The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-09-10
CHAPTER XIII,
The Help of MaGemoiselIe.

The sound of voice speaking, ap
parently far off, was the first thing OF
Which l was dimly conscious. The
language was French, and for what
seemed a long time, no word sounded
familiar. My mind was blank of any
distinct impression, although there ap
peared to float before me, in recollec
ton OF some former existence, the
face of mademoiselle. Her wonderful
eyes were gravely smiling through a
strange mist that appeared to hide all
else in its circling folds. l could not
get away from their silent pleading
their invitation. Then somehow that
speaking voice became hers, and |
picked out a word here and there. de-
tached, meaningless, and yet recognize
able. l struggled to arouse myself to
her actual presence.
The struggle must have been ply
steal as well as mental, for I became
conscious OF pain, sharp pang shoot
ing through my body, as If knife had
been twisted in deep wound The
agony brought me wide awake, my
eyes open, staring about, yet scarcely
realizing where dream and reality met.
AT first could not distinguish objects,
or separate sounds; everything was
blurred, formless. There was a red
vapor before my eyes, a strange ring
Ing In my ears. Then l knew it was
indeed mademoiselle who spoke, some
where off there to my right, and once
l heard another voice-a falsetto. vet
plainly that of man, interrupting
her. Between my poor understanding
OF French, and the bewilderment Of
my brain, could make nothing out of
what was said; the very few words |
caught seemed meaningless, with no
connection between them. l strug-
gled hard to comprehend, but my brain
made utter failure of the attempt, a
dull horrible aching across my tenn
pies being the only reward.
Monsieur" the voice was a whis-
per at my ear; l could even feel her
soft breath on my cheek. My eyes in.
stantly opened. and looked into her
face as she bent above me. DO not
move, do not speak aloud-but listen,
l knew you were not dead; found you
first and kept them away, but there is
no time now for me to explain. Are
you badly hurt?"
Il cannot tell, mademoiselle those
heavy bodies will not let me move"
She glanced about swiftly, as If in
fear of being seen; then released my
limbs, dragging the two dead Indians
lol-
the waist, yet as the blood began to
circulate knew there was no serious
injury. She stared into my face as l
worked the numbed muscles, and her
eyes told me that she was frightened.
I'VE are alone here?"
Eyes. for the moment" breathlessly.
1T Is your only chance; l have prayed
and schemed to get to you. We mustn't
lose an instant. Can you move, mon
sieur? Can you even crawl a dozen
feet?"
l set my teeth, struggling to turn
over and attain my knees. In spite of
every effort sank on my face with a
smothered groan of pain. She lifted
my head upon her arm.
"Oh, you must, monsieur, you must!
cannot lift you, you are too big, but
but l will help. See, will hold you
like this! Please. please try again
we must he quick"
"Where-where do you want me to
go?" l asked family, inspired to ef-
fort by the firm. eager grip of her
hand. "Tell me; I'll try"
"There-just to the left of the fire.
place. 1t is the one chance, monsieur.
They will be back, those fiends, they
will burn the cabin. Mon Dieu! Try!
Try!"
l got to my knees once more. the
plea of her voice yielding strength and
determination. At whatever cost
would attempt to please her. l ex-
perienced no sense of fear; my brain
seemed dazed. incapable of apprehend-
ing clearly. 1t held but the one pur-
pose-to accomplish this to please her.
She wished me to try, and l would.
With teeth clinched tight, fixed my
eyes on the spot indicated and started.
Terrible was the effort!
But l made it inch by inch. I shall
never know how the deed was accom-
plished-only that she helped. and |
fought on. l had to; she asked me:
there were tears in her eyes. No mat
ter If it did hurt, if l was blind, if
reeled on hands and knees like a man
drunk must go there. l had not
the faintest thought of why she urged
me on, of what hope animated her.
And when l finally gave out, helpless
to advance another inch, my face came
down hard on a slab of stone beside
the chimney. She uttered low sob of
despair, and left me an instant. I
knew she had gone, yet could not lift
NV head Than uafar nnnl rorrir-;n.x