He held
her tighter; and then stupidly, he slipped again, and the movement
brought her lower in his arms, so that for a space her head was
against his breast and his face was crushed in the soft masses of
her hair. He came with her that way to the opposite shore and
stood her on her feet again, standing back quickly so that she
would not hear the pounding of his heart. Her face was radiantly
beautiful, and she did not look at David, but away from him.
"Thank you," she said.
And then, suddenly, they heard running feet behind them, and in
another moment one of the brigade men came dashing through the
stream. At the same time there came from the river a quarter of a
mile away a thunderous burst of voice. It was not the voice of a
dozen men, but of half a hundred, and Marie-Anne grew tense,
listening, her eyes on fire even before the messenger could get
the words out of his mouth.
"It is St. Pierre!" he cried then. "He has come with the great
raft, and you must hurry if you would reach the bateau before he
lands!"
In that moment it seemed to David that Marie-Anne forgot he was
alive. A little cry came to her lips, and then she left him,
running swiftly, saying no word to him, flying with the speed of a
fawn to St.
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