The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-11-12
CHAPTER xxi.-(continued.

10 bceuleu Ci6dF 10 MIN lndI III he lay
where he waste say nothing of the
wound he had ~received-he would
soon die OF hunger and cold and x
posure.
He made a mental picture of the
spot on the moor where he lay. He
knew the downs well. He had crossed
and recrossed them a dozen times
during the years he had lived at st.
Chloe. He was out OF the track OF
everybody save people who might be
searching for stray cattle, and they
would only cross In the daylight, and
might not come within half a mile of
where he lay. He was half buried in
q bank of heather, and all around him
the gorse grew to a height of a cou-
iple OF feet. He might lie there and
rot before any trace Of him was dis
covered. He could hear the wind
swishing in the tops of the gorse
bushes, and yet so sheltered was he
that it scarcely famed his face.
On the whole he thought It was not
An unpleasant place to die in. The
heather was soft beneath his head,
the dreamy swish Of the wind was as
soothing as a lullaby, and in his nos
trils was a pungent odor of wild
thyme and ling.
He wondered how long he would re-
tain consciousness IL he lay there
quite still and made no attempt to
move. Then he began to wonder how
long he had been unconscious, and
what hour OF the night or morning II
a II he watched he would see the
day break sooner or later-that Is,
supposing he remained alive: and II
the sun got out 1t would warm him,
and that would be a comfort, for he
felt terribly cold. The fact that New
ms had escaped he did not allow TO
trouble him very much. He had inter
ested himself more for Esther Nav
gan's sake than for Marion Vests.
Miss West he hardly knew. but for
thing.
He discovered after a while that he
could move his legs and left arm with.
out pain. The knife struck down
ward. a little below the right shout
der. Perhaps If he could keep his
right arm and shoulder quite still he
might in time get on to his feet and
walk.
He got at his pocket handkerchief
after awhile and, folding ii as well as
he was able, laid It yer the wound.
He was anxious not to lose any more
blood II he could help it. He had lost
far loo much already. On the top of
the handkerchief he laid a pair OF
worsted gloves which he found in his
overcoat pocket, then buttoned his
vest and coat tightly over the pad.
The effort warmed him a little, and
also diverted his thoughts. After a
while he managed to sit up. keeping
his right arm perfectly rigid all the
time. He felt terribly weak and faint.
and the earth swan and the stars
played hide-and- sceek for several Sec
onds; but he bravely held his ground,
and fought the threatened faintness
with all the strength Of will that he
possessed.
From his sitting posture he was
able to ascertain more clearly his
whereabouts. The stars indicated the
points OF the compass. In the East
he fancied he detected the first flush
of dawn. II so, he must have lain
unconscious a good many hours. 1t
was a wonder that he was alive.
Closing his eyes, he offered up a
fsrvent prayer for help. 1t seemed to
him that he was entirely beyond the
aid OF any human power. II help was
TO reach him 1t must come from God.
Only God knew where he was. knew
his need. Only God could hear him
and send delivereancs.
He smiled almost uneonsciously as
IN the prayer book that just fitted his
case. His extremity discovered to
him an unsupported gift of expression.
The dawn was climbing rapidly the
eastern slopes OF heaven, when at
length he stood upon his feet. He
had to shut his eyes tightly for sew
eral moments In order ts steady him
self. He would have been glad OF any
kind OF san just then.
Making a rough calculation OF the
distance he travelled the previous
evening before he came up to Nevins.
he decided to turn his face to the
north. Somewhere In that direction
vas a little farmstead that had been
reclaimed from the downs. He had
noticed It more than once as he had
crossed the moor In that direction,
and had wondered who had deemed
II worth the toll. and what sort of peo-
be could content themselves to live in
SO lonely q place.
The air was quite clear and frosty.
The keen wind had driven away the
last remnants of yesterdays fog. and
the great stretch of moorland seemed
TO rise like the rim of a bowl all
round him. There was no sign OF a
human habitation In any direction.
His irst steps were very feeble and
exceedingly slow: but he felt pro-
foundly grateful that he was able to
walk At all. How long he would be
able to keep In Z perpendicular posi-
tion was q matter of considerable II n
certainty. The first h~alf-dozen steps
threatened to be the last, but he
gained courage and confidence the
farther he proceeded.