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no sound could be heard. The Scawfell cataracts were
voiceless to us; and there was not an insect to hum in the
air. The vales which we had seen from Esk Hause lay yet in
view, and, side by side with Eskdale, we now saw the sister
Vale of Dunnerdale terminated by the Duddon Sands. But the
majesty of the mountains below, and close to us, is not to
be conceived. We now beheld the whole mass of Great Gable
from its base - the Den of Wastdale at our feet - a gulf
immeasurable; Grasmire, and the other mountains of Crummock;
Ennerdale and its mountains; and the sea beyond!" ... ...
... "While we were gazing around, 'Look,' I exclaimed, 'at
yon ship upon the glittering sea!' 'Is it a ship?' replied
our shepherd guide. 'It can be nothing else,' interposed my
companion. 'I cannot be mistaken; I am so accustomed to the
appearance of ships at sea.' The guide dropped the argument;
but, before a minute was gone, he quietly said, 'Now, look
at your ship - it is changed into a horse.' So it was; a
horse with a gallant neck and head. We laughed heartily; and
I hope, when again inclined to be positive, I may remember
the ship and the horse upon the glittering sea; and the calm
confidence, yet submissiveness, of our wise man of the
mountains, who certainly had more knowledge of the clouds
than we, whatever might be our knowledge of ships.
"I know not how long we might have remained on the summit of
the pike, without a thought of moving, had not our guide
warned us that we must not linger, for a storm was coming.
We looked in vain to espy
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