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The hours of waiting dragged terribly We conversed little, all alike nervous, irritable under the strain of our desperate situation The Jesuit was much in prayer; but Cairnes fell asleep and twisted about uneasily, his head pillowed on his arm I could only pace the rock floor, harassed by bitter, useless thoughts What a reat bare cavern, with black interior only partially revealed by the gleae huddled in his bonds, his baleful eyes glowing in the firelight as he watched every movement; the slender père close beside hi ers clasping the crucifix; beyond, Cairnes outstretched on the hard stone, his bulky figurelike a spot of paint I rejoiced that the fellow slept, for he rasped me with his ceaseless, senseless attacks on the Roentle-voiced priest had tamed his open hatred so ineyes, as though fit speech failed hiain upon the platforroups below The sky overhead was blue, but to the north and east, as far as I could see for overhanging cliff, great es eh too distant for uish the thunder Below, in the valley, the approaching storm would not yet be visible; but froht, the swift approach of a battle of the elelowering at the unconscious priest, I despatched hi platform, with instructions to keep close watch on all e Then I busied myself with final preparations for our desperate sortie The earliest shades of evening would have to be utilized, for then only could we hope for a clear path Before those wild fanatics swarmed upward to their monthly sacrifice, we must traverse that narrow cliff path and penetrate the tunnel beyond as far as the underground altar Nowhere between the cave entrance and that spot could I recall any place of concealan to blot the mouth of the cave, I bore the priest that way in ed earnestly to be left behind, saying he was a useless burden The slowly advancing clouds had not yetdenselythe rocks, and jagged streaks of lightning tearing the glooainst the silvered rocks, leaning far over, staring down into the void As I touched hi beloith one hand