If Nance had looked a moment longer she might have seen Gard slip down
from the ridge to the wall, but the bombardment of the shelter, which
gave him his chance, made an end of her hopes, and her face was hidden
in the turf.
The Vicar's sight was not keen enough to see clearly what was passing.
But when the men landed on the rock, and overran it in their search, he
could not fail to see their figures on the ridge against the sky, and an
exclamation of surprise roused Nance.
"What is it?" she jerked.
"They have landed over there. They seem to be searching the rock."
"Then--" and she sat up suddenly and gazed intently across at L'Etat,
and then sprang to her feet, a new creature. "For, see you, Mr
Cachemaille," she cried, "if they had killed him they would not be
searching for him, nenni-gia!"
"That is true, child," said the Vicar hopefully, and then, less
hopefully, "but where shall a man hide on L'Etat?"
"Ah now! I remember. Just as I was leaving him last night, he told me--"
"As you were leaving him--last night?" and the old man gazed at her as
though he doubted his ears or her right senses.
Pages:
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308