On one side, the graceful winding of the
waters stretched away, now visible, now hidden by trees, as far as the
eye could see. On the other, the waveless ocean slept in the calm of
the night. People this lovely scene with tens of thousands of human
creatures, all dressed in white, stretching down the sides of the hill,
overflowing into the plain, and fringing the nearer banks of the winding
rivers. Light this halt of the pilgrims by the wild red flames of
cressets and torches, streaming up at intervals from every part of
the innumerable throng. Imagine the moonlight of the East, pouring in
unclouded glory over all--and you will form some idea of the view that
met me when I looked forth from the summit of the hill.
A strain of plaintive music, played on stringed instruments, and flutes,
recalled my attention to the hidden shrine.
I turned, and saw on the rocky platform the figures of three men. In the
central figure of the three I recognised the man to whom I had spoken
in England, when the Indians appeared on the terrace at Lady Verinder's
house. The other two who had been his companions on that occasion were
no doubt his companions also on this.
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