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Show 408 THE 1.11.\' A:"i'O THI?. TOTf'.M. could Cecl only as we might-th:~.t the weariness of this day would find a. wing to-morrow; \VC should conquer it, and be worthy ~f better worlds hereafter. Bu~ he who gives himself up to wc:mncss, will neither find nor dcscn•e a wing. 'fhou hast c~tcn-thou hast drunkcn,-thou shouldst bo refreshed. I have nc1ther eaten nor drunken, since we setoff at dawn this monting for our progress across the valley." 1t Reproach me not, Alphonse," replied the other; "thou bast a strength nnd a courage both denied to we." "Believe it not; be resolute in thy courage, and thy strength will follow. It is the heart, verily, that is the first to fail." " i\Iino is dead within me !" " Y ct another effort, mtm Jrlre,-yct one more effort! The valley below us look!! soft tmcl im·iting. There shall we find shelter from the bleak winds that sweep these bald summits." "It is cold ! and my limbs stiffen beneath me," answered the other, as he rose slowly to resumen. march which was more painful to his thoughts than any which he had of death. But for his deference to the superior will of the younger brother, he had surely never risen from the spot. But he rose, and wearily followed after the bold Alphonse, who was already picking his way down the steep sides of the mountain. We need not follow the brothers through the painful details of a progress which bad few varieties to break its monotony, and nothing to relieve its gloom. Two d.'tys have made a wonderful difference in the appearance of both. Wild, stern and wretched enough before in aspect, there was now a. grim, gaunt, woJf.Jike expression in the features of Alphonse D'Erlach, which showed AJ.J>IIO:"SR 0 1E RT.A C!f. 409 tl1at privation and labor were working fearfully upon the mind as well.'L!I the body. lie was emaciated-his eyes sunken and glossy, staring intensely yet without expression-his hair matted upon his brows, nod his movements rtlther convulsive than energetic. liis soul was as strong as ever-his will ns inflexible ; but the tension of the mil\d had been too great, and nature was beginning to fail in the support of this rigor. He now strove but little in the work of soothing and cheering his less coura.gcous brother. He had no longer a voice of encouragement, and be evidently began to think that the death for which the other bad so much yearned would p('rhnps be no unwelcome visitor. Still, as if the maxims which we have heard him utter were a portion of his real nature, his Cl'j' wns forever" On," and still his hand was outstretched towards blue summits that seemed to hide another world in the gulfs beyond them. "I can go no farther, Alphonse. I will go no farther. The struggle is worsc than any death. I feel that I must sleep. I feel that sleep would be sweet-er than anything you can promise." " If yon sleep, you die." " I shall rejoice!" "You must not, brother. I willl1elp you. I will carry yon." He made the effort as he spoke--for a moment raised up the failing form of his brother-staggered forward, and sank himself beneath tho burden. "Ua ! ha !" he laughed hoarsely; "that we should fail with the Golden Copal in sight! But if we rest, we shall recover. Let us rest. Let us kindle here a. fire, my brother, for my limbs feel cold also." "It is death, Alphonse." "DElath! Psh11w! We l'annot fnil now; now that we are 18 |
