Then came a sharp shock and he knew no more.
CHAPTER XIV
In Utter Darkness
How long it was before he returned to consciousness, Don could not tell. It might have been minutes or it might have been hours.
Slowly, very slowly, he was able to recall what had happened to him. He had seen the cavalcade riding past. Then he had been clambering among the rocks. It had been a long climb, he remembered. There were many of the rocks and the slope had been steep. He must have barked his shins against some of them. They were very sore. Yes, he must have barked his shins. Careless of him, to be sure, but a little arnica would fix them up all right.
Was there anything else? He tried to think. Oh, yes, he had called out something. What was it he had been shouting about? Oh, it was the rock! Of course, it was the rock. Why had he not thought of that before? Well, he had thought of it now. That was something. He felt rather proud about that rock. He had been the first to see it. Good boy, Don. You are not so bad!
He lay for a moment, pleased with the recollection.
What else was there? He and Teddy had started running for it. Good old Brick! They had been running pretty fast. Why had they not got to it then? Where was the rock? Where was he?
Then suddenly the truth burst on him, and he sat up with a start, a cold perspiration breaking out all over his body.
He remembered the ground seemingly melting under his feet, the sickening descent, the crash.
He looked wildly about him, but he might as well have been blind for all that he could see. Even his hand was not visible, as he held it up before his face.