Manchurian Books

Here the
men found themselves in a wilderness through which ran a brawling
stream. Roland announced to them that this would be their camping place
for the night. At once there was an uproar of dissent. How were they to
camp out without tents? A heavy rain was impending. Listen to the
thunder, and taking warning from the swollen torrent.
"Wrap your cloaks around you," said Roland, "and sleep under the trees.
I have often done it myself, and will repeat the experience to-night. If
you are not yet tired enough to ensure sound slumber, I shall be
delighted to lead you on for another few leagues."
The men held a low-voiced, sullen consultation, gathered in a circle.
They speedily decided upon returning to Sonnenberg, which it was the
unanimous opinion of the company they should never have left. Townsmen
all, who had not in their lives spent a night without a roof over their
heads, such accommodation as their leader proposed they should endure
seemed like being cast away on a desert island. The mystery of the
forest affrighted them.


Pages:
191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215