FullReads

The one thing that does comfort me is, I shan’t have to pay anything for attendance to-night. In fact, I never spent such a cheap night anywhere… Booh! had to stop just now and sit on my hands again. Find it warmer even than the candle. How I wish those two Cambridge fellows were here! We could be quite jolly in here, and play round games, and that sort of thing. I’ve been trying one or two songs to pass the time, but they didn’t come off. Made me homesick to sing, “Here in cool grot” and “Blow, gentle gales.” That reminds me, the wind’s dropped since I got in here. Sorry for it. It was some company to have it smashing all round one. Now it’s so quiet it makes a fellow quite creepy. They do talk of mountain-tops being haunted. I know Scafell Pike is, and I’m the haunter. Wonder if there’s any chance of anybody turning up? I’ve a good mind to go on to the cairn and howl and wave my candle about for a bit; it might fetch some one. The only thing is, it might frighten them away. I’ll try it, anyhow, and I hope whoever comes will have some grub in his pocket and a pair of gloves.

1:30.–No go. Been howling like a hyena for half an hour till I’ve no voice left, and I’m all over spots of wax with the waving of my candle. Heard nothing but my own voice. Not an echo, or a dog barking, or anything. The mist lifted a bit, but I don’t suppose any one could see the candle down at Wastdale. Ugh! ugh! Perhaps there’ll be an article in a scientific paper about a curious phenomenon on the top of Scafell Pike. Wish I knew how to warm phenomenons! I’ve put on the spare shirt over my coat, and stuffed my feet into my knapsack, and wrapped last Friday’s Daily News round my body and legs. Oh-h-h! why did I make a beast of myself to those two dear Cambridge fellows? Think of them now, with blankets tucked round their chins, and their noses in the pillow, snoring away; and their coats and bags lying idle about in the room. I do believe if I had their two suits on over my own I might keep warm. Hullo, what’s that!

Never got such a fright. Thought it was thunder, or an earthquake, or the cairn coming down on the top of me, or something of that sort. Turned out to be the Daily News crackling under my clothes. Everything’s so quiet, it startles one to move a foot. I’ll give it up–I’ll–there goes my last candle!

3:30.–Actually been asleep–at least, I don’t know what’s been going on the last two hours. That Daily News was rather a tip, after all. I might have been frozen to death without it. Hurrah for the Radicals! Rather crampy all the same about the joints, and must get up and shake myself, or I shall be no good for the rest of the day. Ugh! What a state my mother would be in if she heard that cough! I’m certain I hadn’t caught it before I went to sleep.

Just been up to the top and had a look round. Mist is nearly all away, and there are some streaks in the sky that look like the beginning of morning. May hold out, after all. Never know what you can do till you try. I’ll just put on my Daily News again and wait here another half- hour, and then try out again. Wish it was daylight. Mustn’t go to sleep again if I can help it, as I might catch cold.