the precipice. Ten thousand tons of rock,
loosened secretly by the frost and the rain, had plunged without
warning on the doomed habitations below and buried the Gray Mill in
overwhelming ruin.

Pat trembled like a branch caught among the rocks in a swift current
of the river. He buried his face in his hands.

"My God," he muttered, "was it as close as that? How was I spared? My
God, pardon for all poor sinners!"

We worked for hours among the houses that had been more lightly
struck and where there was still hope of rescuing the wounded. The
Church of Our Lady of the Victories was quickly opened to receive
them, and the priests ministered to the suffering and the dying as we
carried them in.

As the pale dawn crept through the narrow windows, I saw Pat rise from
his knees at the altar and come down the aisle to stand with me in the
doorway.

"Well," said I, "it is all over, and here we are in the church this
morning, after all."

"Yes," he answered; "it is the best place. It is where we all need to
come. I have given my money to the priest--it was not mine--I have
left it all for prayers to be said for the poor souls of those--of
those--those friends of mine."

He brought out the words with brave humility, an avowal and a plea for
pardon.

"We must send a telegram," I said, putting my hand on his shoulder.
"Angelique will be frightened if she hears of this. We must
tranquillise her. How will this do? 'Safe and well. Coming home
to-morrow to you and twins.' That makes just ten words."

"It is perfectly correct, m'sieu'." he replied gravely. "She will be
glad to get that message. But--if it would not cost too much--only a
few words more,--I should like to put in something to say, 'God bless
you and forgive me.'"

HALF-TOLD TALES

THE KEY OF THE TOWER

THE RIPENING OF THE FRUIT

THE KING'S JEWEL

THE KEY of the TOWER

[Illustration]

So the first knight came to the Tower. Now his name was _Casse-Tout_,
because wherever he came there was much breaking of things that stood
in his way. And when he saw that the door of the Tower was shut (for
it was very early in the morning, and all the woods lay asleep in the
shadow, and only the weather-cock on the uppermost gable of the roof
was turning in the light wind of dawn), it seemed to him that the time
favoured a bold deed and a masterful entrance.

He laid hold of the door, therefore, and shook it; but the door would
not give. Then he s