Invective, entreaty, conjuration,
command, imploring prayer, and ungoverned passion poured in tumultuous
words, in agonized eloquence, from his lips; all answer was a quick sign
of the hand, and, ere he saw them, a dozen soldiers were round him, his
arms were seized, his splendid frame was held as powerless as a lassoed
bull; for a moment there was a horrible struggle, then a score of
ruthless hands locked him as in iron gyves, and forced his mouth to
silence and his eyes to blindness. This was all the mercy they could
give--to spare him the sight of his friend's slaughter.
Cecil's eyes strained in him with one last, longing look; then he raised
his hand and gave the signal for his own death-shot.
The leveled carbines covered him; he stood erect with his face full
toward the sun. Ere they could fire, a shrill cry pierced the air.
"Wait! In the name of France."
Dismounted, breathless, staggering, with her arms flung upward, and her
face bloodless with fear, Cigarette appeared upon the ridge of rising
ground.
The cry of command pealed out upon the silence in the voice that the
Army of Africa loved as the voice of their Little One. And the cry came
too late; the volley was fired, the crash of sound thrilled across the
words that bade them pause, the heavy smoke rolled out upon the air; the
death that was doomed was dealt.
But beyond the smoke-cloud he staggered slightly, and then stood erect
still, almost unharmed, grazed only by some few of the balls.
Pages:
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856