No wonder! She had not only to resist the rushing snow, but to sustain
the drag of Lewis, who, as we have said, had been carried beyond his
cousin, and whose only chance now lay in his retaining hold of her arm.
Ere the words had quite left her lips, Lewis was seen deliberately to
let go his hold and throw up his arm--it seemed as if waving it.
Next moment Emma was dragged on the rock, where she and her companions
stood gazing in horror as their companion was swept upon the ice-slope
and carried down headlong. The snow was by this time whirled onward in
a sort of mist or spray, in the midst of which Lewis was seen to strike
a rock with his shoulder and swing violently round, while parts of his
clothing were plainly rent from his body, but the painful sight did not
last long. A few seconds more and he was hurled, apparently a lifeless
form, among the _debris_ and rocks far below.
Death, in such a case, might have been expected to be instantaneous, but
the very element that caused the poor youth's fall, helped to save him.
During the struggle for life while clinging to Emma's arm, the check,
brief though it was, sufficed to allow most of the snow to pass down
before him, so that he finally fell on a comparatively soft bed; but it
was clear that he had been terribly injured, and, what made matters
worse, he had fallen into a deep gorge surrounded by precipices, which
seemed to some of the party to render it quite impossible to reach him.
"What is to be done?" exclaimed Lawrence, with intense anxiety. "He
must be got at immediately. Delay of treatment in his case, even for a
short time, may prove fatal."
"I know it, Monsieur," said Antoine, who had been quietly but quickly
uncoiling his rope. "One of the porters and I will descend by the
precipices. They are too steep for any but well-accustomed hands and
feet. You, Monsieur, understand pretty well the use of the axe and
rope. Cut your way down the ice-slope with Jacques. He is a steady
man, and may be trusted. Run, Rollo (to the third porter), and fetch
aid from Gaspard's chalet. It is the nearest. I need not say make
haste."
These orders were delivered in a low, rapid voice. The men proceeded at
once to obey them. At the same time Antoine and his comrade swung
themselves down the cliffs, and were instantly lost to view. The young
porter, whom he had named Rollo, was already going down the mountain at
a smart run, and Jacques was on the ice-slope wielding his axe with
ceaseless energy and effect, while Lawrence held the rope to which he
was attached, and descended the rude and giddy staircase behind him.
It was a terrible time for those who were left above in a state of
inaction and deep anxiety, but there was no help for it. They had to
content themselves with watching the rescue, and praying for success.
It was not long before the guide and porter reached the spot where poor
Lewis lay. He was not insensible, but a deadly pallor overspread his
scarred face, and the position in which he lay betokened utter
helplessness. He could scarcely speak, but whispered that he fancied he
was not so much hurt as might have been expected, and expressed wonder
at their having been so long in reaching him.
The guide spoke to him with the tenderness of a woman. He knew well how
severely the poor youth was injured, and handled him very delicately
while making such preliminary arrangements as were in his power. A few
drops of brandy and water were administered, the poor limbs were
arranged in a position of greater comfort, and the torn rags of clothing
wrapped round him.
Soon they were joined by Lawrence, who merely whispered a few kind
words, and proceeded at once to examine him. His chief anxiety was as
to the amount of skin that had been destroyed. The examination revealed
a terrible and bloody spectacle; over which we will draw a veil; yet
there was reason to believe that the amount of skin torn off and abraded
was not sufficient to cause death. Lawrence was comforted also by
finding that no bones appeared to have been broken.
Nothing could be done in the way of attempting a removal until the
return of Rollo with a litter. Fortunately this was not long of being
brought, for the young porter was active and willing, and Gaspard had
promptly accompanied him with men and materials for the rescue.
But it was a sad, slow, and painful process, to bear the poor youth's
frame from that savage gorge, and convey him on a litter, carried by
four men, over glaciers and down rugged mountain sides, even although
done by tender hearts and strong hands. Everything that ingenuity could
contrive was done to relieve the sufferer, and when at last, after weary
hours, they reached the high-road of the valley, a carriage was found
waiting. A messenger had been sent in advance to fetch it, and Mrs
Stoutley was in it.
There was something quite touching in the quiet, firm air of
self-restraint with which she met the procession, and afterwards tended
her poor boy; it was so unlike her old character!
The sun was setting in a field of golden glory when they carried Lewis
into the hotel at Chamouni, and laid him on his bed--a mere wreck of his
former self.