eyes, and said, in English, though with a foreign accent: "The nurse born
in Asia is but wise through her love; the pale son of Europe is wise
through his art. The nurse says, 'Forbear!' Do you say, 'Adventure'?"

"Peace!" exclaimed Margrave, stamping his foot on the ground. "I take no
counsel from either; it is for me to resolve, for you to obey, and for him
to aid. Night is come, and we waste it; move on."

The woman made no reply, nor did I. He took my arm and walked back to the
hut. The barbaric escort followed. When we reached the door of the
building, Margrave said a few words to the woman and to the
litter-bearers. They entered the but with us. Margrave pointed out to
the woman his coffer, to the men the fuel stowed in the outhouse. Both
were borne away and placed within the litter. Meanwhile, I took from the
table, on which it was carelessly thrown, the light hatchet that I
habitually carried with me in my rambles.

"Do you think that you need that idle weapon?" said Margrave. "Do you
fear the good faith of my swarthy attendants?"

"Nay, take the hatchet yourself; its use is to sever the gold from the
quartz in which we may find it embedded, or to clear, as this shovel,
which will also be needed, from the slight soil above it, the ore that the
mine in the mountain flings forth, as the sea casts its waifs on the
sands."

"Give me your hand, fellow-labourer!" said Margrave, joyfully. "Ah, there
is no faltering terror in this pulse! I was not mistaken in the Man.
What rests, but the Place and the Hour? I shall live! I shall live!"