Chapter 20

           "LandofAlbania!letmebendmineeyes

           Onthee,thouruggednurseofsavagemen!"

           ChildeHarold.

           Theheavenswerestillstuddedwithstars,whenHawkeyecametoarousethesleepers.CastingasidetheircloaksMunroandHeywardwereontheirfeetwhilethewoodsmanwasstillmakinghislowcalls,attheentranceoftherudeshelterwheretheyhadpassedthenight.Whentheyissuedfrombeneathitsconcealment,theyfoundthescoutawaitingtheirappearancenighby,andtheonlysalutationbetweenthemwasthesignificantgestureforsilence,madebytheirsagaciousleader.

           "Thinkoveryourprayers,"hewhispered,astheyapproachedhim;"forHetowhomyoumakethemknowsalltongues;thatoftheheartaswellasthoseofthemouth.Butspeaknotasyllable;itisrareforawhitevoicetopitchitselfproperlyinthewoods,aswehaveseenbytheexampleofthatmiserabledevil,thesinger.Come,"hecontinued,turningtowardsacurtainoftheworks;"letusgetintotheditchonthisside,andberegardfultosteponthestonesandfragmentsofwoodasyougo."

           Hiscompanionscomplied,thoughtotwoofthemthereasonsofthisextraordinaryprecautionwereyetamystery.Whentheywereinthelowcavitythatsurroundedtheearthenfortonthreesides,theyfoundthepassagenearlychokedbytheruins.Withcareandpatience,however,theysucceededinclamberingafterthescout,untiltheyreachedthesandyshoreoftheHorican.