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pavement！ No！ it was not for the laborious ascent of the crags of Carrock
that Idle had left his native city； and travelled to Cumberland。 Never did
he feel more disastrously convinced that he had committed a very grave
error in judgment than when he found himself standing in the rain at the
bottom of a steep mountain； and knew that the responsibility rested on his
weak shoulders of actually getting to the top of it。
The honest landlord went first； the beaming Goodchild followed； the
mournful Idle brought up the rear。 From time to time； the two foremost
members of the expedition changed places in the order of march； but the
rearguard never altered his position。 Up the mountain or down the
mountain； in the water or out of it； over the rocks； through the bogs；
skirting the heather； Mr。 Thomas Idle was always the last； and was always
the man who had to be looked after and waited for。 At first the ascent
was delusively easy； the sides of the mountain sloped gradually； and the
material of which they were composed was a soft spongy turf； very tender
and pleasant to walk upon。 After a hundred yards or so； however； the
verdant scene and the easy slope disappeared； and the rocks began。 Not
noble； massive rocks； standing upright； keeping a certain regularity in their
positions； and possessing； now and then； flat tops to sit upon； but little
irritating； comfortless rocks； littered about anyhow； by Nature； treacherous；
disheartening rocks of all sorts of small shapes and small sizes； bruisers of
tender toes and trippers… up of wavering feet。 When these impediments
were passed； heather and slough followed。 Here the steepness of the
ascent was slightly mitigated； and here the exploring party of three turned
round to look at the view below them。 The scene of the moorland and
the fields was like a feeble water…colour drawing half sponged out。 The
mist was darkening； the rain was thickening； the trees were dotted about
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like spots of faint shadow； the division…lines which mapped out the fields
were all getting blurred together； and the lonely farm…house where the
dog…cart had been left； loomed spectral in the grey light like the last
human dwelling at the end of the habitable world。 Was this a sight worth
climbing to see？ Surely … surely not！
Up again … for the top of Carrock is not reached yet。 The land… lord；
just as good…tempered and obliging as he was at the bottom of the
mountain。 Mr。 Goodchild brighter in the eyes and rosier in the face than
ever； full of cheerful remarks and apt quotations； and walking with a
springiness of step wonderful to behold。 Mr。 Idle； farther and farther in
the rear； with the water squeaking in the toes of his boots； with his two…
guinea shooting…jacket clinging damply to his aching sides； with his
overcoat so full of rain； and standing out so pyramidically stiff； in
consequence； from his shoulders downwards； that he felt as if he was
walking in a gigantic extinguisher … the despairing spirit within him
representing but too aptly the candle that had just been put out。 Up and up
and up again； till a ridge is reached and the outer edge of the mist on the
summit of Carrock is darkly and drizzingly near。 Is this the top？ No；
nothing like the top。 It is an aggravating peculiarity of all mountains；
that； although they have only one top when they are seen （as they ought
always to be seen） from below； they turn out to have a perfect eruption of
false tops whenever the traveller is sufficiently ill…advised to go out of his
way for the purpose of ascending them。 Carrock is but a trumpery little
mountain of fifteen hundred feet； and it presumes to have false tops； and
even precipices； as if it were Mont Blanc。 No matter； Goodchild enjoys
it； and will go on； and Idle； who is afraid of being left behind by himself；
must follow。 On entering the edge of the mist； the landlord stops； and
says he hopes that it will not get any thicker。 It is twenty years since he
last ascended Carrock； and it is barely possible； if the mist increases； that
the party may be lost on the mountain。 Goodchild hears this dreadful
intimation； and is not in the least impressed by it。 He marches for the top
that is never to be found； as if he was the Wandering Jew； bound to go on
for ever； in defiance of everything。 The landlord faithfully accompanies
him。 The two； to the dim eye of Idle； far below； look in the exaggerative
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mist； like a pair of friendly giants； mounting the steps of some invisible
castle together。 Up and up； and then down a little； and then up； and then
along a strip of level ground； and then up again。 The wind； a wind
unknown in the happy valley； blows keen and strong； the rain…mist gets
impenetrable； a dreary little cairn of stones appears。 The landlord adds
one to the heap； first walking all round the cairn as if he were about to
perform an incantation； then dropping the stone on to the top of the heap
with the gesture of a magician adding an ingredient to a cauldron in full
bubble。 Goodchild sits down by the cairn as if it was his study…table at
home； Idle； drenched and panting； stands up with his back to the wind；
ascertains distinctly that this is the top at last； looks round with all the little
curiosity that is left in him； and gets； in return； a magnificent view of …
Nothing！
The effect of this sublime spectacle on the minds of the exploring
party is a little injured by the nature of the direct conclusion to which the
sight of it points … the said conclusion being that the mountain mist has
actually gathered round them； as the landlord feared it would。 It now
becomes imperatively necessary to settle the exact situation of the farm…
house in the valley at which the dog…cart has been left； before the
travellers attempt to descend。 While the landlord is endeavouring to make
this discovery in his own way； Mr。 Goodchild plunges his hand under his
wet coat； draws out a little red morocco…case； opens it； and displays to the
view of his companions a neat pocket…compass。 The north is found； the
point at which the farm…house is situated is settled； and the descent begins。
After a little downward walking； Idle （behind as usual） sees his fellow…
travellers turn aside sharply … tries to follow them … loses them in the mist …
is shouted after； waited for； recovered … and then finds that a halt has been
ordered； partly on his account； partly for the purpose of again consulting
the compass。
The point in debate is settled as before between Goodchild and the
landlord； and the expedition moves on； not down the mountain； but
marching straight forward round the slope of it。 The difficulty of
following this new route is acutely felt by Thomas Idle。 He finds the
hardship of walking at all greatly increased by the fatigue of moving his
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THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
feet straight forward along the side of a slope； when their natural tendency；
at every step； is to turn off at a right angle； and go straight down the
declivity。 Let the reader imagine himself to be walking along the roof of
a barn； instead of up or down it； and he will have an exact idea of the
pedestrian difficulty in which the travellers had now involved themselves。
In ten minutes more Idle was lost in the distance again； was shouted for；
waited for； recovered as before； found Goodchild repeating his
obs