On the other hand, I was ashamed of damping any one's pleasure by being there.
But I need not have felt any fear about this.

Like all other children, I wrapped myself up too much in my own importance, and behaved as if my state of mind was a thing to be considered.

But the longer we rose through the freedom and the height, the lighter grew the heart of every one, until the thick forest of pines closed round us, and we walked in a silence that might be felt.
Hence we issued forth upon the rough bare rock, and after much trouble with the cattle, and some bruises, stood panting on a rugged cone, or crest, which had once been crowned with a Titan of a tree.

The tree was still there, but not its glory; for, alas! the mighty trunk lay prostrate--a grander column than ever was or will be built by human hands.

The tapering shaft stretched out of sight for something like a furlong, and the bulk of the butt rose over us so that we could not see the mountains.