Adventure, June 1911 — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

338 ter, and they had to get another doctor to 7 help them. So they threatened to kill him with the first batch that very night. “Y’m afraid they will, little one,” he said; “‘and you, too. We might possibly get away by ourselves; but not with—our burden.” He shook his head at Mr. Ray- nor, whom I had lifted on a couch. “TI don’t suggest your going alone,” he added, “‘because——” “Because, if I would, I’m not worth sav- ing,’ I said. ““No. OfcourseI wouldn’tleave him; and you wouldn’t, because—he trusted you; andI do. Butcan’t you wake him?” “No; not till the three days are up. We must try to save him till then.” He considered for a long while with his chin on his hand. “T can think of only one way,” he told me at last, “and I fear it requires courage beyond your power, my brave little lady.” “Tf there is only one way,” I said, ‘of course I must try. What is it?” He did not answer my question at once, but thought again, staring at me as if he did not see me. “I WANT you to understand the situation,” he said. “It is fairer; and, besides, you may see some better plan. It would be possible to get out of this building. There are guards at the doors, but we could get through a window on the ground floor. There are thousands of empty houses where we could hide, if we once got away and if we escaped the wolves—and the human wolves, . the followers of the Chief Power. If you and I were alone, there would be a chance; a poor one, but I think our best. With our friend here to carry, there would be no chance at all of escaping so.” A howling rose in the distance, and he took me to the -window looking down Whitehall to Big Ben. “Look!” he said; and I looked, and clung to him. A large party of armed men—about two hundred—were coming from Parliament Street in our direction. Innumerable wolves —dogs of all kinds and sizes, and yet changed from dogs—were following. Some- times they approached so near that the men faced round with fixed bayonets, or axes. Sometimes a few ran by the side of the party and snapped at men till they were stabbed; and then the other wolves rushed upon them and devoured them. . inoculate you. Adventure “They go in flocks,” he told me, “but they rush down all the streets in turn; and with our friend to carry we could never get away from them, or from the patrols. No, we ¢an’t escape that way.” “What is your plan?” I asked. “We might hide in chimneys, or under the floors; but they would be sure to trace us. It’s a poor plan.” “Yes,’’ Lagreed. ‘What 7s your plan?”’ He looked at me again for a long while. Then he told me. ‘That you should go back to your places,”’ he said, ‘‘and let them think that they kill you. They propose to do it by injecting poison. If they have not changed its pre- scription—you must risk that—I can inocu- late you with an antidote. It will take away all power to move, and a good deal of your sensibility; not all. You will suffer— suffer in body and in mind, my poor child, but you will live. In a day or so you and he will wake. You are both young and active, and he is bold and resourceful. They will probably give up watching the dead. You may escape then—escape, I hope, to'a long and happy life together.”’ “‘And you?’ T asked. ‘‘ You, dear friend?”’ _ “Oh, well,” he said, “I had to die any- how.” . “T will take no chance of safety that you do not share!” I declared. ‘He would not, if he were alive—awake, I mean. I answer for hishonor. And he shall not wake to find that I deserted you!” ; “‘T shall go out and chance escaping the wolves,” he stated. ‘You see, it would be no use inoculating myself. When they found me unbound and yet unconscious, they might suspect my plan, and—and make sure of me! Probably of you and of him, too.” “They shall not find you unbound,” I said. ‘‘I will bind you as I found you, and Then I will inoculate him; and then myself. And when I wake—if I wake—I will come to you.” ““Ah, my dear!” he said. “You are brave! But are you brave enough?” “IT have tobe!” Isaid. We ate and drank. Then we carried Mr. Raynor back to his place, and the Chief Physician inoculated him, showing me how to do it. He marked the place on his own flesh and mine when we went to his room. He kissed my forehead. “The good God strengthen you!” he prayed. COnmmiclboooks (C@