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of a fair。 The eldest girl in the little band spoke in a hurried and frightened
tone。
〃Phine is so naughty； madame；〃 she said； 〃we could not keep her near
us。 She would go on and on to the sea。 We could not wait for her。 We
heard her calling； but it was so far； we dared not go back。 But she cannot
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be far behind us； for we shouted as we came along。 She will be here soon；
madame。〃
〃/Mon Dieu！/〃 cried the mother； sinking down on one of the great
stones； either rolled up by the tide； or left by the masons who built the
ramparts。 〃Call her father to me。〃
It was Michel Lorio who found Nicolas； his greatest enemy。 Nicolas
had a number of errands to be done in the town； and he was busy
impressing them on the memory of his messenger； who； like every one
else； could neither read nor write。 When Michel caught his arm in a sharp；
fast grip； he turned round with a scowl； and tried； but in vain； to shake off
his grasp。
〃Come to thy wife；〃 said Michel； dragging him toward the gate；
〃Delphine； thy little one； is lost on the sands。〃
The whole crowd heard the words； for Michel's voice was pitched in a
high； shrill key； which rang above the clamour and the babel。 There was an
instant hush； every one listening to Michel； and every eye fastened upon
him。 Nicolas stared blankly at him； as if unable to understand him； yet
growing passive under his sense of bewilderment。
〃The children who went out with Delphine this morning are come
back；〃 continued Michel； in the same forced tone； 〃they are come back
without her。 She is lost on the sands。 The night is falling； and there is a fog。
I tell you the little one is alone； quite alone； upon the sands； and it will be
high water at six o'clock。 Delphine is alone and lost upon the sands！〃
The momentary hush of the crowd was at an end。 The children began
crying； and the women calling loudly upon St。 Michel and the Holy Virgin。
The men gathered about Nicolas and Michel； and went down in a compact
group to the causeway beyond the gate。 There the lurid sun； shining dimly
through the fog； made the most sanguine look grave and shake their heads
hopelessly behind the father and mother。 The latter sat motionless； looking
out with straining eyes to see if Delphine were not coming through the
thickening mist。
〃/Mais que faire！ que faire！/〃 cried Nicolas； catching at somebody's
shoulder for support without seeing whose it was。 It was Michel's； who
had not stirred from his side since he had first clasped his arm。 Michel's
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face was as white as the mother's； but there was a resolute light in his eyes
that was not to be seen in hers。
〃Nothing can be done；〃 answered one of the oldest men in answer to
Nicolas's cry； 〃nothing； nothing！ We do not know where the child is lost。
See！ there are leagues and leagues of sand； and one might wander miles
away from where the poor little creature is at this instant。 The great
archangel St。 Michel protect her！〃
〃I will go；〃 said the mother； lifting herself up； and； raising her voice；
she called loudly； with a cry that rang and echoed against the walls； 〃Phine！
Phine！ my little Phine； come back to thy poor mother！〃 But there was no
answer； except the sobs and prayers of the women and children clustering
behind her。
〃Thou canst not go！〃 exclaimed Nicolas； 〃there are our other little ones
to think of； nor can I leave thee and them。 My God！ is there then no one
who will go and seek my little Delphine？〃
〃I will go；〃 answered Michel； standing out from among the crowd； and
facing it with his white face and resolute eyes； 〃there is only one among
you all upon the Mont who will miss me。 I leave my mother to your care。
There is no time for me to bid her adieu。 If I come back alive； well！ if I
perish； that will be well also！〃
Even then there was no cordiality of response on the hearts of his old
friends and neighbours。 The superstition and prejudice of long years could
not be broken down in one moment and by one act of self… sacrifice。 They
watched Michel as he laid his full creel down from his shoulders； and
threw across them the strong square net with which he fished in the ebbing
tide。 His silence was no less expressive than theirs。 Without a sound he
passed away barefooted down the rude causeway。 His face； as the sun
shone on it； was set and resolute with a determination to face the end；
whatever the end might be。 He might have so trodden the path to Calvary。
He longed to speak to them； to say adieu to them； but he waited in vain
for one voice to break the silence。 He turned round before he was too far
away； and saw them still clustered without the gate； every one of them
known to him from his boyhood； the story of whose lives had been bound
up with his own and formed a part of his history。 They were all there；
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except his mother； who would soon hear what peril of the sea and peril of
the night he was about to face。 Tears dimmed his eyes； and made the group
grow indistinct； as though the mist had already gathered between him and
them。 Then he quickened his steps； and the people of Mont St。 Michel lost
sight of him behind a great buttress of the ramparts。
But for a time Michel could still see the Mont as he hurried along its
base； going westward； where the most treacherous sands lie。 His home was
on the eastern side； and he could see nothing of it。 But the great rock rose
up precipitously above him； and the noble architecture upon its highest
point glowed with a ruddy tint in the setting light。 As he trampled along no
sound could be heard but the distant sigh of the sea； and the low； sad
sough of the sand as his bare feet trod it。 The fog before him was not
dense； only a light haze； deceptive and beguiling； for here and there he
turned aside； fancying he could see Delphine； but as he drew nearer to the
spot he discovered nothing but a post driven into the sand。 There was no
fear that he should lose himself upon the bewildering level； for he knew
his way as well as if the sand had been laid out in well…defined tracks。 His
dread was lest he should not find Delphine soon enough to escape from
the tide； which would surely overwhelm them both。
He scarcely knew how the time sped by； but the sun had sunk below
the horizon； and he had quite lost the Mont in the fog。 The brown sand and
the gray dank mist were all that he could see； yet still he plodded on
westward； toward the sea； calling into the growing darkness。 At last he
caught the sound of a child's sobs and crying； which ceased for a moment
when he turned in that direction and shouted； 〃Phine！〃 Calling to one
another； it was not long before he saw the child wandering forlornly and
desolately in the mist。 She ran sobbing into his open arms； and Michel
lifted her up and held her to his heart with a strange rapture。
〃It is thou that hast found me；〃 she said； clinging closely to him。
〃Carry me back to my mother。 I am safe now； quite safe。 Did the archangel
St。 Michel send thee？〃
There was not a moment to be lost； Michel knew that full well。 The
moan of the sea was growing louder every minute； though he could not see
its advancing line。 There was no spot upon the sand that would not be
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covered before another hour was gone； and there was barely time； if
enough； to get back to the Mont。 He could not waste time or breath in
talking to the child he held fast in his arms。 A pale gleam of moonlight
shone through the vapour； but of little use to him save to throw a ghostly
glimmer across the sands。 He strode hurriedly along； breathing hardly