DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12664#0110
IMAGINARY PERILS, 103
i
swers, and when we came to the edge of the des-
ert he began to grumble outright; he did not want
to be shot down like a dog ; if we were strong
enough to make a stout resistance it would be an-
other thing, &c., &c. In truth, the scene before us
was dreary enough, the desert commencing on the
very margin of the river, and running back to the
eternal sands of Africa. Paul's courage seemed
to be going with the green soil we were leaving
behind us ; and as we advanced where the grass
seemed struggling to resist the encroachments of
the desert, he was on the point of yielding to
the terror of his own imagination, until I sug-
gested to him that we could see before us the whole
extent of desert we were to cross ; that there was
not a shrub or brush to interrupt the view, and
not a living thing moving that could do us harm.
He then began to revive ; it was not for himself,
but for me, he feared. We walked on for about an
hour, when, feeling that it was safe to trust me
alone, and being tired, he sat down on the bank,
and I proceeded. Fear is infectious. In about
half an hour more I met three men, who had to
me a peculiarly cut-throat appearance; they spoke,
but I of course could not understand them. At
length, finding night approaching, I turned back
to meet the boat, and saw that the three Arabs had
turned too, and were again advancing to meet me,
which I thought a very suspicious movement,
Paul's ridiculous fears had completely infected me,
and I would have dodged them if I could; but
i
swers, and when we came to the edge of the des-
ert he began to grumble outright; he did not want
to be shot down like a dog ; if we were strong
enough to make a stout resistance it would be an-
other thing, &c., &c. In truth, the scene before us
was dreary enough, the desert commencing on the
very margin of the river, and running back to the
eternal sands of Africa. Paul's courage seemed
to be going with the green soil we were leaving
behind us ; and as we advanced where the grass
seemed struggling to resist the encroachments of
the desert, he was on the point of yielding to
the terror of his own imagination, until I sug-
gested to him that we could see before us the whole
extent of desert we were to cross ; that there was
not a shrub or brush to interrupt the view, and
not a living thing moving that could do us harm.
He then began to revive ; it was not for himself,
but for me, he feared. We walked on for about an
hour, when, feeling that it was safe to trust me
alone, and being tired, he sat down on the bank,
and I proceeded. Fear is infectious. In about
half an hour more I met three men, who had to
me a peculiarly cut-throat appearance; they spoke,
but I of course could not understand them. At
length, finding night approaching, I turned back
to meet the boat, and saw that the three Arabs had
turned too, and were again advancing to meet me,
which I thought a very suspicious movement,
Paul's ridiculous fears had completely infected me,
and I would have dodged them if I could; but