Part 40 (2/2)
She looked up through the mist of her tears, first into his face, then into h much,” she confessed simply, ”yet 'tis not the spirit but the body which has becoivenothing for the presence of the father
”No worievous burden better If we rest first, you will regain courage to go on”
Both her hands were resting trustfully in ed softly ”In all confidence with you”
We sat there until the co us silent Occasionally I could feel Eloise's hand touch ht thus to be reassured of uish an inarticulate murmur from the priest's lips, as if he continually counted his beads in prayer The glare of lightning gradually ceased, the stor away to the ith distant reverberations Yet clouds overcast the skies, leaving the early low of day lighting the pathway, I stood up, dizzy at viewing the awful abyss below our narrow shelf We could perceive now ht above, but our eyes turned away froer, but press forhatever of courage remained
”I retfully, ”as I must bear the _pere_, whose limbs are crippled”
Her startled eyes were filled oht in the storo; he was tortured at the stake in the village below
Ever since then he has been held prisoner for sacrifice”
”Do not worry, daughter; my wounds are not worthy your tears,” broke in the soft voice; ”they are but a small part of ht e to walk, Monsieur, without assistance Surely, with God's help, I can ht figure will prove no burden to ht”
”Then do so in that way no longer,” she burst forth eagerly ”I have been trouble enough to you, Geoffrey I will not consent to remain helpless See! I can stand alone--ay, and walk; even this great height does not render my head dizzy”
We advanced slowly and cautiously down the path, feeling yet the exhaustion of the night The way proved less difficult than we expected The tunnel was by far the hardest portion, as ere coh intense darkness, guiding ourselves with hands against the wall Having little fear that any of the tribe ree, we conversed freely and cheerfully, avoiding all unnecessary reference to the recent tragedy We e use of the entrance leading through the altar-house The sight of the deserted platforlanced aside at Eloise, her gray eyes were filled with tears A fire s replenishladly hurried froloomy interior to the sunlit slope without
The desolate, deserted village presented a scene of loneliness i the huts, no sign of life anywhere We discovered an abundance of food, and partook of it in the open Eloise appeared unwilling to accompany me, so I went alone to explore theher assiduouslyto the needs of the priest My search was rewarded by the discovery of ether with a variety of fearments hich to replace those sadly soiled and tattered ones Madaet away as soon as possible, to put behind us that desolate spot, those deserted houses, and the haunting cliff The _pere_ had constructed, during my absence, a pair of rude crutches for his use; and, so soon as Eloise hadsuch provisions as we could conveniently carry With the gun in reat shortness in the food supply Madaress by reat burden, his weight scarcely more than that of a child
In this ht sunshi+ne, along canals filled with clear, cool water, and across fields no longer tilled by slaves, until we discovered the secret path which led forth fro back toward the village, and up at the frowning front of rock, the tomb of the Natchez
Then silently, soberly, as befitted those who had witnessed an act of God, we pressed on into the labyrinth, shutting out forever that scene, except as a hideousupon a neorld; I was a prisoner released, breathing once again the clear air of hope and led cedars to where the stream flowed down the canyon proved one of severe exertion When we finally attained the outer rocks, with the sullen roar of the falls just beloas breathing heavily from exhaustion, and a flush had coladly I deposited the priest in a position of co about upon the wilderness scene We had spoken little to each other regarding the future; under the depressing influence of that dread valley we felt incapable of thought, our ic events we had experienced Even now I constantly saw before me the faces of Cairnes and De Noyan, scarcely able to banish their ently the requirements of the present Yet now itacross his rusty black robe, his girlish features softened by a look of infinite peace; Eloise leaned against the rock in a posture of weariness, her boso I recalled to ues of desolate wilderness yet to be traversed Possibly I indulged unconsciously in outward expression, for the priest gazed across at h for considerable travel, my son,”
he reht for the earlier part of your journey”
”It was upon my mind, but I scarcely kne best to proceed”
”Possibly uide you The way should not prove unduly fatiguing after you pass the falls,” with a wave of the hand doard, and a slight s the Indian village so much of interest on the way Would that h such ease; but 'tis o whithersoever the Lord wills However, htly below the falls, concealed beneath an outcropping rock, you will find several stanch Indian boats The lightest one will transport safely the two of you, together hat provisions you require The current runs swiftly, yet a strong, skilful hand on the steering oar should bring you through without reatly puzzled by his strange speech Eloise was first to speak in protest
”What do you h to leave you here alone?”
He smiled into her face with the tender s silver crucifix
”Daughter,” he said modestly, ”my work is not yet done Upon this symbol I took solemn oath to live and die in faithful service to the heathen tribes of this river Would you have me retreat in cowardice?