The Story of the Innumerable Company | Page 2

who followed found
these marks and added to them. And many of the travelers left little
charts which showed where the cliffs and chasms were and by what
means one could reach the hidden springs. So in time it came to pass
that there was scarcely a tree on the mountain which bore not some
traveler's mark; there was scarcely a rock that had not a cairn of stones
upon it.
In early times there was One who came up from the sea and made the
journey over the mountain and across the desert by a way so fair that
the memory of it became a part of the story of the forest. Men spoke to
each other of his way, and many wished to find it out, that haply they
might walk therein. He, too, had left a Chart, which those who followed
him had carefully kept, and from which they had drawn help in many
times of need.

The way he went was not the shortest way, nor was it the easiest. The
ways that are short and easy lead not over the mountain. But his was
the most repaying way. It led by the noblest trees, the fairest outlooks,
the sweetest springs, the greenest pastures, and the shadow of great
rocks in the desert. And the chart of his way which he left was very
simple and very plain--easy to understand. Even a child might use it.
And, indeed, there were many children who did so.
On this chart were the chief landmarks of the region--the mountain with
its forest, the desert with its green oases, the paths to the hidden springs.
But there were not many details. The old cairns were not marked upon
it, and when two paths led alike over the mountain, there was no sign to
show that one was to be taken rather than the other. Not much was said
as to what food one should take, or what raiment one should wear, or
by what means one should defend himself. But there were many simple
directions as to how one should act on the road, and by what signs he
should know the right path. One ought to look upward, and not
downward; to look forward, and not backward; to be always ready to
give a helping hand to his neighbor: and whomsoever one meets is
one's neighbor, he said.
As to the desert, one need not dread it; nor should one fear the river, for
the lands beyond it were sweet and fair. Moreover, one should learn to
know the forest, that he might choose his course wisely. And this
knowledge each one should seek for himself. For, as he said, "If the
blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."
There were many who followed his way and gave heed to his precepts.
The path seemed dangerous at times, especially at the outset; for it lay
along dizzy heights, through tangled underwood, and across swollen
torrents. But after a while all these were left behind. The way passed on
between cleft rocks, into green pastures, and by still waters; and in the
desert were sweet springs which gave forth abundantly.
But some who tried to follow him said that his Chart was not explicit
enough. Every step in the journey, they contended, should be laid out
exactly; for to travel safely one should never be left in doubt.

Now, it chanced that on the slope of the mountain there was a huge
granite rock, which stood in the midst of the way. Some of the travelers
passed to the right of it, while others turned to the left. Strangely
enough, the Chart said nothing concerning this rock. No hint was given
as to how one should pass by it.
When they came to the rock, many of the travelers took counsel one of
another, and at last a great multitude was gathered there. Which way
had he taken? For in the path he took they must surely go. Many
scanned the rock on every side, to find if haply he had left some secret
mark upon it. But they found none; or, rather, no one could convince
the others that the hidden marks he found were intended for their
guidance.
At nightfall, after much discussion, the old men in the council gave
their decision. The safe way led to the right. So he who kept the Chart
marked upon it the place of the rock, and he wrote upon the Chart that
the one true path leads to the right. Henceforth each man should know
the way he must go.
Moreover, those who bore the records showed that this decision was
justified. They wrote upon the Chart a long argument, chain upon chain
and reason upon reason, to prove