Part 83 (1/2)
”Let's go there,” said Mark, after a pause, ”you and me, and take some powder and blow the door open.”
”If we could find it.”
”O! we could find it; let's go to Thibet.”
”So we will.”
”And blow the bronze door open.”
”And read the magic leaves.”
”And go on down the footpath.”
”And talk to the people under the golden dome flowers.”
”I'm sure _we_ could find the door.”
”We _will_ find it.”
”Very soon.”
”Some day.”
Watching the swan among the glittering ripples, they cracked the rest of the nuts, and did not get up to go till the sun was getting low. It was not a wild swan, but one whose feathers had not been clipped. The wind rose a little, and sighed dreamily through the tops of the tall firs as they walked under them. They returned along the sh.o.r.e where the weeds came to the island, and had gone some way, when Mark suddenly caught hold of Bevis and drew him behind a bush.
Volume Three, Chapter VI.
NEW FORMOSA--THE MATCHLOCK.
”What is it?” said Bevis.
”I saw a savage.”
”Where?”
”In the sedges on the sh.o.r.e there,” pointing across the weeds. ”I saw his head--he had no hat on.”
”Quite sure?” Bevis looked, but could not see anything.
”Almost very nearly quite sure.”
They watched the sedges a long time, but saw nothing.
”Was it Charlie, or Val, or Cecil?”
”No, I don't think so,” said Mark.
”They could not get round either,” said Bevis. ”If they crossed the Nile like we did, they could not get round.”
”No.”