“Thy hollow, wasted cheeks and thy shrunken frame pierce my heart like a dagger!” cried Orondo, while the tears ran unrestrained down his weather-beaten face. “Anxiety and fear for thee urged me here. Speak!—Surely thou wilt not snap the slender thread!” he continued, alarmed at Yermah’s silence. He held the Dorado up, searching his haggard countenance anxiously.
“Long have I stood within the shadow,” murmured Yermah feebly, struggling to overcome great weakness. “The body refuses to support the spirit in manifesting joy in seeing thee—Thy pardon—”
“No need of words ’twixt thee and me,” answered Orondo.
“Thy heart is like a crystal spring, and I know its full depths.”
Orondo’s strong right arm upheld the Dorado, but his prompt, soldier-like habit stood him in good stead. By a nod he beckoned to the warrior-priests waiting, to bring forward a palanquin, which they had gone into the temple to procure. Gently as a woman could have done, he seated the Dorado and motioned the attendants to go on.
Yermah’s look of gratitude made his strong chin tremble, and brought the old haunted expression back to his face. A cold, clammy perspiration stood out on Yermah’s lips and brow as he sank back utterly exhausted. When he closed his eyes, Orondo said to himself: “He will never be paler in death. Poor heart-broken soul!”
Orondo had a good profile view as he trudged beside the chair. He observed the ravages that illness of body and mind had wrought, and wondered in a vague sort of way if he could not share some of his own vitality.
Loyalty forbade direct speech, but he had learned from others enough to understand the situation. His owns wounds bled anew, but they were rated second in comparison.
“Thy master has need of sleep,” he said to the attendants as Yermah was carried into the private apartments. “Should solicitude find utterance, tell him that I am waiting his pleasure in my old quarters.”
Wandering through familiar rooms, he was able to estimate the effect of constant shaking on walls and ceilings. He saw many evidences of their being out of plumb.