A piercing cry from Marguerite broke a long silence.
"My God! On a projecting point, where a wall of ice stretches forward
over the torrent, I see a human form!"
"Where, ma'amselle, where?"
"See, there! On the shelf of ice below the dogs!"
The leader, with a sickened aspect, drew inward, and they were all
silent. But they were not all inactive, for Marguerite, with swift and
skilful fingers, had detached both herself and him from the rope in a few
seconds.
"Show me the baskets. These two are the only ropes?"
"The only ropes here, ma'amselle; but at the Hospice--"
"If he is alive--I know it is my lover--he will be dead before you can
return. Dear Guides! Blessed friends of travellers! Look at me. Watch
my hands. If they falter or go wrong, make me your prisoner by force. If
they are steady and go right, help me to save him!"
She girded herself with a cord under the breast and arms, she formed it
into a kind of jacket, she drew it into knots, she laid its end side by
side with the end of the other cord, she twisted and twined the two
together, she knotted them together, she set her foot upon the knots, she
strained them, she held them for the two men to strain at.
"She is inspired," they said to one another.
"By the Almighty's mercy!" she exclaimed. "You both know that I am by
far the lightest here. Give me the brandy and the wine, and lower me
down to him. Then go for assistance and a stronger rope.
Pages:
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159