In this mood
Fate had led him to solemn old oaks standing huge among shadows;
and the grandeur of their grey grip on the earth that had been
theirs for centuries was akin to the grandeur of the high hopes he
had had, and his despair was somehow soothed by the shadows. And
then the impudent birds seemed to say "Hope again."
They walked for miles into the forest and lit a fire before noon,
for Rodriguez had left Lowlight very early. And by it Morano
cooked bacon again and dried his master's cloak. They ate the
bacon and sat by the fire till all their clothes were dry, and
when the flames from the great logs fell and only embers glowed
they sat there still, with hands spread to the warmth of the
embers; for to those who wander a fire is food and rest and
comfort. Only as the embers turned grey did they throw earth over
their fire and continue their journey. Their road grew smaller and
the forest denser.
They had walked some miles from the place where they lit their
fire, when a somewhat unmistakable sound made Rodriguez look ahead
of him. An arrow had struck a birch tree on the right side, ten or
twelve paces in front of him; and as he looked up another struck
it from the opposite side just level with the first; the two were
sticking in it ten feet or so from the ground. Rodriguez drew his
sword. But when a third arrow went over his head from behind and
struck the birch tree, whut! just between the other two, he
perceived, as duller minds could have done, that it was a hint,
and he returned his sword and stood still.
Pages:
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168