Page 51 - Adventures in shadow-land

The Beginning of the Search. 47

f< I don’t know. We cannot stay here. What
did the flower say to you, Eva ?

W hen soft moss shall change to stone,
From this spot ye must be gone."

Even as Aster spoke, Eva saw a faint little path
at her feet, like that which she had first followed.
Looking back, wishing it might lead her again to

the pleasant little brook, and that she might re­

turn to it, instead of going on into the forest, she
saw that the sand and stone had grown into a
huge wall, or rather a mound, over which she

never could have climbed, and which would pre­

vent her return. As if Aster had read Iter
thoughts, he said to her,—
“ There is no going back, Eva; we can only

go forward/’

Aster's words were true. The wall of stone,
which a few moments had been enough to build
up behind them, seemed to come closer and

closer, as though to shut them out from the place
where they had been ; and, clasping Aster’s hand

tightly, Eva and the boy walked slowly on, in the
little path which lay before them.