The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-09-22
CHAPTER XvII-(Contnued)

49,
leafy curtain had fallen naturally into
place: then l made a quick circuit OF
the cavern. l found it rudely circular,
with a diameter OF perhaps a rod anu
a height of half as much. Pasdeloup
had doubtless occupied 1t 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 n fell to chatting wrist
and temple. with a narrowing fear
again gripping my heart. She was SO
pale, so haggard, her hands were SO
cold and ~nerveiess. that l was alnost
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. IL she We're really dead. my path
lay clear before mel would share
the fate OF my companions would
die beside hem.
bent and kissed her lips, softly.
re%verently. And in hat instant a
gentle sigh came from them, her
eyes opened and she lay looking up at
me.
Then you are not dead" l cried.
"You are not dead!" and / caught up
her hands again and chafed them
madly. feeling With JOY indescribable
the warmth Of lie returning to them.
She lay still a moment longer.
then gently drew her hand away and
raised herself TO a sitting posture.
where are we?" she questioned.
staring about her in the green half
light which filtered through the leafy
curtain. What has happened to us?'
We are in IA cavern which Pasde-
loup knew Of" l explained. we are
safe"
Il thought we were under the
ocean" she said. still staring about
her. Far down in the depths OF the
ocean l have always fancied it must
be like this. But where are the 9TH
ers?" she demanded, suddenly.
THAT / do not know" | answered,
as ct%eerfully as / could. NO doubt
they have escaped In another direc-
ton" but in my heart l knew the abb
surdlty of such a hope.
You left them. them" she ques-
toned, looking at me from under
level brows.
M. ie Comte commanded it," l an
swered, Gushing. DO you not remem-
ber?"
She pressed her hands to her tenn
! pies.
Il remember nothing" she said. at
last. except that we climbed a great
mountain, and hat your arm was
about me. aiding me-"
/ breathed a sigh OF relief that her
memory stopped there.
Shall l go back and look for then?"
! asked.
mo. no." she protested and caught
my hand. do not cave me here--at
least, not yet"
Il shall have to so before long. in
any event" l pointed out. we must
! have food"
Il am not hungry feel that I shall
never again be hungry"
Nevertheless, you must eat. You
must be strong and brave. We have Il
long journey before u.s."
"A long journey"
"Yes-we shall not be really safe
until we are among NJ. lie Comics
friends in the Bocage."
us that far" she asked.
"Not so far but that we shall reach
there safely" l assured her.
She lay back upon the moss with a
long sigh of utter WEAKNESS.
You must sleep I added. gently.
do not fight II oY-yield to II. You
will need your strength-all OF it
for tonight.
For tonight?"
Yes. we snail not dare TO start until
darkness comes and W. must get for
ward as far as We can ere 1aybreas,
You can sleep in perfect security. No
one suspects that We have taken refuge
here"
She did not answer. but turned or
one side, laid her head upon her arm
and closed her eyes. Sleep. ! knew
would claim her In a moment.
] crept forward to the mouth OF thu
cavern, and sitting down behind the
screen OF vines, pulled them aside q
little and peered down the valley. ir
the hope that might see PasdelouI
and NJ. lie Comte making their way
toward us. But there was no one In
sight, no; could / hear any sound OF
conflict in the direction whence we
had come. 1t might he. i told myself
that Pasdeioup had again succeeded
in saving his master and that they
had fed together In some other direc'
ton. Certainly no situs ton coult
have been more critical and hopeless
that that in which i had left nv
friend.
Whatever the result OF that struggle
there was evidently nothing lef
for me- to do save TO stand Sentine
over my companion and see that M
harm came To her. l sat down Will
my back against the wall Of ston'
and composed myself as comfortabl,
as | could to watch the valley. In
decd, my posture was too comfort
able: the knowledge that we wer,
safe: the slackening of the strain I'm
der which l had labored, had left M
strangely weary; my eyelids dropped
and before | realized the danger. l wa,
sound asleep.
| awoke with n guilty start. but
single glance down into the valley re
assured memo danger thrcatene'
us from that direction. How long
had slept i could not guess. but /
must have been some hours. for
felt refreshed, invigorated. ready TO
arything-raady especially to under
take an energetic search for food to ap
pease the iEsistent gnawing in IN
stomach.
But irst ! turned back into the cav
ans bent over my companion. She wa
! still sleeping peacefully. a ray OF ligh
which had fought It's way through TIL
lcafy curtain fell urcr her face in sol
berediction ! saw how sleep had wipe
away the lines OF WEAKNESS II any
iety, which ! had noticed there. mo
knew she would be ready for the tas
which n.ghtfall would bring with IL.
drsW her cloak more closely aboC
hc?, then went out softly. leaving lie
, undisturbed. i elanced UP and dow
the ALLEY to assure niysc,f that | W.
unobservcd, drew carefully together Il
!, vcil OF vines behind ME, then pause
a momen 20 reflect. ! had two thins
!, to dol must secure food, n i mG!
discover. If rossibie. the fate Of o.
companions. ] resolved TO do the la
ter first. and so proceeded cautiousl