"None, I tell you. I never was dead; only shamming. Oh, if I only had a knife."
While Gratillet was talking he worked at Albert's cords with his teeth and nails, and finally succeeded in freeing him.
"And now," he said, "let's decamp, and that as soon as possible."
The two men were soon on the road, the journalist peering about and keeping up a lively conversation.
"Here is a narrow pathway!" exclaimed the reporter suddenly. "Captain, lie down on the ground near me, and we can continue our little walk on all-fours."
Albert followed the journalist's orders, and the next minute was lying on the ground near his companion.
"Well done," said Gratillet. "Now we must be very careful, for it is pitch dark and banisters are unknown in Uargla. Ah, now I know where the pathway comes from. It is a ditch which gets the rain from the rocks."
"Do you need a cord?" asked Albert. "If so, I have a scarf which answers the same purpose."
"Is it strong?"