CHAPTER XX[ToC]
HAPLESS TAVIA
Step by step, or rather, move by move, Tavia struggled to reach in safety that heap of white.
"Oh, if she is only alive!" moaned Tavia. "Why did I not induce her to go back to the Junction? I saw she was insane—and now!"
A huge stone offered her a pause in the dangerous descent. She stopped and listened.
Then she called: "Birdie! Birdie!" No answer. "Perhaps she hears and does not know—that name. Madame Fly-Fly?" she called again, and she thought the sleeve moved—always that attempt to fly.
Tavia slid down from the rock, trembling in limb and throbbing in nerves. She had a terrible fear that the girl was either dying or dead. There with her alone!
On a perfectly flat stone the form lay. Tavia was beside it now. She stooped and listened.
"Thank the good Lord she is alive!" gasped Tavia fervently. "I must—lift—her!"
But there was little trouble in turning the light form over, so that the white face looked up into Tavia's.