Foul Play

by Charles Reade

  CHAPTER XXIX.

  HAZEL advanced hurriedly into the grove, which he hunted thoroughly, butwithout effect. He satisfied himself that she could not have quitted thespot, since the marsh inclosed it on one side, the canals on the secondand third, the sea on the fourth. He returned to the boat more surprisedthan anxious. He waited awhile, and again shouted hername--stopped--listened--no answer.

  Yet surely Helen could not have been more than a hundred yards from wherehe stood. His heart beat with a strange sense of apprehension. He heardnothing but the rustling of the foliage and the sop of the waves on theshore, as the tide crept up the shingle. As his eyes roved in everydirection, he caught sight of something white near the foot of a witheredcypress-tree, not fifty yards from where he stood. He approached thebushes in which the tree was partially concealed on that side, andquickly recognized a portion of Helen's dress. He ran toward her--burstthrough the underwood, and gained the inclosure. She was sitting there,asleep, as he conjectured, her back leaning against the trunk. Hecontemplated her thus for one moment, and then he advanced, about toawaken her; but was struck speechless. Her face was ashy pale, her eyesopen and widely distended; her bosom heaved slowly. Hazel approachedrapidly, and called to her.

  Her eyes never moved, not a limb stirred. She sat glaring forward. On herlap was coiled a snake--gray, mottled with muddy green.

  Hazel looked round and selected a branch of the dead tree, about threefeet in length. Armed with this, he advanced slowly to the reptile. Itwas very quiet, thanks to the warmth of her lap. He pointed the stick atit; the vermin lifted its head, and its tail began to quiver; then itdarted at the stick, throwing itself its entire length. Hazel retreated,the snake coiled again and again darted. By repeating this process fouror five times, he enticed the creature away; and then, availing himselfof a moment before it could recoil, he struck it a smart blow on theneck.

  When Hazel turned to Miss Rolleston, he found her still fixed in theattitude into which terror had transfixed her. The poor girl had remainedmotionless for an hour, under the terrible fascination of the reptile,comatized. He spoke to her, but a quick spasmodic action of her throatand a quivering of her hands alone responded. The sight of her sufferingagonized him beyond expression, but he took her hands--he pressed them,for they were icy cold--he called piteously on her name. But she seemedincapable of effort. Then, stooping he raised her tenderly in his armsand carried her to the boat, where he laid her still unresisting andincapable.

  With trembling limbs and weak hands he launched the cutter, and they wereonce more afloat and bound homeward.

  He dipped the baler into the fresh water he had brought with him fortheir daily supply, and dashed it on her forehead. This he repeated untilhe perceived her breathing became less painful and more rapid. Then heraised her a little, and her head rested upon his arm. When they reachedthe entrance of the bay he was obliged to pass it, for, the wind beingstill southerly, he could not enter by the north gate, but came round andran in by the western passage, the same by which they had left the samemorning.

  Hazel bent over Helen, and whispered tenderly that they were at home. Sheanswered by a sob. In half an hour the keel grated on the sand near theboat-house. Then he asked her if she were strong enough to reach her hut.She raised her head, but she felt dizzy; he helped her to land; all powerhad forsaken her limbs; her head sank on his shoulder, and his arm, woundround her lithe figure, alone prevented her falling helplessly at hisfeet. Again he raised her in his arms and bore her to the hut. Here helaid her down on her bed, and stood for a moment beside her, unable torestrain his tears.