Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-10-13
CHAPTER xIIl-continued.

"Lie still a moment" said a voice
gently. "You will breathe easier short
ly and regain strength"
l knew my fingers closed on the
mans hand convulsiyely, but the wa
ter yet blinded my eyes. He must
have perceived this for he wiped my
eace with a cloth, and 1t was then l
perceived his face clearly, and remem-
bered.
1.-THE Sieur d'Artignyv' exclaimed.
'sOf COURSE" he answered. "Who
else should it be. madame? Please do
not regret my privilege"
"Your privilege; tbs strange word
you choose, monsieur" faltered, not
vet having control of myself. Surely
I have granted none"
"Perchance not, as there was small
Nance" he answered. evidently at
tempting to speak lightly. Nor could
l wait to ask your leave; yet surely
may esteem it privilege to bring
you ashore alive"
cit was you then who saved me7 1
scarcely understood, monsieur; 1 lost
consciousness, and am dazed in mind.
You leaped into the water from the
.anoer
"Yes; there was no other course left
me. My boat was beyond yours,
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 feel
more deadly blast; no craft such as
ours could face 1t. We were to your
Teft and rear when your canoe cap
sized, and 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
60, and then I jumped, for we could
never come back, and that was the
only chance. This is the whole story,
madame, except that by Gods help,
got you ashore"
looked into his face, impressed by
the seriousness with which he spoke.
I'll thank you, monsieur" 1 said,
and held out my hand. 1T was most
gallant Are we alone here? Where
are the others?"
81 do not know, madame" he an
swered, 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
situation"
He lifted me to my feet, and l
stood erect, my clothes dripping wet,
and my limbs trembling so that l
grasped his arm for support, and
glanced anxiously about. We were
on a narrow sand beach, at the edge
OF small cove, so protected the wa
tiers were comparatively calm, al
though the trees above bowed to the
blast, and out beyond the headland l
could see huge waves, whitened with
foam, and perceive the clouds of spray
flung 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 rapidity. All
the horror which l had just passed
through seemed typified in the scene,
and covered my face with my hands.
"You--you think they-they are all
gone" asked, forcing the words
from me.
"Oh, no." he answered eagerly, and
his hand touched me. "Do not give
way to that thought. l doubt IL any
In your canoe maae shore, but the
Others need not be in great danger.
They could run before the storm until
they found some opening in the coast
Tine to yield protection. The sergeant
wA1 no voyageur, and when one of
The paddles broke he steered wrong.
With an Indian there you would have
0oated."
'Then what can we dor
sThere il naught that I see, but
wait Monsieur CassIon will be blown
south, but viii return when the storm
subslles to seek you. No doubt he
will think You dead, yet viii scarcely
leave without search. See. the sky
grUws lighter already, and the wind
- less fierce. 1t would be my thought
10 attain the woods yonder, and build
= 6rs to dry our clothes; the air chills."
IDeoked where he pointed, up mar