Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Dynamiter

160 NEW ARABIAN NIGHTS.
On the farther side, to which we now hastily-
scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers
not so solidly convolved. It was possible, here and there,
to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to dis-
tinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the pro-
portions of some soaring tree. The cypress on the left
stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing ;
the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a
patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps,
thick with their artificers. I laid down the tools and
basket by the cypress root, Avhere they were instantly
blackened over with the crawling ants ; and looked once
more in the face of my unconscious victim. Mosquitoes
and foul flies wove so close a veil between us that his
features were obscured; and the sound of their flight was
like the turning of a mighty wheel.
' Here,' I said, ' is the spot. I cannot dig, for I have
not learned to use such instruments ; but, for your own
sake, I beseech you to be swift in what you do.'
He had sunk once more upon the ground, panting
like a tish ; and I saw rising in his face the same dusky
flush that had mantled on my father's. ' I feel ill,' he
gasped, ' horribly ill ; the swamp turns around me ; the
drone of these carrion flies confounds me. Have you not
wine 1 '
I gave him a glass, and he drank greedily. ' It is for
you to think,' said I, ' if you should further persevere.
The swamp has an ill name.' And at the word I omin-
ously nodcled.
' Give me the pick,' said he. ' Where are the jewels
buried ? '
I told him vaguely ; and in the sweltering heat and
closeness, and dim twilight of the jungle, he began to
wield the pickaxe, swinging it overhead with the vigour
of a healthy man. At flrst, there broke forth upon him
a strong sweat, that made his face to shine, and in which
the greedy insects settled thickly.
' To sweat in such a place,' said I. ' O master, is
this wise ? Fever is drunk in through open pores.'
' What do you mean V he screamed, pausing Avith the