'It will be forgotten in two or three years at most,' he mused, and at
the end of that time she may still remember. And then divers avenues
of escape from the hideous toils were open to his imagination. Why
could he not, after the lapse of a few months, disguise himself, go
boldly out of the wood and cross the frontier? In a republican city he
could engage in some honourable occupation; and perhaps his beloved
might care to hear something of his fortunes. His dreams had become
very rosy when he heard the voice of the chief asking him if he did
not want to 'go to bed to-night.'
He saw no camps, no blankets, no dwelling, and he marvelled as to
where they slept or found shelter from the storm. One by one his
companions seemed to sink into the bowels of the earth, as the robber
before supper seemed to have done, till at last nobody remained but
The Lifter.
'I am waiteen to show you to your bed,' the fellow said in a voice
as soft as the ripple of an oily stream.
'Why, where on earth does your company sleep?'
'Nowhere _on earth_,' returned the soft-voiced Lifter.
'Come; we go under the earth;' and taking our hero's hand he led him
to what looked like the mouth of a pit.
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