“This is your task. You must make fair copies of these.”
“And what,” said I, “if I will not?”
He smiled grimly. “But you will,” said he, “unless, peradventure, you would pass through the door that——”
He broke off, staring with a sudden fear. “I have forgot the sulphur!” said he hoarsely, “Come!”
And he turned, and run from the place.
We came without. Twilight was fallen this while, and the woods looked desolate. Quickly the sky turned violet blue, and the stars rushed out.
“Whither go we?” said I, as Ambrose led the way through a clump of breadfruit trees.
“To gather sulphur,” said he, “Heaven help me! I had forgot. Haste! Let us haste!”
Many bats flew in the shadowy air; and there came continually a hoarse croaking of frogs, and weird, rat-like voices. Fireflies flitted among the trees, like a slow-fallen snow of fire. On old logs and tree-stumps, blue fire flickered in flying traces.
Ambrose went so fast that I had much ado to keep up with him.