"But such a trip as now lies before us will test your power of endurance greatly.
Yet what must be done is best done quickly, and there are unpleasant memories clustering about this spot, making me anxious to leave it before another night.

Let each one speak frankly his thought as to our future course, so we may choose the route aright.

De Noyan, you are a soldier, accustomed to places of difficulty and peril.

What would you suggest ?" He was lying flat upon his back, hands clasped beneath his head, puffs of white smoke from his pipe curling lazily up into the blue sky; nor did he remove the stem from between his lips as he made easy answer.
"Faith, man, my service on campaign has ever been with the horse; nor am I fond of using my own limbs for travelling.

It would be far easier, I think, to knock up the old boat here; then, with whatsoever else we might find in this God-forsaken wilderness, construct some sort of raft to upbear our company, and so drift down with the stream.
_Parbleu_! it would be a relief from those cursed oars.