Page 49 - erewhon

deep spiritual significance to him, though he could never
completely separate her individuality from that of Mary
Magdalene, whose name had also fascinated him, though
in a less degree.
He was indeed stony ground, but by digging about him
I might have at any rate deprived him of all faith in the re-
ligion of his tribe, which would have been half way towards
making him a sincere Christian; and now all this was cut off
from me, and I could neither be of further spiritual assis-
tance to him nor he of bodily profit to myself: besides, any
company was better than being quite alone.
I got very melancholy as these reflections crossed me, but
when I had boiled the ducks and eaten them I was much
better. I had a little tea left and about a pound of tobacco,
which should last me for another fortnight with moderate
smoking. I had also eight ship biscuits, and, most precious
of all, about six ounces of brandy, which I presently reduced
to four, for the night was cold.
I rose with early dawn, and in an hour I was on my way,
feeling strange, not to say weak, from the burden of solitude,
but full of hope when I considered how many dangers I had
overcome, and that this day should see me at the summit of
the dividing range.
After a slow but steady climb of between three and four
hours, during which I met with no serious hindrance, I
found myself upon a tableland, and close to a glacier which
I recognised as marking the summit of the pass. Above it
towered a succession of rugged precipices and snowy moun-
tain sides. The solitude was greater than I could bear; the

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