ree or four days, and to pass the time they sang:

He that can tell What sweet fresh fruit, yea leaves these trees do
yield, Will soon sell all, that he may buy this field.

Now on the left hand of the road was By-path Meadow, a fair green field
with a path through it, and a stile. Come, good Hopeful, said Christian,
let us walk on the grass.

Hopeful.--But what if this path should lead us wrong?

Christian.--How can it? Look, doth it not go by the way side?

So they set off through the field. But they had not gone far when they
saw in front of them a man, Vain-confidence by name, who told them that
the path led to The Celestial Gate. So the man went first; but lo, the
night came on, and it grew so dark that they lost sight of their guide,
who, as he did not see the path in front of him, fell in a deep pit, and
was heard of no more.

Where are we now? said Hopeful.

Then was Christian mute, as he thought he had led his friend out of the
way. And now light was seen to flash from the sky, and rain came down in
streams.

Hopeful (with a groan) Oh, that I had kept on my way!

Christian.--Who could have thought that this path should lead us wrong?

Hopeful.--I had my fears from the first, and so gave you a hint.

Christian.--Good friend, I grieve that I have brought you out of the
right path.

Hopeful.--Say no more, no doubt it is for our good.

Christian.--We must not stand thus; let us try to go back.

Hopeful.--But, good Christian, let me go first.

Then they heard a voice say: Set thine heart to the high way, the way
thou hast been: turn once more. But by this time the stream was deep
from the rain that fell, and to go back did not seem safe; yet they
went back, though it was so dark and the stream ran so high that once or
twice it was like to drown them. Nor could they, with all their skill,
get back that night. So they found a screen from the rain, and there
they slept till break of day.

Now, not far from the place where they lay was Doubting Castle, the
lord of which was Giant Despair; and it was on his ground that they now
slept. There Giant Despair found them, and with a gruff voice he bade
them wake. Whence are you? said he; and what brought you here? They told
him that they had lost the path. Then said Giant Despair: You have no
right to force your way in here; the ground on which you lie is mine.

They had not much to say, as they knew that they were in fault. So Giant
Despair drove them on,