There he was, anxiously pacing about, looking now in this direction, now in the other, for the sun was setting, and he began to fear something had happened. When he saw the queer procession coming toward him he stared in astonishment, and then called out sharply:
“What is this? What have you been about?”
His astonishment grew when the story was told him, and it looked as though he too would faint, so white he grew, thinking of his beloved child in such danger.
Evangeline told him of Rose’s bravery, and he embraced her, laughing, but with tears in his eyes.
“What an affair, what an affair! And never again shall you get out of your old father’s sight, child. But my boy, what a stroke that was of thine!”
“It was plain luck,” returned Gabriel. “I struck blindly, and the blade must somehow have reached the brain. Then poor Alphonse helped me. He hung to the beast’s muzzle to the very end.”
Well, it had to be told over again on the way home, with the small cub in the lunch basket, and when they reached Gabriel’s home, there was more excitement. All the village crowded round, the barber came to bind up Gabriel’s wound, his father stood by beaming, his mother wept and called on heaven in thanksgiving, and every one had something to say. Several of the youths of the place determined to go out the first thing in the morning to bring in the old she-bear, and it was plain to see that they envied Gabriel his adventure. Rose too came in for a deal of congratulation and hand-shaking and even kisses, for Evangeline was quick to tell of her courage, and to praise the swiftness of the help she offered.
“In an instant she had the knife up, and then—it was wonderful, so strong, so steady,” and she illustrated the stroke. Rose was embarrassed, but Ruth looked on with shining eyes.
Then all bade Gabriel farewell, each giving him a kiss. The cub squealed in the basket, the horse started off gaily, everybody waved and hurrahed—it was like a story ... the moon shone softly over the broad meadows, the wind sighed, the village dogs barked....
Or no. It was their own dogs barking! They were back at home, and when they looked at the clock they decided it was time for them to hop right off to bed.