The smoke escaped but slowly
through the single hole in the roof, and at last he could stand it no
longer, and crept out into the night until his fire should have burned
down to a core of red ashes over which he could grill his dinner.
And what a night! He had seen the stars from many parts of the earth and
sea, but never, it seemed to him, had he seen such stars as these, so
close, so large, so wonderfully clean and bright. And, indeed, glory of
the heavens so supreme as that is possible only far away from man, and
all the works and habitations of man, and all his feeble efforts at the
mitigation of the darkness. Nay, for fullest perception, it may be that
it is necessary for a man to be not only alone in the profundity of
Nature's night, but to be lifted somewhat out of himself and his natural
darkness by extremity of joy, or still more of need.
The milky way was as white as though a mighty brush dipped in glittering
star-dust had been drawn across the velvet dome. The larger stars, many
of which were old acquaintances and known to him by name, seemed to
swing so clear and close that they took on quite a new aspect of
friendliness and cheer.
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