Look beyond the toilsome way to those grand mountains whose spurs are
already stretching forward to meet us. Who knows what pleasant
surprises await us amid their steep declivities? I, for my part, expect
to find water, fresh grass, trees and a lovely resting-place.'
We were all glad to repose beneath the shade of the first overhanging
rock we came to, although by pressing further upwards, we might have
attained to a pleasanter spot.
Looking back towards the Gap, we marked the strange contrast of the
smiling country bordering the river, and the dreary, monotonous plain
we had traversed.
After gazing on the distant scene, we produced our store of
provisions, and were busily engaged, when Knips (our constant
companion) suddenly began to snuff and smell about in a very
ridiculous way; finally, with a shriek which we knew was expressive of
pleasure, he set off at full speed, followed by all the dogs, up a sort
of glen behind us.
We left them to their own devices, being far too pleasantly engaged
with our refreshments to care much what fancy the little rogue had got
in his head.
When hunger was somewhat appeased, Fritz once more cast his eyes over
the expanse of plain before us, and after looking fixedly for a moment,
exclaimed:
`Is it possible that I see a party of horsemen riding at full gallop
towards us! Can they be wild Arabs of the desert?'
`Arabs, my boy! Certainly not; but take the spy-glass and make them out
exactly.
Pages:
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377