Those summer and winter vacations of the old Seminary of
Quebec used to be looked forward to by the young, lively girl as
the brightest spots in the whole year, and she grew hardly to
distinguish the affection she bore her brother from the regard in
which she held Pierre Philibert.
A startling incident happened one day, that filled the inmates of
the Manor House with terror, followed by a great joy, and which
raised Pierre Philibert to the rank of an unparalleled hero in the
imagination of the young girl.
Her brother was gambolling carelessly in a canoe, while she and
Pierre sat on the bank watching him. The light craft suddenly
upset. Le Gardeur struggled for a few moments, and sank under the
blue waves that look so beautiful and are so cruel.
Amelie shrieked in the wildest terror and in helpless agony, while
Philibert rushed without hesitation into the water, swam out to the
spot, and dived with the agility of a beaver. He presently
reappeared, bearing the inanimate body of her brother to the shore.
Help was soon obtained, and, after long efforts to restore Le
Gardeur to consciousness,--efforts which seemed to last an age to
the despairing girl,--they at last succeeded, and Le Gardeur was
restored to the arms of his family.
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