"
I staggered blindly now as I walked. I felt her arm under mine. She led
me to our little fireside, knelt on the wet ground beside me as I sat,
my head hanging dully. I remember that her hands were clasped. I recall
the agony on her face.
The day grew warmer as the sun arose. The clouds hung low and moved
rapidly under the rising airs. Now and again I heard faint sounds,
muffled, far off. "They are firing," I muttered. "They are among the
buffalo. That is good. Soon they will go away."
I do not remember much of what I said after that, and recall only that
my head throbbed heavily, and that I wanted to lie down and rest. And
so, some time during that morning, I suppose, I did lie down, and once
more laid hold upon the hand of Mystery.
I do not wish to speak of what followed after that. For me, a, merciful
ignorance came; but what that poor girl must have suffered, hour after
hour, night after night, day after day, alone, without shelter, almost
without food, in such agony of terror as might have been natural even
had her solitary protector been possessed of all his faculties--I say I
cannot dwell upon that, because it makes the cold sweat stand on my
face even now to think of it.
Pages:
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249