They went away again, and still without a word. On the tripod candlestick, the candelabrum of the three crossed lances, three candles were burning brightly now ... three points of flame for the three long shafts.... Darkness was creeping down the chasm.... The water was moaning black in the on-coming night.
* * * * * * * * *
Ho! Ho-ho! What was that? Torches in my chamber! And voices shouting! Ah no! Not in my chamber ... down there, along the stream ... up on the cliffs, above the chasm.... Down there, of course! What could I have been thinking of?
Torches on the brink of the abyss.... Faces peering into the black void.... Uniforms! Red trousers, blue coats.... And a stretcher.... A good idea! A good idea!... Of course! Of course! For me, for me!
Voices calling. An oath or two. A voice louder than the others bidding these be silent. I heard everything distinctly. Yes, every word.
“But I see him, I tell you! Look, there he is! Down in that hole! Gotta get down there someway!”
“Watch your step, boy! What a hole!”
“What the hell! I done worse places than this before.... The Devil roast my soul! Stinks a bit, this fellow! Whew!”
“Aw go on, what are you giving us!”
“But I say, Sergeant, he’s rotten!”