Викрадений

           Thetediousnessandpainofthesehoursupontherockgrewonlythegreaterasthedaywenton;therockgettingstillthehotterandthesunfiercer.Thereweregiddiness,andsickness,andsharppangslikerheumatism,tobesupported.Imindedthen,andhaveoftenmindedsince,onthelinesinourScotchpsalm:—

           “Themoonbynighttheeshallnotsmite,

           Noryetthesunbyday;”

           andindeeditwasonlybyGod’sblessingthatwewereneitherofussun-smitten.

           Atlast,abouttwo,itwasbeyondmen’sbearing,andtherewasnowtemptationtoresist,aswellaspaintothole.Forthesunbeingnowgotalittleintothewest,therecameapatchofshadeontheeastsideofourrock,whichwasthesideshelteredfromthesoldiers.

           “Aswellonedeathasanother,”saidAlan,andslippedovertheedgeanddroppedonthegroundontheshadowyside.

           Ifollowedhimatonce,andinstantlyfellallmylength,soweakwasIandsogiddywiththatlongexposure.Here,then,welayforanhourortwo,achingfromheadtofoot,asweakaswater,andlyingquitenakedtotheeyeofanysoldierwhoshouldhavestrolledthatway.Nonecame,however,allpassingbyontheotherside;sothatourrockcontinuedtobeourshieldeveninthisnewposition.

           Presentlywebeganagaintogetalittlestrength;andasthesoldierswerenowlyingcloseralongtheriver-side,Alanproposedthatweshouldtryastart.