THE CHILDREN’S GUIDE AND THE NARROW BRIDGE. 63

He stood upright near the window. There was not only a look of
strength about him, but also a look of sternness which caused little
Cowslip to regard him with a certain awe, and which gave her a sense
of fear.

Clover, on the contrary, felt his whole heart going out to the
Guide. He looked at him with reverence, and felt that in the
Guide’s company no possible danger could terrify him.

The children ate their breakfast as quickly as they could, and then
they went out with the Guide.

“Come this way,” he said. He led them, not by the path by
which they had come to the castle, but across a drawbridge which
seemed to be hung almost in the air, and which led direct to a certain
part of the mountains which towered up almost straight before them.

The moment they crossed this bridge a strange thing happened.
The air was sunshine and summer at the other side of the narrow
drawbridge ; but when they crossed it, it became sharp and deadly
cold.

Cowslip shivered in her thin white dress, and Clover felt his teeth
chattering.

“You will have both to work hard,” said the Guide, “so you will
not long feel cold. Do you see that narrow path ? ”

“ Where?” asked Cowslip.

“Do you see it, Clover?” asked the Guide.

“No,” replied the boy. “I only see a dreadful black mountain,
which seems as if it would fall on our heads. I see no path. I cannot
imagine where we are to go. The drawbridge leads to the foot of this
dreadful hill. I cannot imagine where we are to put our feet.”

“Qh, and what frightful noise is that?” asked Cowslip. “It is
louder and more terrible than any thunder I have ever heard. What
is it P—what has happened ?”

“T will tell you, my children,” said the Guide. ‘“ You are now on
the last, the very last, bit of your journey to the Blue Mountains.
Children come in many ways, and by many paths, to the wonderful
gates. The children who come through the black door have always
to come up this steep mountain. I told you yesterday that your worst