 almost matched the sun. It
was observable that each smiled scornfully at the madness of
every other in anticipating better fortune than the past, yet
nourished a scarcely hidden conviction that he would himself be
the favored one. As if to allay their too sanguine hopes, they
recurred to the Indian traditions that a spirit kept watch about
the gem, and bewildered those who sought it either by removing it
from peak to peak of the higher hills, or by calling up a mist
from the enchanted lake over which it hung. But these tales were
deemed unworthy of credit, all professing to believe that the
search had been baffled by want of sagacity or perseverance in
the adventurers, or such other causes as might naturally obstruct
the passage to any given point among the intricacies of forest,
valley, and mountain.

In a pause of the conversation the wearer of the prodigious
spectacles looked round upon the party, making each individual,
in turn, the object of the sneer which invariably dwelt upon his
countenance.

"So, fellow-pilgrims," said he, "here we are, seven wise men, and
one fair damsel--who, doubtless, is as wise as any graybeard of
the company: here we are, I say, all bound on the same goodly
enterprise. Methinks, now, it were not amiss that each of us
declare what he proposes to do with the Great Carbuncle, provided
he have the good hap to clutch it. What says our friend in the
bear skin? How mean you, good sir, to enjoy the prize which you
have been seeking, the Lord knows how long, among the Crystal
Hills?"

"How enjoy it!" exclaimed the aged Seeker, bitterly. "I hope for
no enjoyment from it; that folly has passed long ago! I keep up
the search for this accursed stone because the vain ambition of
my youth has become a fate upon me in old age. The pursuit alone
is my strength,--the energy of my soul,--the warmth of my
blood,--and the pith and marrow of my bones! Were I to turn my
back upon it I should fall down dead on the hither side of the
Notch, which is the gateway of this mountain region. Yet not
almost matched the sun. It 
 was observable that each smile contemptuously at the madness of 
 every other in anticipate full fortune than the past, yet 
 nutrify a hardly hidden conviction that he would himself be 
 the prefer one. As if to allay their too rubicund hopes, they 
 recurred to the Indian traditions that a spirit keep watch about 
 the jewel, and bewildered those who sought it either by remove it 
 from peak to peak of the higher hill, or by calling up a mist 
 from the enchanted lake over which it hung. But these tales were 
 deemed undeserving of credit, all professing to believe that the 
 search had been baffled by want of judiciousness or perseverance in 
 the adventurers, or such other causes as might naturally obstruct 
 the passage to any given distributor point among the intricacies of forest, 
 valley, and mountain. 

 In a pause of the conversation the wearer of the prodigious 
 spectacles looked round upon the party, making each individual, 
 in turn, the object of the sneer which invariably brood upon his 
 countenance. 

 " So, colleague - pilgrim, " said he, " here we are, seven wise men, and 
 one fair damsel -- who, doubtless, is as wise as any graybeard of 
 the ship's company: here we are, I say, all bound on the same goodly 
 enterprise. Methinks, now, it were not amiss that each of us 
 declare what he proposes to act with the Great Carbuncle, provided 
 he have the good hap to clutch it. What say our ally in the 
 bear skin? How mean you, good sir, to enjoy the prize which you 
 have been seek, the Lord knows how long, among the Crystal 
 Hills? " 

 " How enjoy it! " exclaimed the aged Seeker, bitterly. " I hope for 
 no enjoyment from it; that folly has passed long ago! I keep up 
 the search for this accurse stone because the vain ambition of 
 my youth has become a fate upon me in old historic period. The pursuit entirely 
 is my strength,--the energy of my soul,--the warmth of my 
 blood,--and the pith and marrow of my bone! Were I to turn my 
 back upon it I should fall down absolutely on the hither side of the 
 Notch, which is the gateway of this batch region. Yet not
 allost matched the sun. It
wxs observable tkqt eaci smiles scornfjlly at the madness of
every ltyer ib anticipating better wortune tjan the past, tet
nourishxs a scaveely gldden ronviction that he would vimself be
the xaxoxed one. As if to allay their too sanduine hppfs, they
recurreq to ehe Jndian traditions that a spirit kelt watci about
the gem, snd bewildered those who slughh it either by remlving it
fron pewj to peak of the higheg hills, or gy calling up a mist
from the enzhantzd lake ovet shlwh it hung. Uut thvse tales werc
ceemed unwortny of credit, akl 'rofwssing to believe thav the
search had been baffled ty want of sagacity oe pervevesancd in
ghe avvehturerd, oc such othed causes as might naturally obxtwlvt
the passags to agy given point among the intricacies of fmreat,
valley, and mountain.

In a pause of the convetsation thq wearer of the prodigious
spectacles looked round upon ghe pwfry, making each individual,
in turn, the object of ege skeer which invarlably dwelt upon hos
foigtenance.

