Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-11-05

30, please, Sir, do help me! Cousin Amy
has tumbled down the hill ~
Good gracious. child, where has she fall
on? 2" Hugh said in horror, for the spot where
they stood was above one of the steepest
slopes between yarmouth and Harlech.
Down there, Sir she was picking a flow
er when she slipped and cant get at her,
but l can see her"
And the child led the young artist to a
point further on, where the plateau project
ed, and the face of the hill where Amy had
fallen was visible.
The slope where she had slipped was very
steep, but became even sleeper lower down.
Then rocky ledge projected, and below it a
rough precipice some fifty feet high. Amy
Herbert lay on the ledge. She had rolled
down on to it, and had evidently struck her
head, for she was inHensible. The ledge was
some three feet wide and, from the position
in which the girl lay, it was probable that, at
the first movement made rs she came to, she
would roll over the edge.
CAN right, little one, don't cry will get
to cousin Amy. She has hurt herself but |
daresay she will be all right when l get to
her"
Hugh spoke cheerfully, but he was by no
means sure that the girl Was not killed. He
looked closely at the grassy slope. 1t WAS
easy enough to slide down but once down
there was no getting up again. He was fully
a mile and a half from the town but he
dared not run for aid, for if the girl partially
recovered she might be dashed to pieces be-
fore hisireturn. 1t was evident that he must
slide down to her. But the child puzzled
him. He was afraid to send her to the vii
lage by herself afraid to leave her alone on
the top besides, if they were to stop on
that ledge till help came, it would be much
more pleasant with the child there, both for
Amy and himself.
Look here, Pussy" he said, after a min
utes thought, twill you be good quiet lit
tie girl if 1 take you with me down to cousin
Amy?'
The child nodded seriously.
Here goes, then, he said; now do you
take hold of my hand very tight, and we will
go down as far as we can then wen lie
down on the grass, you put your arms round
my neck, and we will slide down
So it was DONE not without danger but
Hugh was strong and steady aud lying on
his face with one arm round the child, he
held ON to the tufts of grass and let himself
slide as gently as he could. Still his heart
beat fast for an instant when, on reaching
the steepest point of the slope, they slipped
down with rush the last fifteen feet to
the ledge where Amy lay, half over the brink
of the sheer fall below.
Now, Pussy, you sit down quite quiet
while ! see to cousin Amy
Very anxiousy tho young artist lifted the
girls head from the grass. There was lit
tie pool of blood below it, which had flowed
from a wound Just above the ear. He put
his fingers to her wrist, and, after minute
of anxious suspense, he felt very faint,
fickering pulse
Thank God :" he murmured devoutly.
Then he took out a whisky flask, and poured
few drops between the clnched teeth.
Again and again he did this, the child all the
time sitting perfectly quiet, and watching
with quiet frightened eyes. Presently the
girl sighed family.
Take hold of cousin Amy's hand, Hugh
said, 'and when you see her open her eyes
speak to her gently. Tell her to lie still ;
put you face close to hers, SO that she may
see you when she opens her eyes"
Hugh was sitting on the ground supporting
the girl, whose head rested on his shoulder.
Presently there was a movement of the eye
lids, and then slowly and languidly the eyes
opened
There. cousin Amy, you are better now.
Lie quiet You have hurt yourself, and must
be very good"
The eyes expressed recognition and faint
wonder, and then closed again. Hugh wait
ed little and then poured few more drops
effect was more decided She moved shook
her head, aud tried to avoid the mouth of the
flask. Then she looked up again.
'What is ity' she said family. "What
are you doing? Where am | z"
you must be quiet and good, the child
said positively. You must not move, the
gentleman says so.
This time the speech was vaguely under
stood for she looked beyond the childs face
to that of Hugh closed her eyes again, as il
she doubted them looked again, and then
made an effort to raise her head. Then Hugh
spoke, gently but decidedly:
MY dear young lady. you must lie quite
| quiet. You have fallen down and hurt your
self and you are faint and weak. You are
| quite safe where you are, but you cannot
move, for we are on the side of the hill, and
must wait till help comes. Your cousin il
here with you. Kiss her, Pussy"
Amy Herbert listened in a sort of confused
wonder. She did not understand in the least,
except that she was told to be quiet in firm
authoritative tones, such as had not been ad
dressed to her since she was a child. The
warm kiss of her little cousin seemed to as
sure her that all was right, and, with little
sigh she closed her eyes again, and was soor
breathing quietly. Then the child turned to
Hugh
'Amy's gone to sleep. My name ISM
Pussy, but Ida-Ida Herbert"
IAN right, Ida. I'll call you so in future
Now, Ida, when you stand up, can you sec
the road down below there 7"
Just see it," the child said "but it is get
ting dark. When are We going home ?"
lam afraidw are not going home to- night
Ida. Certainly not unless some one comes
along that road, and there is not much chance
of that"
Where are we to sleepS" Ida asked il
surprise.
1--WE must sleep Just where we are. Cousin
Amy will sleep here, and you shall curl W
close to me and lay your head against me OF
the other side, aud Il don't think you'll b,
cold"
"But l want supper before l go to bed"
"Ah, you can't have supper tonight Ida
but it will be great fun, you know, sleeping
out here for a bit, and expect that present
| ly your mamma will send people out to lool
for you, and then we shall hear them shout
and We shall shout back again; and ther
they'll come with some ropes, and up WI
shall go to the top. Now shall l tell you {
| story z"
go yes, please, Ida said, delighted.
Twill you sit quiet by me, then and when
you feel sleepy you just lay your head dowr
and go of to sleep. l will go on with my
story till you are asleep but we must tall
very low, else we shall wake cousin Amy"
For an hour he told stories of fairies anC
enchanters, and then the little head leaned
gradually against his wsistcoat, and in five
minutes he stopped in the middle of his mar
rative. Then Amy Herbert spoke;
81 am not asleep; l have been awake fol
some time, and have been thinking You are
the gentleman who rescued Ida of the rocks
are you not ?"
"Yes," Hugh said.
81 thought So Now, please, how came
you and Ida here, and where are we, ant
why don't we 60 homer"
you rolled down a steep grassy slope on Il
ledge You struck your head in falling
and were insensble for time. l came W
and should have run off for assistance, but
feared II you moved before l came back you
would fall over another fifty feet, so l tool
Ida and slipped down to you"
Cant ?" the girl asked, presently