River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-02-20
CHAPTER discontinued.

Hand already, earlier In the day,
had made a path for himself up the
steep bank through the underbrush,
md now Agatha went with him to
inc edge OF the thicket. She watched
and listened until the faint rustling
IF his footsteps ceased, then turned
tack to the camp on the beach. She
yent to the fire and stirred up it's
Goals once more before returning to
1amGs. He was sleeping, but his
flushed face and unnatural breathing
we're signs OF ILL., Now and then he
moved restlessly, or seemed to try to
peak, but no coherent words came.
she sat down to watch by him.
After Agatha and James had been
brought ashore by the capable Mr.
iiand, it had needed only time to
Bring Agatha back to consciousness
Goth she and James had practically
tainted from exhaustion, and James
rad been nearly drowned, at the last
minute Agatha had been left on the
rocks tc come to herself as she would
aliie Hand had rubbed and pun
,neIed James until the blood flowed
again. 1t had flowed too freely, in
deed. at some time during his ordeal;
and tiny trickles of blood showed on
mis- lips Agatha, dazed and aching,
vas trying to crawl up to the sand
when Hand came back to her, run
ming lightly over the slippery rocks
They had come in on the flowing tide,
which had aided them greatly; and
Hcw Hand helped her the short dis
lance to the cove and mercifully let
3ler lie, while he went back to his
work for James.
Later he had got a little bucket
nsed for bailing out the rowboat, and
dashed hurriedly into the thicket
above after some tinkling cowbells
Though she was too tired to question
him, Agatha supposed he had tied one
Of the COWS to a tree, since he re-
turned three or four times to fill the
pail. What wonderful life-giver
milk was! She had drunk her fill
and had tried to feed it to James,
Who at first tasted eagerly, but had,
On the whole, taken very little. He
was only partly awake, but he shiv-
cred and weakly murmured that he
vas cold. Agatha quickly grew
stronger; and she and Hand set to
work to prepare the fire and the bed.
Almost while they were at this labor,
the sun had gone down.
Sitting by Jims couch, Agatha grew
sleepy and cold. but there were no
more coverings. Hands coat was
OYER Jim, and as Agatha herself felt
the cold more keenly she tucked it
closer about him Alone as she was
now, in solitude with this man who
had saved her from the waters, with
darkness and the night again coming
ON, her spirit shrank; not so much
from fear, as from that premonition
OF the future which now and then
assails the human heart.
AS she knelt by Jim's side. cover
ing his feet with the coat and heaping
the fir boughs over him, she paused
10 look at his unconscious face. She
know now that he did not belong to
the crew of the Jeanne Dare: but
OF his outward circumstances she
knew nothing more Thirty she
guessed him to be, thereby coming
within four years of the truth. His
short mustache concealed his mouth,
and his eyes were closed. 1t was
almost like looking at the mask of
face. The rough beard OF 3 weeks
growth made deep shadow over the
tower part of his face; and yet, Ee-
hind the mask. she thought she could
see some token of a real man, not