She put
out her arm, and supporting him, seemed about to take his head into her
lap. Instead, she slipped the mantle from the strap that bound it
across his shoulders, and rolling it swiftly, made a pillow of it for
his head.
The wallet that had hung by the same strap over his shoulder, attracted
her attention and she guessed that it had been used as a carrier for
provision. She laid it open and took out the water-bottle. The
pith-stopper had held, during all the violent motion, and the dull
surface of the porous and ever-cooling pottery was cold and wet.
She put the bottle to his lips and, after he had drunk, bathed his
bruises most tenderly.
Succumbing to the gentle influence of her fingers, he put up his hands
to take them, but they moved out of his reach in the most natural
manner possible. He could not feel that she had purposely avoided his
touch, but he made no further attempt when the soothing fingers
returned. Finally he raised himself on his elbow and supported his
head in his hand.
"Now am I new again," he said; "once more ready to help thee. Let us
take counsel together and get into safety and comfort." He paused a
moment till his serious words would not follow with unseeming
promptness upon his light tone.
Pages:
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310