Two boats moved to the eaves and rested there, shaken only by a ripple
of the quieting water. The overflowed rivers would lie calm when the
wind allowed it, excepting where a boiling current drove. The dazed
girls yet seemed to dream through the strong indignation and the inquiry
and fruitless plans of arriving men. It was a dream when Captain Saucier
sat down and stared haggardly at the two who had perished under his
roof, and Colonel Menard stood with his hat over his face. It was a
dream when the brother and sister were lowered and placed on one pallet
in a boat. The hollow of the rafters, the walls on which one might mark
with his nail, the waiting black faces, the figures toiling down the
roof with those loads,--were any of these sights real?
"Wrap yourselves," said Captain Saucier to Peggy and Angelique. "The
other boat is quite ready for you."
"But, papa, are Monsieur Reece and his sister going alone with the
rowers?"
"I am myself going with them."
"Papa," urged Angelique, "Mademoiselle Zhone was a young girl. If I
were in her place, would you not like to have some young girl sit by my
head?"
"But you cannot go."
"No, but Peggy can."
"Peggy would rather go with you."
"I am sure she will do it."
"Will you, Peggy?"
"Yes, I will."
So Angelique wrapped Peggy first, and went with her as far as the
window. It was the window through which Dr. Dunlap had stepped.
"Good-by, dear Peggy," whispered Angelique; for the other seemed
starting on the main journey of her life.
"Good-by, dear Angelique."
Peggy's eyes were tearless still, but she looked and looked at
Angelique, and looked back mutely again when she sat at Rice's head in
the boat. She had him to herself. Between the water and the sky, and
within the dim horizon band, she could be alone with him. He was her own
while the boat felt its way across the waste. The rowers sat on a bench
over the foot of the pallet. Captain Saucier was obliged to steer. Peggy
sat in the prow, and while they struggled against the rivers, she looked
with the proud courage of a Morrison at her dead whom she must never
claim again.
The colonel put Angelique first into the waiting boat. Wachique was set
in front of her, to receive tante-gra'mere when the potentate's
chrysalid should be lowered. For the first time in her life Angelique
leaned back, letting slip from herself all responsibility. Colonel
Menard could bring her great-grand-aunt out. The sense of moving in a
picture, of not feeling what she handled, and of being cut off from the
realities of life followed Angelique into the boat. She was worn to
exhaustion. Her torpid pulses owned the chill upon the waters.
There was room in which a few of the little blacks might be stowed
without annoying tante-gra'mere, but their mothers begged to keep them
until all could go together.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account