Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-09-30
CHAPTER xvII-(Contnued)

leafy curtain had fallen naturally into
place; then l made a quick circuit OF
the cavern. I found 1t rudely circular,
with a diameter Of perhaps a rod ano
a height Of half as much. PasdelouE
had doubtless occupied It more than
once, for in one corner was a pile OF
dry moss. which had evidently served
for a bed. To this l bore that still
limp body and fell to chahng wrist
and temple, with a narrowing fear
again gripping my heart. She was so
pale, so haggard. her hands were so
cold and nerveless, that l was almost
ready to believe that the horrors and
hardships Of the night had slain her.
there was no pulse, no respiration -
no sign that the spirit still chung to
its earthly tenement
Desparingly, l let the limp hand
fall; If she were really dead, my path
lay clear before mel would share
the fate of my companions-I would
die beside them!
/ bent and kissed her lips, softly,
r~everently. And in that instant a
gentle sigh came from them, her
eyes opened and she lay looking UP at
me.
'"Then you are not dead!" I cried.
you are not deadl" and / caught up
her hands again and chafed them
nadly, feeling with Joy indescribable
;he warmth OF life returning to them.
She lay still a moment longer,
then gently drew her hand away and
raised herself to a sitting posture.
Where are WEI" she questioned,
staring about her in the green half
tight which filtered through the leafy
curtain. What has happened to usY"
I'VE are In a cavern which Pasde-
loup knew Of" I explained. I'VE are
safe"
Il thought we were under the
ocean," she said. still staring about
ocean I have always fancied It must
be like this, But where are the 9TH
ers 2" she demanded, suddenly.
THAT / do not know" / answered,
as ch~eerfully as / could. NO doubt
they have escaped In another direc-
tion," but in my heart / knew the alb
surd!ty OF such a hope,
you left them, thenT" she ques-
toned, looking at me from under
level brows.
m. le Comte commanded IT," / an
Pwered, flushing. DO you not remem-
ber?"
She pressed her hands to her tenn
pies.
II remember nothing" she said, at
last, except that we climbed a great
mountain, and that your arm was
about me, aiding me-"
/ breathed a sigh of relief that her
memory stopped there.
Shall / go back and look for themH"
I asked.
mo. mol" she protested and caught
my hand. do not leave me here-at
least, not yeti"
'T shall have TO go before long. In
any event." I pointed u I'VE must
have food"
II am not hungry feel tina / shall
never again be hungry"
Nevertheless, you must eat. You
must be strong n brave. We have a
long journey before us"
"A long j~ourney7"
'Yes-we shall not be really. safe
until we r among NJ. lie Comics
In the Bocage."
rs that far" she asked.
mot so far but that we shall reach
there safely" / assured her.
She lay back upon the moss with a
long sigh of utter WEAKNESS.
You must sleep" I added, gently.
do not fight 1t oh-yield to IL. You
will need your strength-all OF it.
for tonight.
For tonight"
Yes, we shall not dare 10 start until
darkness comes. and we must get for
ward as far as we can ere daybreak.
one suspects that we have taken refuge
here"
She did not answer, but turned on
one side, laid her head upon her arm
and closed her eyes. Sleep, I knew,
claim her In a moment.
i crept forward TO the mouth OF the
cavern, and sitting down behind the
screen OF vines, pulled them aside a
little and peered down the valley. in
the hope that 1 might see Pasdeloup
and NJ. lie Comte making their way
toward us. But there was no one In
sight. nor could / hear any sound of
conflict In the direction whence we
had ONE. 1t might be, / told myself,
that Pasdeloup had again succeeded
in saving his master and that they
had fled together In some other direc-
tion. Certainly no situation could
have been more critical and hopeless
that that in which I had left my
friend.
Whatever the result Of that struggle.
there was evidently nothing left
for me TO do save to stand sentinel
rel my companion and see that no
harm came TO her. I sat down with
my back against the wall of stone
and composed myself as comfortably
as l could to watch the valley. In
deed, my posture was too comfort
able; the knowledge thai we We're
safe; the ~slackening of the strain un-
der which / had labored. had left me
strangely weary; my eyelids dropped,
and before I realized the danger, I was
sound asleep.
/ awoke with a guilty start, but a
single glance down into the valley re-
assured memo danger threatened
us from that direction How long
mac slept I could not guess. but II
must have been some hours. for
felt refreshed. invigorated. ready for
anything-ready especially to under
take an energetic search for food 30 APP
pease the fnsistent gnawing In my
stomach.
But first I turned back into the cave
and bent over my companion. She was
still sleeping peacefully. A ray Of light
which had fought its way through the
leafy curtain fell upon her face in soft
benediction. I saw how sleep had wiped
away the lines OF WEAKNESS and anx.
iety. which ! had noticed there. and
knew h would be ready for the tasl
which nightfall would bring with II.
I drew her cloak more closely abou
her, hen went u softly. leaving he
the valley TO assure myself that I wa
unobsz7ved. drew carefully together tn
veil OF vines behind me, then pause'
q moment to reflect. I had two thing
to dol must secure food, and ! mus
discover, II possible. the fate of on
. companions. / resolved to do the lat
ter first. and so proceeded cautfousl
down the valley, keeping q sharp look
out on every side. I thought for