Explore "Consider Her Ways" by Frederick Philip Grove on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
We remained at this station for three days. Even I needed the rest. I was now in my ninth year; and, while Her Majesty's prediction that my life would be prolonged by the greatness of my task had undoubtedly come true, yet I was beginning to feel the effect of extreme old age. I am happy to be able to say that it did not impair the powers of my mind; but the incessant marches of the last forty days told on my bodily strength; and the constant worry had superinduced a severe insomnia.
In order to ensure that my rest remained unbroken, I issued orders that nobody should leave camp. I took Bissa-tee and Azte-ca partly into my confidence, telling them that I feared mutiny in the army; and henceforth both faithfully shared my vigils. I have mentioned that our cluster was fastened to the lowest branch of a dead gum- tree; and every night we took turns in mounting guard on that branch.