For there, disregarded by the crowd, but plain and manifest, rose another Peak, graven in shadow upon the western sky.

Bold and confronting, it soared into heaven and, whilst I gazed in silent awe, came striding nearer through the void air, until it seemed to sweep down upon me--and was gone! For many a day had the shadow of this mighty cone lain upon my soul; here, on the very summit, that shadow took visible form and shape, then paled into the clear blue.

Has its invisible horror left me now at last?
I doubt it.
"But by this time the sun was high, and the last pilgrim with a lingering cry of '_Saadoo!_' was leaving the summit.

So, although my ankle was now beginning to give me exquisite pain, I gave the order to return.

Before leaving, however, I looked for a moment at the sacred footprint, to my mind the least of the wonders of the Peak, and resembling no foot that ever I saw.