He was excruciatingly thirsty, and the gurgling of waters round about made him wish he might dismount and plunge into them.

But he lacked power to form a decided purpose, and permitted the more energetic will to control him.

It might have been minutes, or it might have been hours, for all he knew: at last they halted, near the base of the white pyramid.
"Here we are safe," said Semitzin, coming to his side.

"Lean on me, my love, and I will lift you down." "Oh, I'm not quite so bad as that, you know," said Freeman, with a feeble laugh; and, to prove it, he blundered off the saddle, and came down on the ground with a thwack.

He picked himself up, however, and recollecting that he had a flask with brandy in it, he felt for it, found it intact, and, with an inarticulate murmur of apology, raised it to his lips.