It is all confused at times as I try to recall it. Some of our
adventure stands out clear to me, as if it took place only yesterday,
while other parts seem strange and dreamy, and I know now that we both
dozed a great deal in the warm close place like a pair of animals shut
up for their winter sleep.
We soon finished our food, for we were in such good hope of soon being
dug out that we had not the heart to save a part of it in our hungry
state. Then we slept again, and woke, and slept again, till waking and
sleeping were mixed up strangely. The horror seemed to wear off a great
deal, only when Shock started up suddenly and began talking loudly about
something I could not understand, my feeling of fear increased.
How time went--when it was night and when it was day--I could not tell;
and at last almost our sole thought was about what we should eat when we
got out again.
At last I felt too weak and helpless to do more than lie still and try
to think of a prayer or two, which at times was only half uttered before
I dropped asleep.
Then I woke to think of Mr Solomon and the garden, and fell asleep
again. And then I recall trying to rouse up Shock, who seemed to be
always sleeping; and while I was trying feebly to get him to speak to me
again I seem to have gone to sleep once more, and everything was like
being at an end.
At first I had suffered agonies of fear and horror. At last all seemed
to fade, as it were, into a dreamless sleep.
"It was like this here," Ike told me afterwards. "I lay down and made
myself comfortable, and then after smoking a pipe I went off asleep.
When I woke up I heerd you two a chiveying about and shouting, but it
was too soon to move, so I went asleep again.
"Then I woke up and looked about for you, and shouted for you to come
down and have something to eat, and bring up the horse again, for I
thought by that time he'd have had a good rest.
"I shouted again, but I couldn't make you hear, so I went up higher and
hollered once more, and then Juno came trotting up to me and looked up
in my face.
"I asked her where you two was, but she didn't say anything of course,
so I began to grow rough, and I said you might find your way back, my
lads; and I went down to the public, ordered some tea and some briled
ham; see to my horse having another feed and some water, and then, as
you hadn't come down, I had my tea all alone in a huff.