Then said Mr. Great-heart: Well, my brave boys, how do you do? What think you of this hill?
Sir, said James, this hill beats me out of heart! And I see now that what I have been told is true; the land of bliss is up steps; but still, Sir, it is worse to go down hill to death than up hill to life.
You are a good boy, said Great-heart.
At this Mercy could but smile, and it made James blush.
Christiana:—Come, will you not drink of this flask, and eat some fruit, while we sit here to rest? For Mr. Interpreter put these in my hand as I came out of his door.
Now when they had sat there a while, their guide said to them: The day runs on, and if you think well of it, let us now go on our way.
So they all set out, the boys first, then the rest; but they had not gone far when Christiana found she had left the flask, so she sent James back to fetch it.
Mercy:—I think this is the place where Christian lost his scroll. How was this, Sir?
Great-heart:—We may trace it to two things; one is sleep, and one is that you cease to think of that which you cease to want; and when you lose sight of a boon you lose sight of Him who grants it, and the joy of it will end in tears.
By and by they came to a small mound with a post on it, where these words were cut, Let him who sees this post take heed of his heart and his tongue that they be not false. Then they went on till they came up to two large beasts of prey.