The dark valley became alive with
flapping white wings and squirming serpents, in the midst of which
pandemonium I mercifully lost consciousness.
When I came to myself Hartog was beside me. It was pitch dark, but he
carried a ship's lantern in his hand.
CHAPTER XLIII
WE AGAIN LEAVE NEW HOLLAND
"Courage, comrade," said Hartog, who held a flask of spirits to my
lips, and at the sound of his familiar voice life returned to me. I was
so weak, however, and the shock to my nervous system had been so great,
that I could not speak. I pressed his hand to let him know how thankful
I was that he had come himself to my assistance. None, I firmly
believe, but Hartog could have saved me at that moment from madness or
death. With the tenderness of his great heart, which could be gentle as
a woman's upon occasions, he lifted me in his arms, and bore me to the
cradle at the end of the rope by which he had descended. I was soon
drawn to the top of the cliff, where my companions awaited me, and
presently Hartog himself joined us. We did not fear the pygmies and
giants at night-time, for the dread of evil spirits in the dark is
universal among the aborigines of New Holland, making it unlikely they
would attack us, but it was a melancholy procession which made its way
through the woods to the beach where our boats lay, with me carried on
a stretcher by willing hands, since I was incapable of making any
exertion.
Pages:
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249