I was determined to make a good ending, since that was all now left to me.

In that hour I had forgotten about everything--about the peril of Virginia, even about Elspeth and the others in the fort on the hill-top.

There comes a time to every one when the world narrows for him to a strait alley, with Death at the end of it, and all his thoughts are fixed on that waiting enemy of mankind.
My senses were blunted, and I took no note of the noises of the forest.
As I passed down a ravine a stone dropped behind me, but I did not pause to wonder why.

A twig crackled on my left, but it did not disquiet me, and there was a rustling in the thicket which was not the breeze.

I marked nothing, as I plodded on with vacant mind and eye.