His hand could not feel that she was living, and a great moan of anguish rose out of his soul.

But he knew how to fight for a life.

He tore open her dress and found that she was not crushed as he had feared.

Then he ran for water.
When he returned, the Willow's eyes were open and she was gasping for breath.
"The blessed saints be praised!" sobbed Pierrot, falling on his knees at her side.

"Nepeese, ma Nepeese!" She smiled at him, and Pierrot drew her up to him, forgetting the water he had run so hard to get.
Still later, when he got down on his knees and peered under the rock, his face turned white and he said: "Mon Dieu, if it had not been for that little hollow in the earth, Nepeese--" He shuddered, and said no more.