A Sight which I shall Never Forget

           JustasthesunwassettinguponthatmelancholynightIsawthelonelyfigureoftheIndianuponthevastplainbeneathme,andIwatchedhim,ouronefainthopeofsalvation,untilhedisappearedintherisingmistsofeveningwhichlay,rose-tintedfromthesettingsun,betweenthefar-offriverandme.

           ItwasquitedarkwhenIatlastturnedbacktoourstrickencamp,andmylastvisionasIwentwastheredgleamofZambo’sfire,theonepointoflightinthewideworldbelow,aswashisfaithfulpresenceinmyownshadowedsoul.AndyetIfelthappierthanIhaddonesincethiscrushingblowhadfallenuponme,foritwasgoodtothinkthattheworldshouldknowwhatwehaddone,sothatattheworstournamesshouldnotperishwithourbodies,butshouldgodowntoposterityassociatedwiththeresultofourlabors.

           Itwasanawesomethingtosleepinthatill-fatedcamp;andyetitwasevenmoreunnervingtodosointhejungle.Oneortheotheritmustbe.Prudence,ontheonehand,warnedmethatIshouldremainonguard,butexhaustedNature,ontheother,declaredthatIshoulddonothingofthekind.Iclimbedupontoalimbofthegreatgingkotree,buttherewasnosecureperchonitsroundedsurface,andIshouldcertainlyhavefallenoffandbrokenmyneckthemomentIbegantodoze.Igotdown,therefore,andponderedoverwhatIshoulddo.