"Your chance is ten times greater to lose your own life than to save hers." "Lose my life!" I cried.

"Could I dare return alive without her?
Throw your whole weight on me, I say, as I lean over, and waste no more time!" "What!" he rejoined.

"You are twice as heavy as I, and if you are pulled over I shall probably go over too.

Why am I to endanger myself to save a girl from the consequences of her folly ?" "If you do not," I swore, "I will fling you where the carcass of which you are so careful shall be crushed out of the very form of the manhood you disgrace." Even this threat failed to move him.

Meantime the bird, fluttering on my shoulder, suggested a last chance; and snatching the tablet round its neck, I wrote two words thereon, and calling to it, "Home!" the intelligent creature flew off at fullest speed.
"Now," I said, "if you do not help me I will kill you here and now.