But (call it courage or cowardice, and I believe it was both the one and the other) I decided I was ventured out beyond the possibility of a retreat.

I had outfaced these men, I would continue to outface them; come what might, I would stand by the word spoken.
The sense of my own constancy somewhat uplifted my spirits, but not much.

At the best of it there was an icy place about my heart, and life seemed a black business to be at all engaged in.

For two souls in particular my pity flowed.

The one was myself, to be so friendless and lost among dangers.