Part 67 (1/2)

”Peter,” he heard her voice in agony, ”only a few yards further----”

With a last remaining effort he struggled and then his feet stumbling, toppled forward and sank into something soft, something deliciously cool and soothing. He felt a hand tugging at him, but he had no pain now, no weakness--only the perfect happiness of a body that, seeking rest, has found it.

After a while he revived at the sound of a voice at his ear. Water was splas.h.i.+ng over his face and he struggled up.

”No--keep down,” he heard Beth's voice saying. ”We're safe, Peter--the wind is changing----”

”And you, Beth----?”

”All right, dear. A little patience----”

The voice trembled, but there was a world of faith in it. After all that had happened, it was impossible that further disaster should follow now.

”Y-you're all right?” he gasped weakly.

”Yes. Yes. Lie still for a while.”

And so they half lay, half crouched in the mud and water, while the inferno swept over them, pa.s.sing to the south. His head was on her breast and against his ear he could feel her heart beating bravely, a message of strength and cheer. From time to time her wet fingers brushed his hair with water and then, as he seemed to be sinking into a dream again, he felt lips light as thistle-down upon his brows.

Death such as this, he thought, was very pleasant.

And then later he was aroused by a shrill clear call.... Then saw lights flas.h.i.+ng.... Heard men's voices.... Felt himself carried in strong arms ... but all the while there were soft fingers in his own.

CHAPTER XXII

RETRIBUTION

When they lifted him into the automobile and Beth got in beside him, his fingers moved in her own.

”Beth,” she heard him whisper.

”Peter--I'm here.”

”Thank G.o.d. And--and Shad----? He--he was with me----”

”He's asking for Shad,” she repeated to Brierly, unaware that her cousin, like his Biblical namesake, had come scatheless through the fiery furnace. But some one heard the question and replied:

”Shad's here, Miss. He's all right----”

”Oh,” gasped Peter. ”And there's something else----”

”No, no--we must go. Your wound----”

But he insisted. ”I--I'm all--right. Something else,--Beth--some one must get--paper--blue envelope--Hawk Ken----”

His words ended in a gasp and he sank back in her arms.

Beth was frightened at the sudden collapse and the look in his face, but she knew that his injunction was important. And keeping her courage she called Shad Wells to the side of the car and gave quick directions.