Mexico Missouri message., 1916-09-07
CHAPTER xlII-continued.

"Lie still a moment" said a voice
gently. "YOu will breathe easier short
" and regain strength"
L knew my fingers closed on the
mans hand convulsively, but the wa
ter yet blinded my eyes. He must
have perceived this for he wiped my
face with a cloth, and 1t was then 1
perceived his face clearly, and remem-
bered.
'SThe Sieur d'Artignyr' / exclaimed.
't0f course" he answered. "Who
else should 1t be, madame2 Please do
not regret my privilege"
"Your privilege; it's a strange word
you choose, monsieur" l faltered, not
yet having control Of myself. Surely
have granted none"
"Perchance not as there was small
chance" he answered, evidently at
tempting to speak lightly. "Nor could
I walt to ask your leave; yet surely
I may esteem 1t privilege to bring
S~u ashore alive"
IT was you then who saved me? l
scarcely understood, monsieur; 1 lost
consciousness, and am dazed in mind.
You leaped into the water from the
cancer
Eyes; there was no other course left
me. My boat was beyond yours, a
few yards farther out In the lake,
when the storm struck. We were par
tally prepared, for felt assured there
would be trouble. Never did 1 feel
more deadly blast; no craft such as
ours could face 1t. We were to your
left and rear when your canoe cap
sized, and 1 bore down toward where
you struggled In the water. An In,
dian got grip upon you as we swept
by, but the craft dipped so that he let
go, and then jumped, for we could
never come back, and that was the
only chance. This is the whole story,
madame, except that by Gods help, I
got you ashore"
looked into his face, impressed by
the seriousness with which he spoke.
IL thank you, monsieur" said,
and held out my hand. ''It was most
gallant. Are we alone here? Where
are the others?"
81 do not know, madame" he an
gwered, his tone now that Of formal
courtesy. "'Tis but a short time
since we reached this spot, and the
storm yet RACES. May help you to
stand, so you may perceive better our
rsituation."
He lifted me to my feet, and
stood erect, my clothes dripping wet,
and my limbs trembling so that
grasped bis arm for support, and
glanced anxiously about. We were
on a narrow sand beach, at the edge
of a small cove, so protected the wa
tiers were comparatively calm, al
though the trees above bowed to the
blast, and out beyond the headland I
could see huge waves, whitened with
foam, and perceive the clouds of spray
dung up by the rocks. 1t was a wild
scene, the roar of the breakers loud
and continuous, and the black clouds
flying above with dizzy rapldity. All
the horror which had just passed
through seemed typifled in the scene,
and l covered my face with my hands,
''You-you think they-they are all
gonep l asked, forcing the words
from me.
"Oh, no." he answered eagerly, and
his hand touched me. do not give
way to that thought. 1 doubt If any
in your canoe made shore, but the
Others need not be in great danger
They could run before the storm until
they found some opening in the coast
line to yield protection. The sergeant
was no voyageur, and when one of
the paddles broke he steered wrong.
With an Indian there you would have
-hoated"
''Then what can we do?"
''There is naught that see, but
wait. Monsieur Casslon will be blown
south, but will return when the storm
subsidies to seek you. No doubt he
will think you dead, yet will scarcely
leave without search. See, the sky
grows lighter already, and the wind
Is less fierce. 1t would be my thought
60 attain the woods yonder, and build
a Gro 20 dry our clothes; the air chiils. "
I looked where he pointed. up a mar