Page:The land of enchantment (1907, Cassell).djvu/17

 prepared to meet any difficulty and, if need be, danger; for they knew quite well that if you sit down and fold your hands together fortune will not fall into your lap.

After walking for the best part of the day, they came to a wild and rugged country, and here they struck a narrow path which led through a gorge in the hills. By-and-by it opened out into a grassy plot where was a bubbling spring, and behind it a moss-grown cave. It was an ideal spot for an encampment, and the friends at once made up their minds to stay, there for the night. Gathering some brushwood they soon had a cheerful fire burning, and just within the sheltering cave, with dry moss for a pillow, they closed their weary eyes and fell asleep.

About a couple of hours passed when the maker of ghosts awoke, and, as the fire was getting low, he got up without disturbing his friend, and hunted for more fuel. It was not easy to find, groping about in the dark, and the search led him some distance from the cave. He was just about to come back with an armful of brushwood, when he was startled by the sound of footsteps, and had barely time to throw him- self down and hide behind his burden, before there came along five fierce-looking robbers, armed to the teeth, each driving a laden mule before him.

They were astonished to find the maker of shadows asleep by the fire, and in a trice they pounced upon him, and bound him hand and foot.

All this the maker of ghosts saw as he lay quaking with fear. As he could do nothing at present to help his friend, he wisely took care of himself, and so rolled over and over ever so softly, until he was at a safe distance from the cave.

He was more frightened for his poor friend than for himself, and longed to fly to his aid. What if the robbers should kill him? It was a terrible thought! He strained his ears to catch the slightest sound. Sometimes he imagined that he heard a faint cry for help—then he fancied he heard a groan. The wind as it rustled the dry leaves made him shake, and the stillness that followed added to his fears.

At last he could bear the suspense no longer, and so, at the risk of his life, he crept cautiously back until he came within sight of the cave. There by the light of the fire he saw that four of the robbers were lying asleep, with the maker of shadows in their midst, whilst the fifth robber kept watch. Fortunately, the man did not see him, and so, somewhat comforted by the sight of his friend, but still terribly