Immediately
Jarvo led the way through a strip of underbrush at the base of the
mountain, and they emerged in a glade where the light hardly
penetrated.
Here were distinguishable the palanquins in which the ascent was to
be made. These were like long baskets, upborne by a pole of great
flexibility broadening to a wider support beneath the body of the
basket and provided with rubber straps through which the arms were
passed. When St. George and Amory were seated, Jarvo spoke
hesitatingly:
"We must bandage your eyes, adon," he said.
"Oh really, really," protested St. George, "we don't understand half
we do see. Do let us see what we can."
"You must be blindfolded, adon," repeated Jarvo firmly.
Amory, passing his arms reflectively through the rubber straps which
Akko held for him, spoke cheerfully:
"I'll go up blindfold," he submitted, "if I can smoke."
"Neither of us will," said St. George with determination. "See
here, Jarvo, we are both level-headed. We pledge you our word of
honour, in addition, not to dive overboard.
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