswhichwereentirelybeyondmymeans。Iclose-reefedmyears—— thatistosay，Ibenttheflapsofthemdownandfurledthemintofiveorsixfolds，andpressedthemagainstthehearing-orifice——butitdidnogood:thefacultywassosharpenedbynervousexcitementthatitwasbecomeamicrophoneandcouldhearthroughtheoverlayswithouttrouble。 Myangergrewtoafrenzy。Ifinallydidwhatallpersonsbeforemehavedone，clearbacktoAdam，——resolvedtothrowsomething。Ireacheddownandgotmywalking-shoes，thensatupinbedandlistened，inordertoexactlylocatethenoise。ButIcouldn\'tdoit；itwasasunlocatableasacricket\'snoise；andwhereonethinksthatthatis，isalwaystheveryplacewhereitisn\'t。SoIpresentlyhurledashoeatrandom，andwithaviciousvigor。 ItstruckthewalloverHarris\'sheadandfelldownonhim； IhadnotimaginedIcouldthrowsofar。ItwokeHarris，andIwasgladofituntilIfoundhewasnotangry； thenIwassorry。Hesoonwenttosleepagain，whichpleasedme；butstraightwaythemousebeganagain，whichrousedmytemperoncemore。IdidnotwanttowakeHarrisasecondtime，butthegnawingcontinueduntilI wascompelledtothrowtheothershoe。ThistimeIbrokeamirror——thereweretwointheroom——Igotthelargestone，ofcourse。Harriswokeagain，butdidnotcomplain，andIwassorrierthanever。IresolvedthatIwouldsufferallpossibletorturebeforeIwoulddisturbhimathirdtime。 Themouseeventuallyretired，andbyandbyIwassinkingtosleep，whenaclockbegantostrike；Icountedtillitwasdone，andwasabouttodrowseagainwhenanotherclockbegan；Icounted；thenthetwogreatRATHHAUSclockangelsbegantosendforthsoft，rich，melodiousblastsfromtheirlongtrumpets。Ihadneverheardanythingthatwassolovely，orweird，ormysterious——butwhentheygottoblowingthequarter-hours，theyseemedtometobeoverdoingthething。EverytimeIdroppedoffforthemoment，anewnoisewokeme。EachtimeIwokeImissedmycoverlet，andhadtoreachdowntothefloorandgetitagain。 Atlastallsleepinessforsookme。IrecognizedthefactthatIwashopelesslyandpermanentlywideawake。 Wideawake，andfeverishandthirsty。WhenIhadlaintossingthereaslongasIcouldendureit，itoccurredtomethatitwouldbeagoodideatodressandgooutinthegreatsquareandtakearefreshingwashinthefountain，andsmokeandreflectthereuntiltheremnantofthenightwasgone。 IbelievedIcoulddressinthedarkwithoutwakingHarris。 Ihadbanishedmyshoesafterthemouse，butmyslipperswoulddoforasummernight。SoIrosesoftly，andgraduallygotoneverything——downtoonesock。Icouldn\'tseemtogetonthetrackofthatsock，anywayIcouldfixit。 ButIhadtohaveit；soIwentdownonmyhandsandknees，withoneslipperonandtheotherinmyhand，andbegantopawgentlyaroundandrakethefloor，butwithnosuccess。 Ienlargedmycircle，andwentonpawingandraking。 Witheverypressureofmyknee，howthefloorcreaked! andeverytimeIchancedtorakeagainstanyarticle，itseemedtogiveoutthirty-fiveorthirty-sixtimesmorenoisethanitwouldhavedoneinthedaytime。 InthosecasesIalwaysstoppedandheldmybreathtillI wassureHarrishadnotawakened——thenIcreptalongagain。 Imovedonandon，butIcouldnotfindthesock； Icouldnotseemtofindanythingbutfurniture。 IcouldnotrememberthattherewasmuchfurnitureintheroomwhenIwenttobed，buttheplacewasalivewithitnow——especiallychairs——chairseverywhere—— hadacoupleoffamiliesmovedin，inthemeantime?AndInevercouldseemtoGLANCEononeofthosechairs，butalwaysstruckitfullandsquarewithmyhead。 Mytemperrose，bysteadyandsuredegrees，andasI pawedonandon，Ifelltomakingviciouscommentsundermybreath。 Finally，withavenomousaccessofirritation，IsaidI wouldleavewithoutthesock；soIroseupandmadestraightforthedoor——asIsupposed——andsuddenlyconfrontedmydimspectralimageintheunbrokenmirror。