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Number in series 26; Year of publication 1932 - Fell and Rock ...

Number in series 26; Year of publication 1932 - Fell and Rock ...

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THE DIAMOND MOUNTAINS 151face <strong>in</strong> a pool. As he ran towards her she vanished. Wonder<strong>in</strong>gif his eyes had deceived him he walked on, <strong>and</strong> aga<strong>in</strong> sawKwannon reflected <strong>in</strong> the clear water. Glanc<strong>in</strong>g up, he beheldher st<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a cave on the cliff. As he went to her, call<strong>in</strong>g,she withdrew <strong>in</strong>to the cave, admonish<strong>in</strong>g him to put aside allthought <strong>of</strong> her <strong>and</strong> devote himself wholly to an ascetic life <strong>and</strong>the service <strong>of</strong> God. He erected a monastery upon this spot,nam<strong>in</strong>g it <strong>in</strong> honour <strong>of</strong> his wife."The present structure was built about 250 years ago <strong>and</strong> thereis still a monk <strong>in</strong>habit<strong>in</strong>g it. Poised at the corner <strong>of</strong> a rocky ledgeon a bronze pillar it overhangs the void. Such legends as thissurround nearly every boulder, every pool, every cliff <strong>of</strong> the way.And the rock-climber who cares for folk-lore will f<strong>in</strong>d the tales asunexpected <strong>and</strong> as repay<strong>in</strong>g as the mounta<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g, or as theglimpses <strong>of</strong> other k<strong>in</strong>ds <strong>of</strong> lives than ours.Here is one such glimpse: we were walk<strong>in</strong>g next day overanother pass back to Onseiri. The sun was hot <strong>and</strong> the airstormy; the zig-zags <strong>of</strong> the path many <strong>and</strong> steep. As we trudgedup, sounds <strong>of</strong> heavy breath<strong>in</strong>g came to us from beh<strong>in</strong>d. TheKoreans, who are famous carriers much exploited <strong>in</strong> Japanbecause <strong>of</strong> the immense burdens they can support, have a way <strong>of</strong>mak<strong>in</strong>g a pa<strong>in</strong>ful hiss<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> sobb<strong>in</strong>g noise under the stress <strong>of</strong>their packs. We assumed that some Korean was overtak<strong>in</strong>g us,<strong>and</strong> one <strong>of</strong> those half-conscious races that afflict path-walkers(even <strong>in</strong> the Lake District!) developed on the last half-mileto the crest <strong>of</strong> the pass. We came out, w<strong>in</strong>ners by a short neck,on a grassy bay <strong>in</strong> the forest where a low shr<strong>in</strong>e-decked stonewall, just at the right height for the sacks, faced to the drop <strong>of</strong>the other side, the w<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g depths <strong>of</strong> the valley, the p<strong>in</strong>e cladslopes <strong>and</strong> the range <strong>of</strong> fantastic granite p<strong>in</strong>nacles thatcrowned them.As we backed aga<strong>in</strong>st the wall to rest the sacks, our defeatedcompetitor ranged up silently alongside, <strong>and</strong> for the first timewe looked round at him. This was no Korean; as we gazedthe gr<strong>in</strong> that grew to meet us was too friendly <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>gto belong to any but one Eastern race. Almost <strong>in</strong>voluntarilythe conventional Ch<strong>in</strong>ese greet<strong>in</strong>g came to my lips " You eaten,not eaten ? " " Have eaten." And next, " Where are you go<strong>in</strong>g?"<strong>and</strong> back came the equally conventional answer, <strong>in</strong> Pek<strong>in</strong>gese," To the East! " Exchange <strong>of</strong> names, ages <strong>and</strong> histories soon

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