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our present speed； we should plunge much sooner than seemed at
all desirable。 In truth； I expected nothing better than to find
myself in the ditch on one side or the Quag on the other； but on
communicating my apprehensions to Mr。 Smooth…it…away； he assured
me that the difficulties of this passage； even in its worst
condition； had been vastly exaggerated； and that； in its present
state of improvement； I might consider myself as safe as on any
railroad in Christendom。
Even while we were speaking the train shot into the entrance of
this dreaded Valley。 Though I plead guilty to some foolish
palpitations of the heart during our headlong rush over the
causeway here constructed； yet it were unjust to withhold the
highest encomiums on the boldness of its original conception and
the ingenuity of those who executed it。 It was gratifying；
likewise； to observe how much care had been taken to dispel the
everlasting gloom and supply the defect of cheerful sunshine； not
a ray of which has ever penetrated among these awful shadows。 For
this purpose； the inflammable gas which exudes plentifully from
the soil is collected by means of pipes； and thence communicated
to a quadruple row of lamps along the whole extent of the
passage。 Thus a radiance has been created even out of the fiery
and sulphurous curse that rests forever upon the valleya
radiance hurtful； however； to the eyes； and somewhat bewildering；
as I discovered by the changes which it wrought in the visages of
my companions。 In this respect； as compared with natural
daylight； there is the same difference as between truth and
falsehood； but if the reader have ever travelled through the dark
Valley； he will have learned to be thankful for any light that he
could getif not from the sky above； then from the blasted soil
beneath。 Such was the red brilliancy of these lamps that they
appeared to build walls of fire on both sides of the track；
between which we held our course at lightning speed； while a
reverberating thunder filled the Valley with its echoes。 Had the
engine run off the track；a catastrophe； it is whispered； by no
means unprecedented；the bottomless pit； if there be any such
place； would undoubtedly have received us。 Just as some dismal
fooleries of this nature had made my heart quake there came a
tremendous shriek； careering along the valley as if a thousand
devils had burst their lungs to utter it； but which proved to be
merely the whistle of the engine on arriving at a stopping…place。
The spot where we had now paused is the same that our friend
Bunyana truthful man； but infected with many fantastic
notionshas designated； in terms plainer than I like to repeat；
as the mouth of the infernal region。 This； however； must be a
mistake； inasmuch as Mr。 Smooth…it…away； while we remained in the
smoky and lurid cavern； took occasion to prove that Tophet has
not even a metaphorical existence。 The place； he assured us； is
no other than the crater of a half…extinct volcano； in which the
directors had caused forges to be set up for the manufacture of
railroad iron。 Hence； also； is obtained a plentiful supply of
fuel for the use of the engines。 Whoever had gazed into the
dismal obscurity of the broad cavern mouth； whence ever and anon
darted huge tongues of dusky flame； and had seen the strange；
half…shaped monsters； and visions of faces horribly grotesque；
into which the smoke seemed to wreathe itself； and had heard the
awful murmurs； and shrieks； and deep； shuddering whispers of the
blast； sometimes forming themselves into words almost articulate；
would have seized upon Mr。 Smooth…it…away's comfortable
explanation as greedily as we did。 The inhabitants of the cavern；
moreover； were unlovely personages； dark； smoke…begrimed；
generally deformed； with misshapen feet； and a glow of dusky
redness in their eyes as if their hearts had caught fire and were
blazing out of the upper windows。 It struck me as a peculiarity
that the laborers at the forge and those who brought fuel to the
engine； when they began to draw short breath； positively emitted
smoke from their mouth and nostrils。
Among the idlers about the train； most of whom were puffing
cigars which they had lighted at the flame of the crater； I was
perplexed to notice several who； to my certain knowledge； had
heretofore set forth by railroad for the Celestial City。 They
looked dark； wild； and smoky； with a singular resemblance；
indeed； to the native inhabitants； like whom； also； they had a
disagreeable propensity to ill…natured gibes and sneers； the
habit of which had wrought a settled contortion of their visages。
Having been on speaking terms with one of these persons；an
indolent； good…for…nothing fellow； who went by the name of
Take…it…easy；I called him； and inquired what was his business
there。
〃Did you not start；〃 said I； 〃for the Celestial City？〃
〃That's a fact；〃 said Mr。 Take…it…easy； carelessly puffing some
smoke into my eyes。 〃But I heard such bad accounts that I never
took pains to climb the hill on which the city stands。 No
business doing； no fun going on； nothing to drink； and no smoking
allowed； and a thrumming of church music from morning till night。
I would not stay in such a place if they offered me house room
and living free。〃
〃But； my good Mr。 Take…it…easy；〃 cried I； 〃why take up your
residence here； of all places in the world？〃
〃Oh；〃 said the loafer； with a grin； 〃it is very warm hereabouts；
and I meet with plenty of old acquaintances； and altogether the
place suits me。 I hope to see you back again some day soon。 A
pleasant journey to you。〃
While he was speaking the bell of the engine rang； and we dashed
away after dropping a few passengers； but receiving no new ones。
Rattling onward through the Valley； we were dazzled with the
fiercely gleaming gas lamps； as before。 But sometimes； in the
dark of intense brightness； grim faces； that bore the aspect and
expression of individual sins； or evil passions； seemed to thrust
themselves through the veil of light； glaring upon us； and
stretching forth a great； dusky hand； as if to impede our
progress。 I almost thought that they were my own sins that
appalled me there。 These were freaks of imaginationnothing
more； certainly…mere delusions； which I ought to be heartily
ashamed of； but all through the Dark Valley I was tormented； and
pestered； and dolefully bewildered with the same kind of waking
dreams。 The mephitic gases of that region intoxicate the brain。
As the light of natural day； however； began to struggle with the
glow of the lanterns； these vain imaginations lost their
vividness； and finally vanished from the first ray of sunshine
that greeted our escape from the Valley of the Shadow of Death。
Ere we had gone a mile beyond it I could well…nigh have taken my
oath that this whole gloomy passage was a dream。
At the end of the valley； as John Bunyan mentions； is a cavern；
where； in his days； dwelt two cruel giants；