The People of the Mist by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard
page 228 of 519 (43%)
page 228 of 519 (43%)
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fortunate: they had the insects indeed, but no bed.
Again the morning came, wet, miserable, and misty, and through the mist and rain they pursued their course, whither they knew not. All day they wandered on by the banks of the river till night fell and they camped, this time without shelter. Now they had reached the extreme of wretchedness, for they had little or no food left, and could not find fuel to make a fire. Leonard took Soa aside and questioned her, for he saw clearly that a couple more days of this suffering would put an end to all of them. "You say these people of yours have a city, Soa?" "They have a city, Deliverer," she answered, "but whether they will allow you to enter it, except as a victim for sacrifice, is another matter." "None of us will enter it unless we find shelter soon," he answered. "How far is the place away?" "It should be a day's journey, Deliverer. Were the mist gone you could see it now. The city is built at the foot of great mountains, there are none higher, but the fog hides everything. To-morrow, if it lifts, you will see that I speak truth." "Are there any houses near where we can shelter?" he asked again. "How can I tell?" she answered. "It is forty years since I passed this road, and here, where the land is barren, none dwell except the herdsmen. Perhaps there is a house at hand, or perhaps there is none for |
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