FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121  
122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   >>   >|  
think of the women!" The blunt old Scotchman was touched in a tender spot; his face softened. "Ay, my poor wife!" he said, with a sigh. "And Miss Hatherton! They must not fall into the power of these red devils--or of Cuthbert Mackenzie. It's a level head you have on your shoulders, Denzil. I fear I spoke hastily--" "As was your right," I interrupted. "It was presumptuous of me to offer advice. But I am pleased to think that you favor my suggestion." "It is a last chance," he replied, "and we must cling to it for the sake of the women. Were it not for them I would hold out to the end. Ah, the pity of it! To think that Fort Royal will be lost!" "It will rise again stronger than ever," Captain Rudstone said grimly, "when the Northwest Company has been crushed out of existence." "May I live to see the day!" said Menzies fervently. We held some further discussion, during which a number of minor details were arranged. Then Dr. Knapp returned to the hospital, and Captain Rudstone and Carteret set off to acquaint the men with the proposed plan, and to see to the removal of the wounded and the various supplies to the factor's house. Meanwhile, Baptiste having come in, he reported that there was no sign of any threatening movement on the part of the savages, and we fully expected none until evening. I had promised my companions to take some sleep--which I stood badly in need of--but first I insisted on going over the lower floor of the house with Menzies. We examined all the rooms, the doors and walls, the shutters and loopholes, and I was satisfied with the inspection. When we returned to the hall Mrs. Menzies hailed her husband from above. He went upstairs and as I passed the open door of the room in which we had held our gathering, on my way out, I caught the flutter of a woman's gown and heard my name pronounced in a whisper. Stepping inside, I saw Flora. She was standing by the table, with a look on her sweet face that set my heart throbbing wildly. How it happened I scarcely knew, but the next instant she was in my arms, held close to my breast, and I was showering kisses on her unresisting lips and eyes. "Denzil!" she whispered. "My hero--my own love!" "At last, my darling!" I muttered. "You are mine! None can take you away from me. Say that you love me, Flora!" "I do with all my heart!" "And when will you marry me?" "Some day, dear Denzil," she replied. She gently released herself and gaze
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121  
122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Denzil
 

Menzies

 

returned

 

Rudstone

 

Captain

 
replied
 
upstairs
 

passed

 
husband
 

hailed


companions

 

promised

 
evening
 

savages

 
expected
 

insisted

 
loopholes
 
shutters
 

satisfied

 

inspection


examined

 

pronounced

 

showering

 

kisses

 

unresisting

 

breast

 

instant

 

gently

 

whispered

 

muttered


darling

 
scarcely
 

whisper

 

inside

 

Stepping

 
gathering
 

caught

 
flutter
 

wildly

 
happened

released
 

throbbing

 
standing
 
Carteret
 

presumptuous

 

interrupted

 
advice
 

shoulders

 
hastily
 

pleased