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travellers followed the windings of the stream； till they came to a
faintly…marked cart…track； branching off nearly at right angles； to
the left。 After a little consultation it was resolved to follow
this dim vestige of a road in the hope that it might lead to some
farm or cottage； at which Idle could be left in safety。 It was now
getting on towards the afternoon； and it was fast becoming more
than doubtful whether the party； delayed in their progress as they
now were； might not be overtaken by the darkness before the right
route was found； and be condemned to pass the night on the
mountain； without bit or drop to comfort them； in their wet
clothes。
The cart…track grew fainter and fainter； until it was washed out
altogether by another little stream； dark； turbulent； and rapid。
The landlord suggested； judging by the colour of the water； that it
must be flowing from one of the lead mines in the neighbourhood of
Carrock； and the travellers accordingly kept by the stream for a
little while； in the hope of possibly wandering towards help in
that way。 After walking forward about two hundred yards； they came
upon a mine indeed； but a mine； exhausted and abandoned； a dismal；
ruinous place； with nothing but the wreck of its works and
buildings left to speak for it。 Here； there were a few sheep
feeding。 The landlord looked at them earnestly； thought he
recognised the marks on them … then thought he did not … finally
gave up the sheep in despair … and walked on just as ignorant of
the whereabouts of the party as ever。
The march in the dark； literally as well as metaphorically in the
dark； had now been continued for three…quarters of an hour from the
time when the crippled Apprentice had met with his accident。 Mr。
Idle； with all the will to conquer the pain in his ankle； and to
hobble on； found the power rapidly failing him； and felt that
another ten minutes at most would find him at the end of his last
physical resources。 He had just made up his mind on this point；
and was about to communicate the dismal result of his reflections
to his companions； when the mist suddenly brightened； and begun to
lift straight ahead。 In another minute； the landlord； who was in
advance； proclaimed that he saw a tree。 Before long； other trees
appeared … then a cottage … then a house beyond the cottage； and a
familiar line of road rising behind it。 Last of all； Carrock
itself loomed darkly into view； far away to the right hand。 The
party had not only got down the mountain without knowing how； but
had wandered away from it in the mist； without knowing why … away；
far down on the very moor by which they had approached the base of
Carrock that morning。
The happy lifting of the mist； and the still happier discovery that
the travellers had groped their way； though by a very roundabout
direction； to within a mile or so of the part of the valley in
which the farm…house was situated； restored Mr。 Idle's sinking
spirits and reanimated his failing strength。 While the landlord
ran off to get the dog…cart； Thomas was assisted by Goodchild to
the cottage which had been the first building seen when the
darkness brightened； and was propped up against the garden wall；
like an artist's lay figure waiting to be forwarded； until the dog…
cart should arrive from the farm…house below。 In due time … and a
very long time it seemed to Mr。 Idle … the rattle of wheels was
heard； and the crippled Apprentice was lifted into the seat。 As
the dog…cart was driven back to the inn； the landlord related an
anecdote which he had just heard at the farm…house； of an unhappy
man who had been lost； like his two guests and himself； on Carrock；
who had passed the night there alone； who had been found the next
morning； 'scared and starved；' and who never went out afterwards；
except on his way to the grave。 Mr。 Idle heard this sad story； and
derived at least one useful impression from it。 Bad as the pain in
his ankle was； he contrived to bear it patiently； for he felt
grateful that a worse accident had not befallen him in the wilds of
Carrock。
CHAPTER II
The dog…cart； with Mr。 Thomas Idle and his ankle on the hanging
seat behind； Mr。 Francis Goodchild and the Innkeeper in front； and
the rain in spouts and splashes everywhere； made the best of its
way back to the little inn； the broken moor country looking like
miles upon miles of Pre…Adamite sop； or the ruins of some enormous
jorum of antediluvian toast…and…water。 The trees dripped； the
eaves of the scattered cottages dripped； the barren stone walls
dividing the land； dripped； the yelping dogs dripped； carts and
waggons under ill…roofed penthouses； dripped； melancholy cocks and
hens perching on their shafts； or seeking shelter underneath them；
dripped； Mr。 Goodchild dripped； Thomas Idle dripped； the Inn…keeper
dripped； the mare dripped； the vast curtains of mist and cloud
passed before the shadowy forms of the hills； streamed water as
they were drawn across the landscape。 Down such steep pitches that
the mare seemed to be trotting on her head； and up such steep
pitches that she seemed to have a supplementary leg in her tail；
the dog…cart jolted and tilted back to the village。 It was too wet
for the women to look out； it was too wet even for the children to
look out； all the doors and windows were closed； and the only sign
of life or motion was in the rain…punctured puddles。
Whiskey and oil to Thomas Idle's ankle； and whiskey without oil to
Francis Goodchild's stomach； produced an agreeable change in the
systems of both； soothing Mr。 Idle's pain； which was sharp before；
and sweetening Mr。 Goodchild's temper； which was sweet before。
Portmanteaus being then opened and clothes changed； Mr。 Goodchild；
through having no change of outer garments but broadcloth and
velvet； suddenly became a magnificent portent in the Innkeeper's
house； a shining frontispiece to the fashions for the month； and a
frightful anomaly in the Cumberland village。
Greatly ashamed of his splendid appearance； the conscious Goodchild
quenched it as much as possible； in the shadow of Thomas Idle's
ankle； and in a corner of the little covered carriage that started
with them for Wigton … a most desirable carriage for any country；
except for its having a flat roof and no sides； which caused the
plumps of rain accumulating on the roof to play vigorous games of
bagatelle into the interior all the way； and to score immensely。
It was comfortable to see how the people coming back in open carts
from Wigton market made no more of the rain than if it were
sunshine； how the Wigton policeman taking a country walk of half…a…
dozen miles （apparently for pleasure）； in resplendent uniform；
accepted saturation as his normal state； how clerks and
schoolmasters in black； loitered along the road without umbrellas；
getting varnished at every step； how the Cumberland girls； coming
out to look after the Cumberland cows； shook the