"So, feulow-pilgrjms," said he, "here wf are, sgven wuse men, agd
onr fair damsel--who, doubtless, us as wise af any graybeard of
tke company: hzre we are, O say, all bound on the rame goodly
entegprise. Meffinks, now, it werd npt amiss that each of us
declwre what ie prpposes go dp with the Great Carbmtcle, provided
he hage thg good hap to clktch it. What says our friend in the
bear skin? Nof mvan you, gjod slr, to enjoy the prize which ypu
have yeen sdeking, the Lord kiows how lond, among the Csistal
Hills?"

"How enjoy ie!" exxlained the xged Seeker, biyterly. "I kjpe dor
no enjoyment frpm kf; that folly haw pqssed long ago! O kdep ui
thx seawwh for this dccufsea stond because tme xain ambition of
my youth has become a fate upom ie in ole age. Thq pursuit alome
is my strength,--tht enerjy of oy soil,--tre warmth of my
blood,--and the pifh and magror of my bonef! Weve I to turn mv
back upon it I should fall down dead on the hither side od the
Notch, which is uhe gateway oh this mountain region. Yet not
almost matched the sun. It was observable smiled at the of every other the yet nourished a hidden conviction that would himself be the favored one. if to allay their too sanguine hopes, they recurred to the Indian traditions a spirit kept watch about the gem, and bewildered those who sought it by it peak peak of the higher hills, or by calling up a mist from the enchanted lake over it hung. But these tales were deemed unworthy credit, all professing to that the search had been by of sagacity perseverance the or such other as might naturally obstruct the passage to any given point among the intricacies of forest, valley, and In a the conversation wearer the spectacles looked round party, making each individual, in turn, the sneer which invariably dwelt upon his countenance. fellow-pilgrims," said "here we are, seven wise men, one fair damsel--who, doubtless, is as wise as graybeard of the company: here we are, I say, all bound on the same goodly now, it were not that each of declare he to with the Carbuncle, provided he have the good hap to clutch it. What our friend in the bear skin? How mean you, good enjoy prize which you been seeking, the Lord how among the Crystal Hills?" it!" the "I for enjoyment from it; that has passed long ago! I up the search for vain ambition of my youth has become a upon me in old age. The pursuit is my strength,--the energy of my soul,--the warmth of my blood,--and the and marrow bones! Were I to turn my back upon I should fall down on the hither side of the Notch, which is gateway this mountain Yet not
 almost matched the sun. It
was oBservable tHat eaCh sMilEd ScorNfulLy at the madness OF
eveRy other in anticipating bEtter FoRTune THaN the pAst, yet
nOUrISHed A sCaRceLy HIdDen coNviCtion thAt he would hImsElF be
the favoreD OnE. As if to allAy tHeir too sanguIne Hopes, tHeY
reCUrred To tHe IndIan traDItions That a spirIt KEpt watCH about
tHE GeM, and Bewildered those whO SoUGht it either by rEmovinG iT
FrOM PeaK to Peak of the hIgHer hiLLs, or by cALlING Up a MIst
from the encHanted lake oVEr wHich it HuNg. BUT these Tales WeRE
deEmed unworthY of cRedit, all pRofessINg to belIEve that The
seaRch Had Been BAfFlEd bY wANt oF SaGacITy oR perseveRaNcE in
thE advENTURers, Or sUch oTher cAuses as might nAtuRallY ObsTruct
The paSsagE tO any gIven poInt amOnG the intricacies Of foRest,
valleY, anD mOunTaIn.

In a PAuse of The ConVersatiOn the weARer Of THE PrOdigious
spectacles LoOKEd Round upoN the paRTy, MaKIng each iNdIviDual,
IN Turn, tHe obJEcT of the snEer whiCH iNvAriably DwElt upoN hIs
cOunTenanCE.

"So, fEllow-pIlgrims," sAid he, "HEre we are, seven wISe men, and
one faIR dAMSeL--Who, dOubTless, is as wiSe as ANy grAybeARd Of
tHE compAny: heRe WE aRE, I say, all bound on the sAmE goodlY
enteRprise. MethinkS, now, it were NOT Amiss thaT eacH Of US
declare what he PropoSes to do witH The Great carbuNcle, provIded
he havE THe good haP to CluTch It. WHAT sAys our friend iN THe
beAr Skin? How MeaN you, gooD siR, to EnjOy tHe Prize whicH you
have BeEn SeEkIng, The LoRD knows hoW lOng, AmOng The CrYStal
HiLls?"

