It arrested his further
descent. Knight was now literally suspended by his arms; but the
incline of the brow being what engineers would call about a
quarter in one, it was sufficient to relieve his arms of a portion
of his weight, but was very far from offering an adequately flat
face to support him.
In spite of this dreadful tension of body and mind, Knight found
time for a moment of thankfulness. Elfride was safe.
She lay on her side above him--her fingers clasped. Seeing him
again steady, she jumped upon her feet.
'Now, if I can only save you by running for help!' she cried.
'Oh, I would have died instead! Why did you try so hard to deliver
me?' And she turned away wildly to run for assistance.
'Elfride, how long will it take you to run to Endelstow and back?'
'Three-quarters of an hour.'
'That won't do; my hands will not hold out ten minutes. And is
there nobody nearer?'
'No; unless a chance passer may happen to be.'
'He would have nothing with him that could save me. Is there a
pole or stick of any kind on the common?'
She gazed around. The common was bare of everything but heather
and grass.
A minute--perhaps more time--was passed in mute thought by both.
On a sudden the blank and helpless agony left her face. She
vanished over the bank from his sight.
Knight felt himself in the presence of a personalized lonliness.
Chapter XXII
'A woman's way.
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