"I was afraid to move too far from the mouth of the tunnel, but
nevertheless was anxious to obtain a good view of the little city
at my feet. Gingerly I moved farther forward and forward, ever
craning out for a glimpse of the buildings more immediately below
me, forgetful of the fact that I walked upon the brink of a
precipice.
"Suddenly my outstretched foot failed to touch ground. I clutched
wildly at the bushes around me. Their roots were not firm in the
shallow soil, and, enveloped like some pagan god in a mass of
foliage, I toppled over the cliff and fell!"
CHAPTER XXXIII. STORY OF THE CITY OF FIRE (CONTINUED)
"My awakening was as strange as anything which had befallen me. I
lay upon a silken bed in a pavilion which was furnished with
exquisite, if somewhat barbaric, taste.
"A silken shaded lamp hung upon a golden chain near to my couch,
but it was dimmed by the rosy light streaming in through the open
door--a light which I believed to be that of dawn. I ached in
every limb and felt weak and ill. There was a bandage about my
head, too, but this great physical weakness numbed my curiosity,
and I just lay still, looking out through the doorway into a
lovely garden. I could form no impression of what had happened,
and the ceaseless throbbing in my head rendered any attempt to do
so very painful.
"I was lying there, in this curious and apathetic state, when the
curtains draped in the doorway were pulled more widely aside and
a woman came in.
Pages:
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257