Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/77

THE ACCIDENT I was aware she yet held the revolver in her hand, andrealized she was keyed to the point of using it, yet I was not silenced.

"Where do you intend going?"

"That is no affair of yours. On foot I am helpless to thwart you, Mr. Spy, so now you can let me alone."

"Then it is true that you were attempting to ride for the Confederate lines?"

She did not answer, but endeavored to struggle weakly to her feet. Scarcer was her slender ﬁgure erect when she uttered a sharp cry of anguish. and sank limply back again. both hands clasped about her ankle.

"What is it?"

"My—my ankle; oh, it pains me so!"

"You must permit me to examine it," I said ﬁrmly, stooping forward as I spoke. fully determined now to have my own way. "You had a hard fall; it may be sprained, or even broken. In either case the shoe must be removed immediately, before it begins to swell."

The pain and helplessness of her position had made woman of her again. Doubtless she realized the utter futility of further resistance, for she silently permitted me to unlace the shoe, and run my hand softly over the injured ankle. I could feel her wince at the pain of my touch, her ﬁngers clinched tightly.

"It is merely a sprain," I announced at last. "I am very certain no bone has been broken. However, the injury is certainly had enough, and precludes any thought of walking."

She stared toward me through the darkness, conscious [ 69 ]