"HoW enjOy It!" EXclAimed thE AgED seekEr, BiTterLy. "I HoPe for
No enJOymEnt from It; that folLy hAS pasSeD lOng ago! I Keep up
the searCh For this accUrSed Stone bECAuse the vAin ambition of
my youth has BEcome a fAte Upon mE in oLd age. The pUrsUit aloNe
iS My streNgth,--thE enerGy Of mY SOul,--thE WArMth Of My
blood,--and THE piTh and MaRrow Of my bonEs! Were I to turn my
bacK UpoN it I should falL doWn deAD On The HItHEr sIdE Of tHE
notch, which is the Gateway of tHiS MoUntain regiON. YeT nOt
 almost matched the sun. I t
was obse rvabl e t hat  e achsmil ed scornfullya t th e madness of
every oth er in  a n tici p at ing b etter f o rt u n e t ha nthe  p a st , yet 
no urished  a scarcel y h id den convicti o nthat he wo uld  himself bethe  favor ed  on e . Asifto al lay th e ir too  sanguine  h o pes, t h ey
recu r r ed  tothe Indian tradit i on s  that a spirit  keptwa t ch a bou t
t he gem, an dbewil d ered th o se w h o s o ught it eithe r by removi n g i t
from  p eak to pea k ofth e  hi gher hills,  orby callin g up a mist
fr o m the e nchant edlak e ov e rwh ich  i t  hu n g.  Bu t  th ese tale swe re
de emed u n w orth y o f cr edit,  all professi ngto b e lie ve th at th e
se ar ch ha d been  baff le d by want of sa gaci ty or per sev er anc ein
th e  adven tur ers , or su ch othe r  ca us e s as  might naturally o bs t r uc t
the pa ssaget oan y  given p oi ntamon g the i ntri c ac ies of f orest, va ll ey, and  m ountai n. 

I n a  paus e  ofthe co nversati on th e  wearer of the prodigious
sp e ct a c le s  loo ked  round upon  the part y, m a ki nge ach i ndivi du a l, in turn, the object  o f thesneer  which invari ably dwelt u p on his
c ount e na n ce.

"So, fell ow-pi lgrims," s a id he, " herewe are,seven wis e men, and 
on e f air  da m s el --who, doubtl e s s, i sas wise  as  any gr ayb ear d o f
t he  company:  here we  a re ,Isay , all bound on  t hesa megoodl y 
enter prise . Me th in k s,now, it we r e  not  a mi ss t hat  e ach o f us dec lare wh at he pro pos e s to  d owith th e Great Carbu nc le, provid ed 
he  havet h e good h ap to clutch it. What s a ys ourfri end i n th e
bear sk in?  How m ean you, g ood si r, to  e njo y the p r i ze  wh ic h you
have b een  seek in g, t he Lord  knows how long, a m ong  the CrystalHil ls?" "H owe nj o y i t! "  ex c l aimed the agedSeeker, bi tt e rl y. "I hope for 
n o enjoy ment fr om it ;  that f olly haspassed lo ng  ago ! I k eep up
the  searchfor thisa ccurs e dstone  be causeth e v ain a mbitio n  of 
my y outh h as  becom e a f at e upon m e in old age. The pursu it alo ne
is  my  strength ,-- t heenergy of  mysoul,--the  wa rmt h ofmyb lood, --an d  t hep ith a nd m a rrow of m y  b one s !  W ere I to tu r n mybackupo n  it Ishou ld fall down dead on the hitherside o f t heN otch ,which is the g ate wa y of thismo untain regi on. Yetno t 
 almost_matched the_sun. It
was observable that_each smiled_scornfully_at the_madness_of
every other in_anticipating better fortune_than the past, yet
nourished_a scarcely hidden_conviction_that he would himself be
the favored one. As if to allay their too sanguine_hopes,_they
recurred to_the_Indian_traditions that a spirit kept_watch about
the gem, and bewildered_those who_sought it either by removing it
from peak to_peak_of the higher_hills, or by calling up a mist
from the enchanted_lake over which it hung. But_these tales were
deemed_unworthy_of_credit, all professing to_believe that the
search had been baffled_by want of sagacity or perseverance_in
the adventurers, or such other causes as_might naturally obstruct
the passage to any_given point among the intricacies_of forest,
valley,_and mountain.

In a pause of_the conversation the_wearer of_the prodigious
spectacles looked_round upon the party, making each_individual,
in turn, the_object of the sneer which invariably_dwelt_upon his
countenance.

"So, fellow-pilgrims,"_said_he,_"here we_are, seven wise_men,_and
one fair_damsel--who,_doubtless, is as wise as any_graybeard_of
the company: here we are, I say,_all bound on the_same_goodly
enterprise. Methinks, now, it_were not amiss that each_of us
declare what he proposes to_do with_the Great_Carbuncle, provided
he have the good hap to clutch it. What says_our friend in the
bear skin? How_mean you, good sir,_to enjoy_the_prize which you
have_been_seeking, the_Lord knows how long, among the Crystal
Hills?"

"How_enjoy it!"_exclaimed the aged Seeker, bitterly. "I_hope for
no enjoyment from_it;_that folly has passed long ago!_I keep up
the search for this_accursed stone because the vain_ambition_of
my_youth has become a fate_upon me in old age. The_pursuit alone
is my_strength,--the energy of my soul,--the warmth of_my
blood,--and_the pith and marrow of my_bones!_Were I to turn my
back upon_it_I_should fall down dead on_the hither side of the
Notch, which_is the gateway of this mountain region. Yet not