Itstartledthebreathoutofme，foraninstant；italsoshowedmethatIwaslost，andhadnosortofideawhereIwas。 WhenIrealizedthis，IwassoangrythatIhadtositdownonthefloorandtakeholdofsomethingtokeepfromliftingtheroofoffwithanexplosionofopinion。 Iftherehadbeenonlyonemirror，itmightpossiblyhavehelpedtolocateme；butthereweretwo，andtwowereasbadasathousand；besides，thesewereonoppositesidesoftheroom。Icouldseethedimblurofthewindows，butinmyturned-aroundconditiontheywereexactlywheretheyoughtnottobe，andsotheyonlyconfusedmeinsteadofhelpingme。 Istartedtogetup，andknockeddownanumbrella； itmadeanoiselikeapistol-shotwhenitstruckthathard，slick，carpetlessfloor；Igratedmyteethandheldmybreath——Harrisdidnotstir。Isettheumbrellaslowlyandcarefullyonendagainstthewall，butassoonasItookmyhandaway，itsheelslippedfromunderit，anddownitcameagainwithanotherbang。 Ishrunktogetherandlistenedamomentinsilentfury—— noharmdone，everythingquiet。Withthemostpainstakingcareandnicety，Istoodtheumbrellauponcemore，tookmyhandaway，anddownitcameagain。 Ihavebeenstrictlyreared，butifithadnotbeensodarkandsolemnandawfulthereinthatlonely，vastroom，IdobelieveIshouldhavesaidsomethingthenwhichcouldnotbeputintoaSunday-schoolbookwithoutinjuringthesaleofit。Ifmyreasoningpowershadnotbeenalreadysappeddrybymyharassments，IwouldhaveknownbetterthantotrytosetanumbrellaonendononeofthoseglassyGermanfloorsinthedark； itcan\'tbedoneinthedaytimewithoutfourfailurestoonesuccess。Ihadonecomfort，though——Harriswasyetstillandsilent——hehadnotstirred。 Theumbrellacouldnotlocateme——therewerefourstandingaroundtheroom，andallalike。IthoughtI wouldfeelalongthewallandfindthedoorinthatway。 Iroseupandbeganthisoperation，butrakeddownapicture。Itwasnotalargeone，butitmadenoiseenoughforapanorama。Harrisgaveoutnosound，butI feltthatifIexperimentedanyfurtherwiththepicturesIshouldbesuretowakehim。Bettergiveuptryingtogetout。Yes，IwouldfindKingArthur\'sRoundTableoncemore——Ihadalreadyfounditseveraltimes——anduseitforabaseofdepartureonanexploringtourformybed； ifIcouldfindmybedIcouldthenfindmywaterpitcher； Iwouldquenchmyragingthirstandturnin。SoIstartedonmyhandsandknees，becauseIcouldgofasterthatway，andwithmoreconfidence，too，andnotknockdownthings。 ByandbyIfoundthetable——withmyhead——rubbedthebruisealittle，thenroseupandstarted，withhandsabroadandfingersspread，tobalancemyself。Ifoundachair；thenawall；thenanotherchair；thenasofa； thenanalpenstock，thenanothersofa；thisconfoundedme，forIhadthoughttherewasonlyonesofa。Ihuntedupthetableagainandtookafreshstart；foundsomemorechairs。 Itoccurredtome，now，asitoughttohavedonebefore，thatasthetablewasround，itwasthereforeofnovalueasabasetoaimfrom；soImovedoffoncemore，andatrandomamongthewildernessofchairsandsofas—— wanderingoffintounfamiliarregions，andpresentlyknockedacandlestickandknockedoffalamp，grabbedatthelampandknockedoffawaterpitcherwitharattlingcrash，andthoughttomyself，\"I\'vefoundyouatlast——I judgedIwascloseuponyou。\"Harrisshouted\"murder，\" and\"thieves，\"andfinishedwith\"I\'mabsolutelydrowned。\" Thecrashhadrousedthehouse。Mr。Xprancedin，inhislongnight-garment，withacandle，youngZafterhimwithanothercandle；aprocessionsweptinatanotherdoor，withcandlesandlanterns——landlordandtwoGermanguestsintheirnightgownsandachambermaidinhers。 Ilookedaround；IwasatHarris\'sbed，aSabbath-day\'sjourneyfrommyown。Therewasonlyonesofa；itwasagainstthewall；therewasonlyonechairwhereabodycouldgetatit——Ihadbeenrevolvingarounditlikeaplanet，andcollidingwithitlikeacomethalfthenight。