The King's Arrow Part 42

The return of Sam and Kitty when the storm had spent itself, brought him no hope. They were alone, and Jean was not with them. The Indians were greatly distressed at the girl's absence, and shook their heads when Norman asked if they could find her.

"Babby lost," Sam replied. "Beeg snow. Injun no find babby."

Kitty was inconsolable, and while Sam rebuilt the fire which had gone out, she sat upon the floor, her head covered with an old shawl, and rocked herself to and fro in an agony of grief. Her sorrow was intense and real, for the girl had become to her like her own child. Sam, too, was deeply affected, and made no attempt to reprove his wife. He wandered from room to room, examining every detail of the havoc wrought by the slashers. He prepared a little food, and took it to the sick man. But Norman would not touch it, pus.h.i.+ng it aside with a faint murmur of thanks.

Slowly the weary day wore out, succeeded by a more weary night to the sufferer upon the couch. He was weakening fast, and this the Indians knew. They could do nothing but keep the fires going, place hot cloths from time to time to the sufferer's side, and offer him a little food.

Morning dawned cold and cheerless. Norman had slept but little, and the pain in his side was more severe than ever. Often he turned his eyes toward the door, as if expecting some one.

"Is Dane coming?" he would ask, and when the Indians shook their heads, the light of hope would fade. But ere long he would rouse up again.

"Is Dane coming?" he would repeat. "I wonder what's keeping him. He should be here by now."

The Indians sat upon the floor before the fire, awed and attentive.

They seldom spoke, and when they did, their voices were low. They knew that the white man was sinking rapidly, and that the end was not far away.

About the middle of the afternoon, while an intense silence reigned in the cabin, a sound of voices was heard outside. Then the door was thrust suddenly open, and Jean entered, her hood covered with snow, and her cheeks aglow with health and animation. Following her was Dane, who hesitated a little as he stepped inside the room. He was uncertain what kind of a reception he would receive.

With a cry of joy Kitty sprang to her feet, rushed forward, and threw her arms around the girl.

"Babby safe! Babby safe!" she murmured.

"Yes, Kitty, I am safe," Jean a.s.sured her, looking fondly upon the faithful Indian.

Then before anything more could be said, Norman partly lifted himself from the couch, and stared hard at the visitors.

"Come here, quick," he ordered in a hoa.r.s.e, eager voice. "Is it true, or am I only dreaming?"

Jean and Dane at once crossed the room, and knelt by the couch.

Impulsively the son caught his father's left hand in his and raised it to his lips.

"It is no dream, father," he said. "I have come back, and Jean is with me. Do you forgive me?"

Still somewhat uncertain, Norman lifted his right hand and touched his son's face. Then he turned his eyes wonderingly toward the girl.

"Yes, yes," he said, "it is no dream. You are both here. Thank G.o.d, you have come at last!"

"And you forgive me?" Dane again asked.

"Yes, yes. My heart forgave you long ago. Oh, if you had only come sooner! But it's too late now, too late!"

"No, no, it's not too late. Jean and I will look after you."

"Little can you do for me now, my son. But give me your hand, Jean, my dear."

As the girl obeyed, he took her right hand in his and placed it in Dane's. Then his fingers closed firmly upon them as he held them for a few seconds.

"Be good to each other," he said. "Love each other, and may G.o.d bless you both."

Tears were streaming down Jean's cheeks now, and Dane's eyes were misty. They wished to speak, but words would not come. Several mast-cutters entered the room who stared in wonder at the scene before them. Sam motioned them to be silent, and pointed to the door leading into the adjoining room. They understood his meaning, and slipped silently away.

In a few minutes Norman again aroused himself, and tried to raise his head from the pillow. He was too weak, however, and sank back with a moan.

"What is it, father?" Dane asked. "Can I do anything for you?"

"Yes, yes, over there in that box in the corner. You will find it at the bottom."

"What is it?"

"The flag. Bring it here, quick."

Dane did as he was bidden, and when he had lifted the cover of the box, and searched to the bottom, he found a small English flag. This he at once carried to his father's side.

"Ah, that's it," Norman exclaimed, reaching out his hand and touching it. "I haven't seen it for years. Yes, it's the same old flag which I so often cursed. May G.o.d forgive me."

Eagerly he seized it and pressed it to his lips.

"Good old flag, brave old flag!" he murmured. "It's the greatest flag on earth. Oh, why did I forsake it!"

Then with trembling hands he held it out before him, and gazed upon it for a few minutes in apparent wonder.

"How many crosses are there upon it?" he asked.

"Why, three, of course," Dane replied.

"Yes, I know there used to be three, but I see only one now, and it's very red. What has become of the others?"

Dane glanced at Jean, but her eyes full of interest and sympathy were fixed upon the dying man's face.

"Do you see only one cross?" she asked.

"Yes, only one now, and it's red. Strange, very strange, isn't it?"

Presently his face brightened, and his eyes glowed with a new light.

"It's not the cross on the flag I see," he cried; "it's the cross of Christ, and it's marked with His blood. Look, don't you see it?" he eagerly asked. "There it is; I see it plain. And what are those words? How clear they s.h.i.+ne, 'The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.' Ah, that's it; I understand it all now. The blood of Christ! The blood of Christ!"

He closed his eyes and remained very still. Jean found it hard to control her emotion, so she crossed over to where Sam and Kitty were sitting upon the floor.

"Poor babby, poor babby," the Indian woman said, seizing the girl's hand. "Chief much seek, eh?"

"Yes, very sick," Jean replied, as she, too, seated herself upon the floor. "You were good to him, and I am so glad."

"Kitty no do much. Kitty all sam' babby."

"But you did what you could, Kitty. No one can do anything for him now."

Scarcely had she ceased when the Indian woman lifted her hand, and pointed to the couch. Jean at once arose and went to Dane's side.