SURPRISE, relief and understanding came to me at the same moment. Surprise at seeing Augie, relief that he was alive and well, and understanding that his long-drawn-out fear had been only a feint. By the time I had got all this through my head I saw that Charlie Williams was standing silently on the other side of me. Augie dropped down and whispered into my ear; I could just catch his words.
SURPRISE“Come,” he said, “and try to make no noise at all. I’ll lead the way and Charlie will help you from the left.”
I nodded. My left leg was the bad one and I couldn’t use it without some sort of help.
You should have seen those two then! As long as I live I will remember the way they got me through that jungle. Augie went first. In absolute silence he brushed away twigs that might have snapped
