as to make a torch, and aided by its light we groped our
way in and explored the interior. The cave, we found, was about fifty
feet long, narrowing to a mere hole at the extremity; but the anterior
portion formed an oblong chamber, very lofty, with a dry floor. Leaving
our torch burning, we set to work cutting bushes to supply ourselves
with wood enough to last us all night. Nuflo, poor old man, loved a big
fire dearly; a big fire and fat meat to eat (the ranker its flavour, the
better he liked it) were to him the greatest blessings that man could
wish for. In me also the prospect of a cheerful blaze put a new heart,
and I worked with a will in the rain, which increased in the end to a
blinding downpour.

By the time I dragged my last load in, Nuflo had got his fire well
alight, and was heaping on wood in a most lavish way. "No fear of
burning our house down tonight," he remarked, with a chuckle--the first
sound of that description he had emitted for a long time.

After we had satisfied our hunger, and had smoked one or two cigarettes,
the unaccustomed warmth, and dryness, and the firelight affected us with
drowsiness, and I had probably been nodding for some time; but starting
at last and opening my eyes, I missed Rima. The old man appeared to be
asleep, although still in a sitting posture close to the fire. I rose
and hurried out, drawing my cloak close around me to protect me from the
rain; but what was my surprise on emerging from the cave to feel a dry,
bracing wind in my face and to see the desert spread out for leagues
before me in the brilliant white light of a full moon! The rain had
apparently long ceased, and only a few thin white clouds appeared moving
swiftly over the wide blue expanse of heaven. It was a welcome change,
but the shock of surprise and pleasure was instantly succeeded by
the maddening fear that Rima was lost to me. She was nowhere in sight
beneath, and running to the end of the little plateau to get free of
the thorn trees, I turned my eyes towards the summit, and there, at some
distance above me, caught sight of her standing motionless and gazing
upwards. I quickly made my way to her side, calling to her as I
approached; but she only half turned to cast a look at me and did not
reply.

"Rima," I said, "why have you come here? Are you actually thinking of
climbing the mountain at this hour of the night?" "Yes--why not?" she
returned, moving one or two steps from me.

"Rima--sweet Rima, wi