self,anditwasonlybygoodluck,andafteranhourofwandering,thatIfoundthecamponcemore.
Suddenlyathoughtcametomeandbroughtsomelittlecomforttomyheart.Iwasnotabsolutelyaloneintheworld.Downatthebottomofthecliff,andwithincallofme,waswaitingthefaithfulZambo.Iwenttotheedgeoftheplateauandlookedover.Sureenough,hewassquattingamonghisblanketsbesidehisfireinhislittlecamp.But,tomyamazement,asecondmanwasseatedinfrontofhim.Foraninstantmyheartleapedforjoy,asIthoughtthatoneofmycomradeshadmadehiswaysafelydown.Butasecondglancedispelledthehope.Therisingsunshoneredupontheman'sskin.HewasanIndian.Ishoutedloudlyandwavedmyhandkerchief.PresentlyZambolookedup,wavedhishand,andturnedtoascendthepinnacle.InashorttimehewasstandingclosetomeandlisteningwithdeepdistresstothestorywhichItoldhim.
"Devilgotthemforsure,MassaMalone,"saidhe."Yougotintothedevil'scountry,sah,andhetakeyoualltohimself.Youtakeadvice,MassaMalone,andcomedownquick,elsehegetyouaswell."
"HowcanIcomedown,Zambo?"
"Yougetcreepersfromtrees,MassaMalone.Throwthemoverhere.Imakefasttothisstump,andsoyouhavebridge."
"Wehavethoughtofthat.Therearenocreepersherewhichcouldbearus."
"Sendforropes,MassaMalone."
"WhocanIsend,andwhere?"
"SendtoIndianvillages,sah.PlentyhideropeinIndianvillage.Indiandownbelowsendhim."
"Whoishe?
"OneofourIndians.Otheronesbeathimandtakeawayhispay.Hecomebacktous.Readynowtotakeletter,bringrope,—anything."
Totakealetter!Whynot?Perhapshemightbringhelpbutinanycasehewouldensurethatourliveswerenotspentfornothing,andthatnewsofallthatwehadwonforScienceshouldreachourfriendsathome.Ihadtwocompletedlettersalreadywaiting.Iwouldspendthedayinwritingathird,whichwouldbringmyexperiencesabsolutelyuptodate.TheIndiancouldbearthisbacktotheworld.IorderedZambo,therefore,tocomeagainintheevening,andIspentmymiserableandlonelydayinrecordingmyownadventuresofthenightbefore.Ialsodrewupanote,tobegiventoanywhitemerchantorcaptainofasteam-boatwhomtheIndiancouldfind,imploringthemtoseethatropesweresenttous,sinceourlivesmustdependuponit.ThesedocumentsIthrewtoZambointheevening,andalsomypurse,whichcontainedthreeEnglishsovereigns.TheseweretobegiventotheIndian,andhewaspromisedtwiceasmuchifhereturnedwiththeropes.
Sonowyouwillunderstand,mydearMr.McArdle,howthiscommunicationreachesyou,andyouwillalsoknowthetruth,incaseyouneverhearagainfromyourunfortunatecorrespondent.To-nightIamtoowearyandtoodepressedtomakemyplans.To-morrowImustthinkoutsomewaybywhichIshallkeepintouchwiththiscamp,andyetsearchroundforanytracesofmyunhappyfriends.