Out of her sphere - University Library

IN THE FORT. 15
and more terrible than any she had ever
known—into air that was damp and cold,
as if it breathed of the grave. It was to
her grave that he was carrying her I She
was so numbed, so paralyzed with fear, that
she had almost lost the desire to escape.
It seemed as if she could realize nothing
but her utter helplessness and his mastery
over her. Like a victim spell-bound by the
eyes of a rattle-snake, or rather like that
round which the cobra is twining its hideous
folds— so she felt, knew, saw her danger,
and felt, saw, knew nothing else.
They seemed so long descending into this
awful darkness, into this chill atmosphere
which froze the very soul within her—and
yet it was not so long—the steps were not
above a dozen that they descended—but to
her mind every one seemed trebled. Should
they ever come to the end ? and^ if they
did, what was awaiting her there ? Still
she felt his arm round her, pressing her