save the life of that poor frail creature。 He had watched the spot
at which she had gone down； and even while struggling across the
river； had seen how the Indian had followed her and had failed。 It
was now his turn。 His life was in his hand； and he was prepared to
throw it away in that attempt。 Having succeeded in placing himself
a little above the large tree； he turned his face towards the bottom
of the river； and dived down among the branches。 And he also； after
that； was never again seen with the life…blood flowing round his
heart。
When the sun set that night； the two swollen corpses were lying in
the Commandant's hut； and Abel Ring and Arkwright were sitting
beside them。 Arkwright had his baby sleeping in his arms； but he
sat there for hours；into the middle of the long night；without
speaking a word to any one。
〃Harry；〃 said his brother at last； 〃come away and lay down。 It will
be good for you to sleep。〃
〃Nothing ever will be good again for me；〃 said he。
〃You must bear up against your sorrow as other men do；〃 said Ring。
〃Why am I not sleeping with her as the poor German sleeps？ Why did
I let another man take my place in dying for her？〃 And then he
walked away that the other might not see the tears on his face。
It was a sad night；that at the Commandant's hut； and a sad morning
followed upon it。 It must be remembered that they had there none of
those appurtenances which are so necessary to make woe decent and
misfortune comfortable。 They sat through the night in the small
hut； and in the morning they came forth with their clothes still wet
and dirty； with their haggard faces； and weary stiff limbs；
encumbered with the horrid task of burying that loved body among the
forest trees。 And then； to keep life in them till it was done； the
brandy flask passed from hand to hand； and after that； with slow but
resolute efforts； they reformed the litter on which the living woman
had been carried thither； and took her body back to the wild
plantation at Padregal。 There they dug for her her grave； and
repeating over her some portion of the service for the dead； left
her to sleep the sleep of death。 But before they left her； they
erected a pallisade of timber round the grave； so that the beasts of
the forest should not tear the body from its resting…place。
When that was done Arkwright and his brother made their slow journey
back to San Jose。 The widowed husband could not face his darling's
mother with such a tale upon his tongue as that。
End