But evidently he had seen nothing of it all, for he came hurrying toward us with the lamp in one hand and a big earthen pot filled with cooked rice in the other. Upon his face I could read despair.
It seemed amazing that I should be able to recover my equanimity with so much ease, but I answered him as calmly as though nothing of an exciting nature had occurred; and this with every nerve in my body quivering; this in spite of the fact that I was trembling from head to foot.
As for Maurice, he showed no disposition to interfere. The same strange calmness seemed to have come to him as to myself. Probably Walla still remained entranced, for she neither spoke nor moved.
“Then you found things as I told you, Doctor?”
“Well I should say so! They’ve gone, every mother’s son of them, and this pot of rice is all in the way of eatables left behind. Thought I might as well freeze on to that while there was time, for fear it might be spirited away too. But I say, Wylde, how do you suppose they put the bridge across the rift?”
“I'm sure I can’t tell you. Have you found out?”
“Found out! No indeed; I’d like to know, though. Time was when I should have called it a miracle, but in this devil’s den miracles are as plenty as bees about a hive, I give it up. Maurice, old man, how do you feel now?”
“Better,” answered Maurice, “much better, thank you Doctor, but I haven’t got my legs yet.”
“That will come in time; but look here, my boy, you must eat something. Let me warm you up some rice. It’s all we have. We may as well view the situation philosophically, eat, drink and be merry, for as sure as there is a God above us, we are doomed to death by starvation unless help reaches us from outside.”
“Which,” said I, “is most improbable—still do I hope.”
“You will hope in vain then. We are in a desperate situation, and all owing to me.”
“How to you, Doctor?” asked Maurice.
“Do not let us talk about that,” I interposed. “The Doctor is not to blame. I will stir up the fire, and if Maurice wants the rice he shall have it. Morning will soon be here, and perhaps it may bring us good fortune of which we little dream.”
“It can’t,” said the Doctor, decidedly. “The proposi-
