Samuel Butler

Name: Erewhon — Chapter 4: The Saddle
Author: Samuel Butler

Summary

“Erewhon — Chapter 4: The Saddle”, published in 1872, is a work by Samuel Butler. It explores elements such as Chowbok, swag and blankets.

Quotes from Erewhon — Chapter 4: The Saddle (Samuel Butler)

Samuel Butler, Erewhon — Chapter 4: The Saddle (1872)

“ I asked myself, Could I descend upon the river-bed beneath me? It was impossible to say what precipices might prevent my doing so. If I were on the river-bed, dare I cross the river? I am an excellent swimmer, yet, once in that frightful rush of waters, I should be hurled whithersoever it willed, absolutely powerless. Moreover, there was my swag; I should perish of cold and hunger if I left it, but I should certainly be drowned if I attempted to carry it across the river. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Samuel Butler, Erewhon — Chapter 4: The Saddle (1872)

“ Now that the cloud was there, I began to doubt my memory, and to be uncertain whether it had been more than a blue line of distant vapour that had filled up the opening. I could only be certain of this much, namely, that the river in the valley below must be the one next to the northward of that which flowed past my master's station; of this there could be no doubt. Could I, however, imagine that my luck should have led me up a wrong river in search of a pass, and yet brought me to the spot where I could detect the one weak place in the fortifications of a more northern basin? ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Samuel Butler, Erewhon — Chapter 4: The Saddle (1872)

“ Accidents which are slight when there is another at hand (as the spraining of an ankle, or the falling into some place whence escape would be easy by means of an outstretched hand and a bit of rope) may be fatal to one who is alone. The more I pondered the less I liked it; and yet, the less could I make up my mind to return when I looked at the saddle at the head of the valley, and noted the comparative ease with which its smooth sweep of snow might be surmounted: I seemed to see my way almost from my present position to the very top. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Samuel Butler, Erewhon — Chapter 4: The Saddle (1872)

“ It was plain that Chowbok had designedly attempted to keep me from going up this valley, yet he had shown no unwillingness to follow me anywhere else. What could this mean, unless that I was now upon the route by which alone the mysteries of the great ranges could be revealed? What then should I do? Go back at the very moment when it had become plain that I was on the right scent? Hardly; yet to proceed alone would be both difficult and dangerous. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Samuel Butler, Erewhon — Chapter 4: The Saddle (1872)

“ It is a dreadful feeling that of being cut off from all one's kind. I was still full of hope, and built golden castles for myself as soon as I was warmed with food and fire; but I do not believe that any man could long retain his reason in such solitude, unless he had the companionship of animals. One begins doubting one's own identity.
I remember deriving comfort even from the sight of my blankets, and the sound of my watch ticking—things which seemed to link me to other people ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Samuel Butler, Erewhon — Chapter 4: The Saddle (1872)

“ But even as I doubted there came a rent in the cloud opposite, and a second time I saw blue lines of heaving downs, growing gradually fainter, and retiring into a far space of plain. It was substantial; there had been no mistake whatsoever. I had hardly made myself perfectly sure of this, ere the rent in the clouds joined up again and I could see nothing more.
What, then, should I do? The night would be upon me shortly, and I was already chilled with standing still after the exertion of climbing. To stay where I was would be impossible; I must either go backwards or forwards. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Samuel Butler, Erewhon — Chapter 4: The Saddle (1872)

“ This is the easiest way of carrying a heavy swag, for one can rest one's self by shifting the burden from one shoulder to the other. I strapped my pannikin and a small axe about my waist, and thus equipped began to ascend the valley, angry at having been misled by Chowbok, but determined not to return till I was compelled to do so. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Samuel Butler, Erewhon — Chapter 4: The Saddle (1872)

“ It would be bad enough to return to my master's run, and pass through the rocky gorges, with no chance of help from another should I get into a difficulty; but to advance for any considerable distance without a companion would be next door to madness. ”

Samuel Butler

Summary

Quotes from Erewhon — Chapter 4: The Saddle (Samuel Butler)

Common terms

Similar works

Get perspective with Kwize: daily news enlightened by great literature