Max Pemberton

“ Then they struck the river where it narrowed until it became a stream not fifteen yards wide, scouring between rugged banks of white earth toward the lower end of the silent valley.
At a break in the banks of this swiftly flowing stream they lay down to quench their thirst, and when the man's eyes had been again bound up in the wetted rag, he threw himself upon the ground as he was wont to do in the old time, and listened with ear intent for the sound of men moving or of voices. ”

“ He could tell little beyond the terror of the transit when, in the darkness, he felt the boat spinning round and round like a top; or striking the rock with fearful concussion; or flying downward like a ship upon the fall of a sea. ”

“ Then he gnashed his teeth, and dug his hands into the grass, and foam came upon his lips.
"I will see, by Heaven!" he cried. "I'll have light—light, I tell you! Man, it's all dark—dark as death!"
His frenzy was the frenzy of the moment; but the paroxysm had robbed him of the money, which now rolled all around him, and he sat hugging his knees and chattering, while Fisher bound up his head again with the rag damped in the river. Then the lad picked up the sovereigns from the grass and pressed them gently upon him. ”

“ The nuts and the roots and the fruits were the poorest sustenance to men bruised in mind and in body; the shock of the terrible night compelled nature to call for strong remedies; and though brandy was found in the bottle in Messenger's pocket, it was all insufficient for the more serious need. Thus it came that, after the man had slept for a few hours on the second night, Fisher spoke to him earnestly at dawn, and besought him to take heart for the journey. ”

“ Long marsh grass, from which sprang orchids and ox-eyes and ivies abundantly, led them down a silent avenue, where birds of rich plumage rose up, startled at their coming, and a myriad flies buzzed ceaselessly about them. ”

“ Hal, man, you won't cheat me now?"
"Cheat you!" cried Fisher, starting back. "Cheat you—God forbid!"
"Ah, I knew you wouldn't, but my head's going with my eyes. You don't know what sight is to a man; but I'm learning. Give me the stuff again."
He gathered it all up to him again, thrusting the ingot into his breast, while he counted the sovereigns with a wolf-like eagerness and mechanically tore the bandage from his eyes, revealing a forehead from which the flesh had gone ”

“ At last, however, and when the exhausted men had come under the very shadow of the great hill which stood as a barrier between them and the outer world, it narrowed again, running between high ramparts of rock straight toward the headland. ”