The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-07-18

leave her there to die, to be killed by
the storm or eaten up by the wolves, it
did not matter which; either alterna-
tive was preferable to going on.
tried all could to pacify the poor girl,
but she was getting into a state of hys-
terical excitement and absolutely re-
fused to move, though every moment
was precious and the dead stiffness
formerly around us was now awake
with the voice of the coming storm.
At last 1 began to despair of moving
her to me, madame. l am an old mar
ried man." Then, bending forward, he
seized my bride and with a cool "Adieu,
mademoiselle; hope you will not dis
agree with the wolves" to Mousette be-
gan to urge our beasts forward not
withstanding my protests.
But the issue showed he was right,
though confess was surprised to see
the way in which my maid recovered
her strength under this rough and
ready treatment, for in two minutes
she was busting along at our heels.
But the lost time never came to our
hands again, and as we began to de-
scend the wooded slope toward the
Luxege, which we could hear hum
ming angrily below u.s. the storm burst
with shrek of the winds and an alb
solute darkness that was rendered
more intense and horrible by the vivid
flashes of lightning and the continuous
roar of thunder. In a trice Lalande
had dismounted and taken us frotl our
horses, and the poor animals seemed
so overcome by fear or fatigue or both
combined that they stood perfectly
still.
at is death, madame, attempting to
ride now. We must get to the river on
foot" Saying this, Lalande managed
somehow to get the horses in front of
us, and then, holding on to each other
and guided by the incessant flashes of
lightning, we began a slow and pain
full progress. l soon began to feel the
fatigue and exhaustion so much that /
in my turn begged Lalande to stop.
Courage, madame, it's but a few
yards more to the river bank" he an
swered. "There we can stop and rest"
And took my heart up and strove on
ward again. At last, when within
few yards of the river sank down ut
terly exhausted and unable to move
farther, and Mousette alternately sob
bed and prayed over me, while now
and again l could see the tall figure of
Lalande standing grim and motionless
and once fancied heard a deep OATH
He gave us some cognac from a flask
he carried, and then there was nothing
for it but to wait and meet death if it
was to be. Now there came a series
of lightning flashes thatslit up the ter
rife scene, and l almost gasped. for
right before me on a butting crag
made out a small castle. Lalande saw
it, too, for he blew long and shrilly on
his horn, and then we watched and
waited for q time that seemed inter-
minable, when all at once the flare of
a huge beacon rose bright and red
against the darkness and an answering
bugle reached our ears. Lalande blew
again, and to our JOY there was reply.
Strength came back to me with the
prospect of safety, and rising to my
feet, called to Lalande: "On! Onr'
He answered, ''The river, madame
looked and saw below white, lash
ing flood that swung and swirled past
with savage roar. The lightning show
ed us the angry water and the wicked,
dancing foam that seemed to leap up
in delight at the prospect of the black
swirl below it dragging us down to
death. Then again we heard the bugle
notes, and we saw the lights of torches
and heard the shouting of men from
the opposite bank.
'Let us go on to meet them. We are
savedw screamed Mousette. And, hold
ing on to each other we staggered past
the horses, which stood all huddled to-
gether, only to be stopped here by the
utter darkness and Lalande.
''For the love of heaven, madame, do
not mover he cried. RESCUE is com
ing"
And it did come.
All that | can remember was seeing
the light of many spluttering torches
around us. Some one lifted me in his
arms like a child, and | heard a voice
say, "Be careful with the horses over
the bridge, Pierre" and then my
strength gave way.
had been asleep-asIeep for ages, it
seemed-and all the past was a dream,
thank Godl This was the thought that
struck me as l opened my eyes. But
as | looked around l saw the room in
which lay was strange to me, and
inch by inch everything came back,
all except. the events of the last mo-
ments by the river where my recollec-
ton became confused. 1t was daylight,
but still the remains of the storm of
last night were in evidence, and could
bear the water dripping from the caves
and through the half open dormer win
dow the murmur of the Luxege, still
angry and unappeased, reached my
ears.
Where was L? looked about me and
| found that / was in a large room,
Il