ide the gates, I went out with a
lot more right on to the wild desert. But I wanted to be alone, and as
soon as I could I wandered away up amongst the great stones, and sat
down to think and rage against myself for feeling so happy when I wanted
to be miserable and in despair about our fate. For it was as if
something within me was mocking at my sufferings and trying to make me
laugh and feel bright and joyous, for--Oh, how well I can remember it
all up there! The sun was shining brightly, and the great block of
stone upon which I sat down felt hot and so different to the cold
cheerless prison inside. Every here and there amongst the stones there
was the beautiful soft green grass, and little low shrubs were in full
blossom, some a of rich purple, and some of the brightest gold, while in
two or three places far up in the blue sky the _alouettes_ were singing
like they do in France; and every puff of soft warm wind that floated by
was scented with the sweet fragrance of that little herb--I forget its
name--that which the bees buzz about."

"Wild thyme?" said Rodd quickly.

"Ah, yes; wild thyme. And there for a long time I sat nursing my left
arm, fighting against what seemed to be a feeling of happiness, and
trying to think of all the evil that the English had done us, and what I
would do as soon as I got free. But it was too much for me. I couldn't
do it, and what I had looked upon from the prison windows from between
the bars would not seem to be the same wild stony desert, but beautiful
and full of hope and joy."

"Ah!" cried Rodd. "That's because you were getting better. I know what
you felt. I was like that once after a bad fever, and when I was taken
out one fine morning for the first time, though I was weak as a rat I
felt as if I must run and jump and shout all about nothing; but it was
because everything looked so beautiful, and I knew that I must be
getting well."

The boys' eyes met for a few moments, and then Morny bowed his head
slowly and went on.

"Yes," he said quietly, "I suppose it was a beautiful healthy place, and
it began to make me feel like that; and as I looked round--for I had
climbed very high--I could see right down into parts of a valley that
was all full of sunshine and flashing light, for there was a little
dancing stream running swiftly along, and as I looked down into it and
saw how it widened here and narrowed there as it flashed amongst the
great rocks of granite, it set