"Give--give!" he cried, "I would give twenty years of my life!"
The figure of the priest stretched up with gentle grandeur. Holding out
the iron crucifix, he said: "On your knees and swear it, John Bagot!"
There was something inspiring, commanding, in the voice and manner, and
Bagot, with a new hope rushing through his veins, knelt and repeated his
words.
The priest turned to the door, and called, "Madame Lucette!"
The boy, hearing, waked, and sat up in bed suddenly.
"Mother! mother!" he cried, as the door flew open.
The mother came to her husband's arms, laughing and weeping, and an
instant afterwards was pouring out her love and anxiety over her child.
Father Corraine now faced the man, and with a soft exaltation of voice
and manner said:
"John Bagot, in the name of Christ, I demand twenty years of your
life--of love and obedience of God. I broke my vow; I perjured my soul;
I bought your wife with ten kegs of rum."
The tall hunter dropped again to his knees, and caught the priest's hand
to kiss it.
"No, no--this!" the priest said, and laid his iron crucifix against the
other's lips.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
VII
Dominique's voice came clearly through the room:
"Mother, I saw the white swan fly away through the door when you came
in."
"My dear, my dear," she said, "there was no white swan." But she clasped
the boy to her breast protectingly, and whispered an _ave_.
Pages:
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32