“Indeed, I do feel a great deal better, and I will give you a proof of that presently if you will let me have my breakfast.”
“You shall eat, lad. The fever has left you. Hans rubbed your wounds with some ointment or other of which the Icelanders keep the secret, and they have healed marvellously. Our hunter is a splendid fellow!”
Whilst he went on talking, my uncle prepared a few provisions, which I devoured eagerly, notwithstanding his advice to the contrary. All the while I was overwhelming him with questions which he answered readily.
I then learnt that my providential fall had brought me exactly to the extremity of an almost perpendicular shaft; and as I had landed in the midst of an accompanying torrent of stones, the least of which would have been enough to crush me, the conclusion was that a loose portion of the rock had come down with me. This frightful conveyance had thus carried me into the arms of my uncle, where I fell bruised, bleeding, and insensible.
“Truly it is wonderful that you have not been killed a hundred times over. But, for the love of God, don’t let us ever separate again, or we many never see each other more.”
“Not separate! Is the journey not over, then?” I opened a pair of astonished eyes, which immediately called for the question:
“What is the matter, Axel?”
“I have a question to ask you. You say that I am safe and sound?”
“No doubt you are.”
“And all my limbs unbroken?”
“Certainly.”