Page:The Father Confessor, Stories of Danger and Death.djvu/209

Rh that chance. I would have died for them, if there was a possibility of their rescue by doing so. But it is not asked of us to die a comrade, though we may give our lives for his rescue. If there had been no rope and they had slipped over, would you have expected me to jump over after them? No, you would not. My hands were powerless, the rope bit into my flesh. I was half over the edge. I thought life was fairer than it is. I saved myself by a miracle—I cut the rope. I fought hard for them."

He dragged his shirt open at the breast as he spoke, showing them so cruel a bruise that some of the men turned away in pity.

"My wounds speak for me. Oh," he continued, with a sudden cry of appeal, "you are men with wives, sweethearts, sisters, mothers, homes; I am a solitary man without a relative in the world, with loneliness mistress in my home; I cannot make new friends"—he looked towards the General—"I cannot make new loves. Do not turn your faces from me. You see how weak I am to speak to you like this—how I value you all."

In the silence that followed the door opened