With tears on her cheeks and her face drawn hard, she raised her head
and gave a panther's far-off call.
CHAPTER XXV ANSWERED PRAYERS
Out of the forest at the signal came running Alloybeau and McDonald and
Frith, alert, ready for anything, wondering beyond wonder at the call
that meant deliverance. Not one of them had thought to see again this
strange, intrepid woman who pierced the forbidden places and wound men
like Mr. Mowbray around her fingers. It would have been a toss-up for
men to attempt what she had done.
She was coming to the canoe, and she was victorious. Yet they knew that
death was up and at her heels, from the sound of the shots.
The big canoe was in the water, the men were ready, paddle in hand,
with Wilson knee-deep in the stream ready to push off, when along the
reach of shore there came that sorry ending to the gallant venture,--
Ridgar and the girl, staggering, stumbling, trying to make what haste
they could, with swinging roughly between them the apparently lifeless
body of the factor of Fort de Seviere.
Breathless and exhausted they reached the boat. Brilliers and Wilson
reached for their burden, threw it into the bottom, and hauled Maren on
her knees among the thwarts.
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