The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-27
CHAPTER VI.
Alone With De Artigny.

With the coming OF help con-
seriousness left me, When | again
awoke | was lying upon sandy
beach, and | stared into a face
bending over me.
THE Sieur de Artigny!" l ex-
claimed.
"Of course" he answered.
"Who else should 1t be, Madame?
Please do not regret my privi-
lege."
Il thank you, Monsieur" I
said, and held out my hand. 1T
was most gallant. Are we alone
here? Where are the others?"
81 do not know, Madame" he
answered, his tone that of formal
courtesy. "'Tis but a short time
since we reached this spot, and
the storm yet RACES"
He lifted me to my feet, and l
stood erect, my clothes dripping
wet, and my limbs trembling so
that | grasped his arm for sup
port.
what can we do?"
"There is naught that l see,
but wait. Monsieur Cassion 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 with
out search. See, the sky grows
lighter already. 1t would be my
thought to attain the woods yon-
der, and build a fire to dry our
clothes; the air chills."
| looked where he pointed, up
a narrow rift in the rocks, yet
scarcely felt strength or courage
to attempt the ascent. He must
have read this in my face, for he
made instant decision.
"Ah, I have a better thought
than that, for you are too weak
to attempt the climb. Here, lie
down. Madame, and l will cover
you with the sand. It is warm
and dry. Then | will Chamber up
yonder, and fling wood down;
twill be but short time until
we have a cheerful blaze here"
I yielded to his insistence, and
he piled the white sand over me
until all but my face was covered.
From where l lay, I could
watch him scale the rocks. AT
the top he looked back, waved his
hand, and then disappeared
among the trees.
1 gazed up at the sky, where
the clouds we're thinning, giving
glimpses of faintest blue, and be-
gan to collect my own thoughts
and realize my situation.
In spite of my promise to Cas-
sion, l was here alone with De
Artigny, helpless to escape his
presence. Nor had / slightest wish
to escape.
De Artigny appeared at the edge
of the cliff. He had his arms
filled with broken bits of wood
which were tossed to the sand
and, a moment later, he descend
ed and paused beside me.
mo sign of anyone up there
he said. THE canoes must have
been blown some distance down
the coast"
Were you able to see far?"
"Ay, several leagues. Are you
becoming dry?"
81 am at least warm, and al
ready feel much stronger. Would
it not be best. Monsieur, for us
to scale the cliff, and wait oui
rescuers there, where we car
keep lookout"
IF you feel able to climb the
rocks"
He helped me to lny feet. The
warmth of the sand had given mt
vigor, and was able to climl
without difficulty. We soor
gained the top of the cliff where
De Artigny made me comfortable
and built q fire.
My companion would have en-
tertained me with cheerful con
versation, but could not respond
was dumb through fear of Cas-
sion's return. | knew that no ex
PLANTATION OF mine would be &C
copied concerning my rescuer's
presence.
| l did not notice when De Ar.
tigny stopped talking and we must
have been sitting in silence fol-
some time when he finally reused