Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 80: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

74 ROSE MORTIMER ; OR, He raised it with a jerk above his head, and cast it rom him on the bank. The feet were then resting in the water. The exertion, however, well-nigh proved fatal to the gallant swimmer. The effort thrust him back into the water, and down he went, touching the bottom once more. But now he was freed from the weight which had hitherto encumbered him he could exert himself to greater efforts. A few strokes brought him to the surface. Then he turned upon his back, and once more drank in a welcome draught of air. Then he made for the bank. There was the rescued girl still insensible, to all appearance dead. ‘‘She’s along time without breathing,’’ said the swimmer, staggering to his feet. ‘* Surely she can’t be dead. No, I hope—Good God !—I—I—”’ And, staggering, he turned a kind of pirouette upon one heel, and fell flat upon his back beside the body of the unhappy Rose Mortimer, Ps CHAPTER XXXII. ANOTHER PERSON UPON THESCENE—ROSE BORNE AWAY — THE MINER’S RESOLVE — A STRANGE HIDING-PLACE — PENRYTH RECOVERS—ROSE DISAPPEARED—THE TRACK—THE BRICK HUT— THE DANGER MINE—“ I’LL FOLLOW HER!” THE swimmer lay upon his back beside the inani- mate body of the rescued girl—as senseless and mo- tionless as herself. Long did he continue ina deathly trance. The reaction upon the herculean diver was an pro- digious as had been his efforts to preserve the drown- ing girl. He had lain thus insensible about ten minutes when a third person arrived upon the scene. It was another of the miners who had witnessed the whole of the dispute between Miles Trunnion and Penryth, and, having heard of the murder of the former by the girl whose possession had been dis- puted, he had come in pursuit. It was only after some time had clapsed that he learnt from the gang of murderous old hags who had taken such summary vengeance upon poor Rose Mor- timer that this was the scene of their barbarity. Great was the man’s surprise, therefore, when upon reaching the river’s bank he discovered not only the girl who had unwittingly caused so much strife and mischief, but also the half-drowned diver who had wo1ked such miracles in her rescue. As the newcomer approached the body of the man he started back in great alarm. “Good Heavens !”’ heejaculated. ‘ Penryth here, too ?”’ The gallant swimmer who had s0 nearly sacrificed himself to preserve Rose Mortimer’s life was none other than her herculean champion who had slain Miles Trunnion. ‘¢So, so!’? muttered the man, ‘‘ I think I can see through all this now. I marvelled much at first that such a deed of violence should have been wrought by that delicate little hand.’ The inference which the man drew was, of course, but natural, So pale, so sad and beautiful did the inaminate body of the half-drowned girl look that the miner was rivetted to the spot. No freshly-chiselled statue could ever reach that beautiful appearance. So pale, so sad and melancholy in expression, and the extreme regularity of the features gave the face an angelic look. *< She is lovely !’’ said the entranced beholder, his eyes still feasting upon her as if she had been some beauteous vision. ‘“T don’t wonder so much that Miles Trunnion and Penryth should hanker after the gal. I’d kill a dozen men myself to get such a gal as that, if she wor alive.” As the fellow glanced from one to the other it was something marvellous to observe the change in his expression. As he contemplated the insensible miner he looked like a fiend, ready upon a given signal to cut the slight thread which still held him to life. Had he been aware that the man still breathed there is a great probability that another crime would have been added to that day’s fearful work. Then as he turned towards the motionless form of our heroine his rough brutal features softened into an expression of something almost approaching tender- ness, Suddenly he started back, with a cry of astonish- ment— ‘She moved !” It was true. The fainting fit was beginning to pass over. It was one of those inexplicable chances which occur only once in the course of anage. She had been in the water long enough to have cut short her breath, providing that restoratives had been administered immediately upon her recovery from the water. Here she had lain with no help at hand for fully twenty minutes. And yet she breathed—slowly and painfully breathed—but yet life was not extinct. As soon as the miner had made the discovery that she breathed he at once applied himself to her further recovery. He was tolerably acquainted with the treatment necessary for bodies after a long immersion in water, and therefore tended not a little to revive the faint animation which was now beginning to make itself apparent. ‘‘If Penryth should happen to wake up, too!” muttered the fellow. He began to look about him, to provide against such an unpleasant contingency. ‘I shonld finish him, I’m mortal sure,” he mut- tered between his teeth. . Then:a better idea occurred to him. While Rose was yet unable to oppose him he would bear her off to a place of safety. A hiding-place he knew of. The thought no sooner occurred to him than he proceeded to put it into execution. Raising the now breathing but insensible girl in his big brawny arms, he walked hastily from the spot. Presently he had to climb a dwarf brick wall. Then to cross a large plain which was covered with earts, trucks, and all kinds of machinery and mining implements. At length he arrived at his destination. He paused before a low hut built of brick, and shut in by arude wooden door, upon which was an inserip~ tion almost obliterated by age. After looking anxiously about, to see if he had been observed, the miner pushed open the door and entered the hut. As he did so the saturated garments of his insensible burthen caught in a splinter in the woodwork. Then the door was closed without noise. All was still. si * % a 4 * ‘‘ Where am ] ?” Se OTTy