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of light。 It seemed； in some way； the reward and the
fulfilment of the day。 So it is when men dwell in the open
air； it is one of the simple pleasures that we lose by living
cribbed and covered in a house； that； though the coming of
the day is still the most inspiriting； yet day's departure；
also； and the return of night refresh； renew； and quiet us；
and in the pastures of the dusk we stand； like cattle；
exulting in the absence of the load。
Our nights wore never cold； and they were always still； but
for one remarkable exception。 Regularly； about nine o'clock；
a warm wind sprang up； and blew for ten minutes； or maybe a
quarter of an hour； right down the canyon； fanning it well
out； airing it as a mother airs the night nursery before the
children sleep。 As far as I could judge； in the clear
darkness of the night； this wind was purely local： perhaps
dependant on the configuration of the glen。 At least； it was
very welcome to the hot and weary squatters； and if we were
not abed already； the springing up of this lilliputian
valley…wind would often be our signal to retire。
I was the last to go to bed； as I was still the first to
rise。 Many a night I have strolled about the platform；
taking a bath of darkness before I slept。 The rest would be
in bed； and even from the forge I could hear them talking
together from bunk to bunk。 A single candle in the neck of a
pint bottle was their only illumination； and yet the old
cracked house seemed literally bursting with the light。 It
shone keen as a knife through all the vertical chinks； it
struck upward through the broken shingles； and through the
eastern door and window； it fell in a great splash upon the
thicket and the overhanging rock。 You would have said a
conflagration； or at the least a roaring forge； and behold；
it was but a candle。 Or perhaps it was yet more strange to
see the procession moving bedwards round the corner of the
house； and up the plank that brought us to the bedroom door；
under the immense spread of the starry heavens； down in a
crevice of the giant mountain these few human shapes； with
their unshielded taper； made so disproportionate a figure in
the eye and mind。 But the more he is alone with nature； the
greater man and his doings bulk in the consideration of his
fellow…men。 Miles and miles away upon the opposite hill…
tops； if there were any hunter belated or any traveller who
had lost his way； he must have stood； and watched and
wondered； from the time the candle issued from the door of
the assayer's office till it had mounted the plank and
disappeared again into the miners' dormitory。
End