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Chapter 22
Outonyonbald,naked,flatplace,wherecanabodyturnto?Letthered-coatscomeoverahill,theycanspyyoumilesaway;andthesorrow’sintheirhorses’heels,theywouldsoonrideyoudown.It’snogoodplace,David;andI’mfreetosay,it’sworsebydaylightthanbydark.”
“Alan,”saidI,“hearmywayofit.Appin’sdeathforus;wehavenonetoomuchmoney,noryetmeal;thelongertheyseek,thenearertheymayguesswhereweare;it’sallarisk;andIgivemywordtogoaheaduntilwedrop.”
Alanwasdelighted.“Therearewhiles,”saidhe,“whenyearealtogethertoocannyandWhiggishtobecompanyforagentlemanlikeme;buttherecomeotherwhileswhenyeshowyoursel’amettlespark;andit’sthen,David,thatIloveyelikeabrother.”
Themistroseanddiedaway,andshowedusthatcountrylyingaswasteasthesea;onlythemoorfowlandthepeweescryinguponit,andfarovertotheeast,aherdofdeer,movinglikedots.Muchofitwasredwithheather;muchoftherestbrokenupwithbogsandhagsandpeatypools;somehadbeenburntblackinaheathfire;andinanotherplacetherewasquiteaforestofdeadfirs,standinglikeskeletons.Awearier-lookingdesertmanneversaw;butatleastitwasclearoftroops,whichwasourpoint.
Wewentdownaccordinglyintothewaste,andbegantomakeourtoilsomeanddevioustraveltowardstheeasternverge.
