static long load64Safely(byte[] input, int offset, int length) {
    long result = 0;
    // Due to the way we shift, we can stop iterating once we've run out of data, the rest
    // of the result already being filled with zeros.

    // This loop is critical to performance, so please check HashBenchmark if altering it.
    int limit = Math.min(length, 8);
    for (int i = 0; i < limit; i++) {