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sepulchre； but it was only the tops of the buried pines。 The absolute
silence； the utter absence of any mark of convulsive struggle； even the
lulling whimper of falling waters； gave the scene a pastoral repose。
So profound was the impression upon Key and his human passion that
it at first seemed an ironical and eternal ending of his quest。 It was with
difficulty that he reasoned that the catastrophe occurred before Alice's
flight； and that even Collinson might have had time to escape。 He slowly
skirted the edge of the chasm； and made his way back through the empty
woods behind the old mill…site towards the place where he had dismounted。
His horse seemed to have strayed into the shadows of this covert； but as he
approached him； he was amazed to see that it was not his own； and that a
woman's scarf was lying over its side saddle。 A wild idea seized him；
and found expression in an impulsive cry：
〃Alice！〃
The woods echoed it； there was an interval of silence； and then a faint
response。 But it was HER voice。 He ran eagerly forward in that
direction； and called again； the response was nearer this time； and then the
tall ferns parted； and her lithe； graceful figure came running； stumbling；
and limping towards him like a wounded fawn。 Her face was pale and
agitated； the tendrils of her light hair were straying over her shoulder； and
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one of the sleeves of her school…gown was stained with blood and dust。
He caught the white and trembling hands that were thrust out to him
eagerly。
〃It is YOU！〃 she gasped。 〃I prayed for some one to come； but I did
not dream it would be YOU。 And then I heard YOUR voiceand I
thought it could be only a dream until you called a second time。〃
〃But you are hurt；〃 he exclaimed passionately。 〃You have met with
some accident！〃
〃No； no！〃 she said eagerly。 〃Not Ibut a poor； poor man I found
lying on the edge of the cliff。 I could not help him much； I did not care
to leave him。 No one WOULD come！ I have been with him alone； all
the morning！ Come quick； he may be dying。〃
He passed his arm around her waist unconsciously； she permitted it as
unconsciously； as he half supported her figure while they hurried forward。
〃He had been crushed by something； and was just hanging over the
ledge； and could not move nor speak；〃 she went on quickly。 〃I dragged
him away to a tree； it took me hours to move him； he was so heavy；and I
got him some water from the stream and bathed his face； and blooded all
my sleeve。〃
〃But what were you doing here？〃 he asked quickly。
A faint blush crossed the pallor of her delicate cheek。 She looked
away quickly。 〃Iwas going to find my brother at Bald Top；〃 she replied
at last hurriedly。 〃But don't ask me nowonly come quick； do。〃
〃Is the wounded man conscious？ Did you speak with him？ Does he
know who you are？〃 asked Key uneasily。
〃No！ he only moaned a little and opened his eyes when I dragged him。
I don't think he even knew what had happened。〃
They hurried on again。 The wood lightened suddenly。 〃Here！〃 she
said in a half whisper； and stepped timidly into the open light。 Only a few
feet from the fatal ledge； against the roots of a buckeye； with HER shawl
thrown over him； lay the wounded man。
Key started back。 It was Collinson！ His head and shoulders seemed
uninjured； but as Key lifted the shawl； he saw that the long； lank figure
appeared to melt away below the waist into a mass of shapeless and dirty
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rags。 Key hurriedly replaced the shawl； and； bending over him； listened
to his hurried respiration and the beating of his heart。 Then he pressed a
drinking…flask to his lips。 The spirit seemed to revive him； he slowly
opened his eyes。 They fell upon Key with quick recognition。 But the
look changed； one could see that he was trying to rise； but that no
movement of the limbs accompanied that effort of will； and his old patient；
resigned look returned。 Key shuddered。 There was some injury to the
spine。 The man was paralyzed。
〃I can't get up； Mr。 Key；〃 he said in a faint but untroubled voice； 〃nor
seem to move my arms； but you'll just allow that I've shook hands with ye…
…all the same。〃
〃How did this happen？〃 said Key anxiously。
〃Thet's wot gets me！ Sometimes I reckon I know； and sometimes I
don't。 Lyin' thar on thet ledge all last night； and only jest able to look
down into the old valley； sometimes it seemed to me ez if I fell over and
got caught in the rocks trying to save my wife； but then when I kem to
think sensible； and know my wife wasn't there at all； I get mystified。
Sometimes I think I got ter thinkin' of my wife only when this yer young
gal thet's bin like an angel to me kem here and dragged me off the ledge；
for you see she don't belong here； and hez dropped on to me like a sperrit。〃
〃Then you were not in the house when the shock came？〃 said Key。
〃No。 You see the mill was filled with them fellers as the sheriff was
arter； and it went over with 'emand I〃
〃Alice；〃 said Key； with a white face； 〃would you mind going to my
horse； which you will find somewhere near yours； and bringing me a
medicine case from my saddle…bags？〃
The innocent girl glanced quickly at her companion； saw the change in
his face； and； attributing it to the imminent danger of the injured man； at
once glided away。 When she was out of hearing； Key leaned gravely
over him：
〃Collinson； I must trust you with a secret。 I am afraid that this poor
girl who helped you is the sister of the leader of that gang the sheriff was
in pursuit of。 She has been kept in perfect ignorance of her brother's
crimes。 She must NEVER know themnor even know his fate！ If he
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perished utterly in this catastrophe； as it would seemit was God's will to