Part 54 (1/2)

”All is well.”

”And we part no more?”

”No more.”

Silence, then: ”Why do they cheer so, Carus?”

”It is a lost soul they are speeding, child.”

”His?”

”Yes.”

She breathed feverishly, her little bandaged hands holding my face.

”Lift me a little, Carus; I can not move my legs. Did you know he abandoned me to the Cayugas because I dared to ask his mercy for the innocent? I think his reason was unseated when I came upon him there at Johnson Hall--so much of blood and death lay on his soul. His own men feared him; and, Carus, truly I do not think he knew me else he had never struck me in that burst of rage, so that even the Cayugas interposed--for his knife was in his hands.” She sighed, nestling close to me in the rustling straw, and closed her eyes as the torches flared and the horses were backed along the pole.

In the ruddy light I saw Jack Mount approaching. He halted, touched his cap, and smiled; then his blue eyes wandered to the straw where Lyn Montour lay, sleeping the stunned sleep of exhaustion; and into his face a tenderness came, softening his bold mouth and reckless visage.

”The Weasel drives, sir. Tim and Dave and I, we jog along to ease the wheels--if it be your pleasure, sir. We go by the soft trail. A week should see you and yours in Albany. The Ma.s.sachusetts surgeon is here to dress your sweet lady's hurts. Will you speak with him, Mr.

Renault?”

I bent and kissed the bandaged hands, the hot forehead under the tangled hair, then whispering that all was well I went out into the gray dawn where the surgeon stood unrolling lint.

”Those devils tied their prisoners mercilessly at night,” he said, ”and the scars may show, Mr. Renault. But her flesh is wholesome, and the torn feet will heal--are healing now. Your lady will be lame.”

”For life?”

”Oh--perhaps the slightest limp--scarce to be noticed. And then again, she is so sound, and her blood so pure--who knows? Even such tender little feet as hers may bear her faultlessly once more. Patience, Mr.

Renault.”

He parted the hanging blankets and went in, emerging after a little while to beckon me.

”I have changed the dressing; the wounds are benign and healthy. She has some fever. The shock is what I fear. Go to her; you may do more than I could.”

As the sun rose we started, the Weasel driving, I crouching at her side, her torn hands in mine; and beside us, Lyn Montour, watching Jack Mount as he strode along beside the wagon, a new angle to his cap, a new swagger in his step, and deep in his frank blue eyes a strange smile that touched the clean, curling corners of his lips.

”Look!” breathed Murphy, gliding along on the other side, ”'tis the gay day f'r Jack Mount whin Lyn Montour's black eyes are on him--the backwoods dandy!”

I looked down at Elsin. The fever flushed her cheeks. Into her face there crept a beauty almost unearthly.

”My darling, my darling!” I whispered fearfully, leaning close to her.

Her eyes met mine, smiling, but in their altered brilliancy I saw she no longer knew me.

”Walter,” she said, laughing, ”your melancholy suits me--yet love is another thing. Go ask of Carus what it is to love! He has my soul bound hand and foot and locked in the wall there, where he keeps the letters he writes. If they find those letters some man will hang. I think it will be you, Walter, or perhaps Sir Peter. I'm love-sick--sick o'

love--for Carus mocks me! Is it easy to die, Walter? Tell me, for you are dead. If only Carus loved me! He kissed me so easily that night--I tempting him. So now that I am d.a.m.ned--what matter how he uses me? Yet he never struck me, Walter, as you strike!”

Hour after hour, terrified, I listened to her babble, and that gay little laugh, so like her own, that broke out as her fever grew, waxing to its height.