"
I heard him return to the ledge back of me; I dared not turn my
head.
Thinking I heard a sound above, I looked up; but there was
nothing to fear in that direction. The boulders which formed the
sides of the crevice extended straight up to the roof of the
cavern. We appeared, in fact, to be fortified against any attack.
With one exception--hunger. But there would be plenty of time to
think of that; for the present we had our fish, which was
sufficient for the three of us for a month, if we could keep it
fresh that long. And the water was at our very feet.
The bodies wedged in the mouth of the crevice began to disappear,
allowing the light from the urns to filter through; they were
removing their dead. I could see the black forms swaying and
pulling not five feet away. But I stood motionless, saving my
spear and my strength for any who might try to force an entrance.
Soon the crevice was clear, and from where I stood I commanded a
view of something like three-quarters of the ledge. It was one
mass of black forms, packed tightly together, gazing at our
retreat.
They looked particularly silly and helpless to me then, rendered
powerless as they were by a little bit of rock.
Pages:
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266