stories by english authors in france(旅法英国作家的故事)-第27节
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glimmer across the sands。 He strode hurriedly along； breathing hardly
through his teeth and clasping Delphine so fast that she grew frightened at
his silence and haste。
〃Where art thou taking me； Michel /le diable/？〃 she said； beginning to
struggle in his arms。 〃Let me down； let me down； I tell thee！ /Maman/ has
said I must never look at thee。 Thou shalt not carry me any farther。〃
There was strength enough in the child and her vehement struggles to
free herself to hinder Michel in his desperate haste。 He was obliged to
stand still for a minute or two to pacify her； speaking in his quiet； patient
voice； which she knew so well。
〃Be tranquil； my little Phine；〃 he said。 〃I am come to save thee。 As the
Lord Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost； so am I come to
seek thee and carry thee back to thy mother。 It is dark here； my child； and
the sea is rising quickly； quickly。 But thou shalt be safe。 Be tranquil； and
let me make haste back to the Mont。〃
〃Did the Lord save thee in this manner？〃 asked Delphine； eagerly。
〃Yes； He saved me like this；〃 answered Michel。 〃He laid down His life
for mine。 Now thou must let me save thee。〃
〃I will be good and wise；〃 said the child； putting her arms again about
his neck； while he strode on； striving if possible to regain the few
moments that had been lost。 But it was not possible。 He knew that before
he had gone another kilometre； when through the mist there rose before
him the dark； colossal form of the Mont； but too far away still for them
both to reach it in safety。 Thirty minutes were essential for him to reach
the gates with his burden； but in little more than twenty the sea would be
dashing round the walls。 The tide was yet out of sight and the sands were
dry； but it would rush in before many minutes； and the swiftest runner with
no weight to carry could not outrun it。 Both could not be saved； could
either of them？ He had foreseen this danger and provided for it。
〃My little Phine；〃 he said； 〃thou wilt not be afraid if I place thee where
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thou wilt be quite safe from the sea？ See； here is my net！ I will put thee
within it； and hang it on one of these strong stakes； and I will stand below
thee。 Thou wilt be brave and good。 Let us be quick； very quick。 It will be
like a swing for thee； and thou wilt not be afraid so long as I stand below
thee。〃
Even while he spoke he was busy fastening the corners of his net
securely over the stake； hanging it above the reach of the last tide… mark。
Delphine watched him laughing。 It seemed only another pleasant
adventure； like wandering with him upon the ramparts； or taking shelter in
the turret。 The net held her comfortably； and by stooping down she could
touch with her outstretched hand the head of Michel。 He stood below her；
his arms fast locked about the stake； and his face uplifted to her in the faint
light。
〃Phine；〃 he said； 〃thou must not be afraid when the water lies below
thee； even if I do not speak。 Thou art safe。〃
〃Art thou safe also； Michel？〃 she asked。
〃Yes； I am quite safe also；〃 he answered； 〃but I shall be very quiet。 I
shall not speak to thee。 Yes； the Lord Christ is caring for me； as I for thee。
He bound Himself to the cross as I bind myself here。 This is my cross；
Delphine。 I understand it better now。 He loved us and gave Himself for us。
Tell them to…morrow what I say to thee。 I am as safe as thou art； tranquil
and happy。〃
〃We shall not be drowned！〃 said Delphine； half in confidence and half
in dread of the sea； which was surging louder and louder through the
darkness。
〃Not thou！〃 he answered； cheerily。 〃But； Phine； tell them to…morrow
that I shall nevermore be solitary and sad。 I leave thee now； and then I
shall be with Christ。 I wish I could have spoken to them； but my heart and
tongue were heavy。 Hark！ there is the bell ringing。〃
The bell which is tolled at night； when travellers are crossing the sands；
to guide them to the Mont； flung its clear； sharp notes down from the great
indistinct rock； looming through the dusk。
〃It is like a voice to me； the voice of a friend； but it is too late！〃
murmured Michel。 〃Art thou happy； Delphine； my little one？ When I cease
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to speak to thee wilt thou not be afraid？ I shall be asleep； perhaps。 Say thy
paternoster now； for it is growing late with me。〃
The bell was still toiling； but with a quick； hurried movement； as if
those who rang it were fevered with impatience。 The roaring of the tide； as
it now poured in rapidly over the plain； almost drowned its clang。
〃Touch me with thy little hand； touch me quickly！〃 cried Michel。
〃Remember to tell them to…morrow that I loved them all always； and I
would have given myself for them as I do for thee。 Adieu； my little Phine。
Come quickly； Lord Jesus！〃
The child told afterward that the water rose so fast that she dared not
look at it； but shut her eyes as it spread； white and shimmering； in the
moonlight all around her。 She began to repeat her paternoster； but she
forgot how the words came。 But she heard Michel； in a loud clear voice；
saying 〃Our Father〃； only he also seemed to forget the words； for he did
not say more than 〃Forgive us our trespasses； as we forgive。〃 Then he
became quite silent； and when she spoke to him； after a long while； he did
not answer her。 She supposed he had fallen asleep； as he had said； but she
could not help crying and calling to him again and again。 The sea…gulls
flew past her screaming； but there was no sound of any voice to speak to
her。 In spite of what he had said to her beforehand she grew frightened；
and thought it was because she had been unkind to Michel /le diable/ that
she was left there alone； with the sea swirling to and fro beneath her。
It was not for more than two or three hours that Delphine hung cradled
in Michel's net； for the tide does not lie long round the Mont St。 Michel；
and flows out again as swiftly as it comes in。 The people followed it out；
scattering over the sands in the forlorn hope of finding the dead bodies of
Michel Lorio and the child； for they had no expectation of meeting with
either of them alive。 At last two or three of them heard the voice of
Delphine； who saw the glimmer of their lanterns upon the sands； and
called shrilly and loudly for succour。
They found her swinging safely in her net； untouched by the water。
But Michel had sunk down upon his knees； though his arms were still
fastened about the stake。 His head had fallen forward upon his breast； and
his thick wet hair covered his face。 They lifted him without a word spoken。
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He had saved Delphine's life at the cost of his own。
All the townspeople were down at the gate； waiting for the return of
those who had gone out to seek for the dead。 The moon had risen above
the fog； and shone clearly down upon them。 Delphine's mother； with her
younger children about her； sat on the stone where she had been sitting
when Michel set out on his perilous quest。 She and the other women could
see a crowd of the men coming back； carrying some burden among them。
But as they drew near to the gate； Delphine sprang forward from among
them and ran and threw herself into her mother's arms。 〃A miracle！〃 cried
some voices amid the crowd； a miracle wrought by their patron St。 Michel。
If Michel Lorio were safe； surely he would become again a good Christian；
and return to his ancient faith。 But Michel Lorio was dead； and all that
could be done for him was to carry his dead body home to his paralytic
mother； and lay it upon his bed in the little loft where he had spent so
many hours of sorrowful loneliness。
It was a perplexing problem to the simple people。 Some said that
Michel had been permitted to save the child by a diabolic agency which
had failed him when he sought to save himself。 Others maintained that it
