The Spectator., 1916-01-18

minutes then. Perhaps they had just awakened to his escape and were cast ing aside stealth for the fury of open pursuit. She even thought she heard an oath once, and then 1t was all quiet again; quiet for while, and at the end of the silence, like the punctua- tion of an exclamation mark, came the far-away snap of rifle.
 She had dropped to chair and sat there tensely, leaning forward, her lips parted and her ears straining. Had she heard one shot and it's echo, or had there been several? Her imag- ination and fears were playing her certain of her senses.
 The passage of time was thing of which she had lost count. Each mo- ment was a century.
 Then, with violent start, she sat up, Now she knew she heard sound there could be no doubt this time It came from out beyond the front door. and she bent forward, listen ing.
 It was strange sort of sound which she could not make out, but in sub tie way it was more terrifying than the chatter of rifles. It was as if some heavy, soft thing were being dragged up the steps and rolling back.
 She rose and took a step toward the door, but halted in doubt. The sound died and then came again, al ways with halting intervals of silence between, as though whoever were dragging the burden had to pause on each step to rest Then there was scraping as of boot-leather on the boards and labored breath outside a breath that seemed to be agonized.
 She bent forward with one hand outstretched toward the latch. and heard a faint rapping. It was seem ingly the rap of very feeble fingers, but that might all be part of a ruse. Was it friend or enemy out there, just beyond the thickness of the heavy panels? At all events, she must see.
 She braced herself and threw the door open. A figure which had been leaning against it lurched forward. stumbled over the threshold and fell in a heap, half in and half out. It was the figure of Anse Havey.
 How far he had hitched himself along. foot by foot. like a mortally wounded animal crawling home to die. she could not tell but for one horri- fled instant she stood gazing down on him i'll stupefaction
 He had gone out a splendid vital creature of resilient strength and pow CT. He had come back the torn and bleeding wreck of man. literally shot to pieces, as quail is shattered when it rises close to a quick-shooting gun.
 In the next moment she was stoop- ing with her arms around his body, striving to lift his weight and bring him in. She was strong beyond all seeming of her slenderness, but the man was heavy. and as she raised his off and stifled agony escaped his white lips. and she knew that her efforts were torturing him.
 It was an almost lifeless tongue that whispered. "l was skeered--that I-wouldn't get here"
 Then as she staggered under his inert bulk he tried to speak again. Jest help-drag me-
 The few yards into the hall made a long and terrible journey. and how she ever got him in, half hanging to her. half crawling. stopping at every step, she never knew. Still it was done at last. and she was kneeling on the floor with his head on her breast.
 No wonder they had left him for dead and gone away content He looked up and faint smile came to his almost unrecognizable face. The blood which had already dried and caked with the dust through which he had crawled was being fed by fresh CT outpouring. and, as she held him close to her, her own bosom and arms were red too as red as the flower pinned in her hair,
 She must stanch his wounds and pour whisky down his throat before the fickering wisp of life-name burned out
 Wait dearest" she said in a bro ken voice. 'I must get things you need"
 Tt ain't'-he paused a moment for the breath which came very hard scarcely worth while.Im done"
 But she flew to the cupboard where there was brandy. She tore linen from her petticoat and brought water from the drinking bucket that stood with it's gourd dipper on the porch.
 But when she pressed the flask to his lips he closed them and shook his head little.
 "I aint never touched drop in my life" he said, "an' reckon-I nights well-finish out-twon't be long. It's too late to begin now.
 For a while he lay gaspng, then spoke again, weakly:
 l.; xrhat