attempt, which set her
brain reeling. She remained instead well within the cleft, where she
was unaffected by the height, while able to behold the vast reaches of
sunlit space before her. The area about the foot of the precipice
was, however, cut off from her vision. So it came about that, though
she went twice to the crevice and looked out during the intervals
while the marshal, first with his men and afterward with her
grandfather, was searching about the pool, she knew nothing concerning
the nearness of aid. She could not see the men, and the din of the
falls covered their voices.

Occasionally, the girl lapsed into a quietude that was half-stupor and
half-sleep, the while she reclined on the boughs. These were blessed
periods of rest for the over-strained nerves, and she strove to
prolong them--always in vain. For the most part, she hurried about
with febrile, aimless movements. She found herself wondering often if
to-day were to be the last of her life. She could see no other issue.
The night would bring Hodges, and the crisis of her fate. She could
not hope for a second escape through a drunken vagary. There would be
only the leap from the ledge to-night. As she stood in the crevice,
and looked out on the smiling sylvan glory of the scene, as the soft
summer breeze caressed her cheeks, and the balsamic air filled her
bosom with its gently penetrant vigors, she realized as never before
the miracle of life, its goodness and sweet savors. She cried out
against the hideous thing that was come upon her. The every fiber of
her being flamed in revolt against the idea of death. Every atom of
her clamored for life and love. And there were only shame and death
for her choice. She took out the fairy crystal, and prayed to the
sacred sign it bore, beholding it dimly though scalding tears. But
faith flickered and went out. Her soul sickened.... For her, there was
nothing else--just shame and death. No--only death.

Plutina would have tried escape by the rope-ladder, but she found its
weight too much for her strength, so sorely over-tried by racking
emotions. Even had she been able to carry the burden it would have
availed nothing, for the dizziness attacked her whenever she drew near
the verge. In her desperation, she even crept the length of the tunnel
a second time, on the faint chance that the exit might now be less
secure. She found the rock barrier immovable as before, though the rim
of light showed that here was, in ve