Page:The further side of silence (IA furthersideofsil00clifiala).pdf/393

 show us the path which the fugutives had taken. Thereafter, during many weary days, we followed on his trail at times close on his heels, at others losing all trace of liim; but though Iôdoh went with him willingly, she had no woodcraft and could not con- ceal her tracks, and also she went slowly, and so aided our pursuit. On that so terrible journey I ate no rice, though I drank deeply at the springs, for my throat was parched; and at night sleep did not visit me, till I was like one demented. Moreover, the madness of love was upon me, and my rage was like a red-hot goad urging me onward.

"For how many days and nights we journeyed thus I cannot tell, but Che' Mat and all his people were wearying of the quest, which I would not suffer them to abandon, when in the fullness of the appointed hour we found Pa' Ah-Gap asleep, with Hôdoli, clad only in a loin-elout, by his side in the warm ashes of their camp fire. The Sâkai dog had tattooed lier face, as is the wont of these so animal-like people, and she was moreover very thin and worn, and much aged by her sojourn in the forest, and she was be- grimed with the dirt and the wood ashes of the Sâkad lairs. We caught him alive, for he slept heavily, being wearied by his long marches: and I and one other, Hodoh's brother crept very cautionsly upon him. Also, I think, Allah whom he had offended, for he was an infidel, while the woman was of the Faith, gave him that day into our hands, for mostly the jungle-folk sleep with one ear cocked and one eye agape.