Page:Idalia, by 'Ouida' volume 3.djvu/172

Rh change can come, except the aid and the change of the death that shall leave their flesh to the vulture, their bones to the bleach of the noon.

All he had done had been in vain.

Reaching the sea, they were as far from liberty as when the monastery's doors had closed them in; unless some vessel could be chartered to bear westward before the day should be at its meridian, they must turn back, and share the wolf's lair, the hare's terror, the stag's life of torture, when on every breeze may come the note of chase, when every curling moss and broken leaf may bear a mark to bring the hunters down.

There was not a sail in sight, as far as his eyes could reach over the water line; it might be two or three nights more yet, as the women told him, before the fishing-boats would come in; to leave her for the length of time needful to traverse the coast was impossible; he saw no course but to retrace his steps to her, and leave the choice of their retreat with her. He stood there some moments, looking westward from the beach, his head sank, his thoughts were very weary; he was condemned to the torture of inaction, the deadliest trial that can be fastened on high courage and on eager energies. He turned swiftly