“Farewell, farewell, my sweet gazelle,
With ruby eyes——”
Chapter VI
A Desperate Predicament
Chapter VI
Whinney and I were facing a difficult task, a hard ride at night just when we should have been going to bed. This meant little to me for I have frequently gone two and three nights without sleep but it was torture to my companion who is that most pathetic of human beings, a creature of regular habits. Twice, as we plodded along, he lunged from his saddle and as I lifted him he kept murmuring “Must have my eight hours ... must have my eight hours.” All efforts to keep him awake were in vain and I began to despair of ever reaching our destination until I hit on the idea of fastening my burnous between our horses forming a cradle into which my friend fell with a pleased smile and the drowsy comment “Make up lower seven!”
On, on we sped at a smooth, steady pace. Now and again the horses would separate to avoid a thorny squill-bush and Whinney would be tossed lightly in his blanket; but he slept soundly through it all.
REGINALD WHINNEY
“That most pathetic of human beings, a creature of regular habits.”
Reginald Whinney