She upon whom I had fixed my affections—high and holy—the toy of a robber-chief! Worse still; herself wanton and willing!
“Go on!” I said, grasping my guide by the arm; “on to the house! Let us see what it means. On, on! There’s no danger. In ten minutes I can call my men around me; and if need be, we can run back to them. On! on! I must see with my own eyes, if she can be so degraded!”
Without altogether comprehending why, Sam Brown saw that I was determined on advancing; and, yielding to my impulsive command, once more led the way.
Chapter Thirty Two.
Paradise from the Pillory.
Another terrace was ascended; and before us stood the house—a massive structure of quadrangular shape only one story in height, but surmounted by an azotea with a parapet running around it.
It was placed upon a platform of limited extent; backed by a precipitous slope, of which the platform was the base; and flanked by two cliffs that scarped off in the opposite direction—downward.
What might be called the gables of the dwelling were flush with the flanking cliffs; but between its rear and the ascending slope was an inclosed space—forming a corral, or courtyard.