ach side of
the horse's girth. Then his friend lowered the bridle, and he managed to
put it on the horse and attached a rope to it. The fishermen took the
lines, and, paying out as they went so as to leave plenty of slack line,
got on the rocks just above the little beach whereon, sheltered though it
was, the seas broke heavily. There they waited, ready to pull the horse
through the surf when he should have come close enough.

Stephen did not see the rescue of the horse; for just then a tall grave
man spoke to her:

'Pardon me, Lady de Lannoy, but is the man to be brought up to the
Castle? I am told you have given orders that all the rescued shall be
taken there.' She answered unhesitatingly:

'Certainly! I gave orders before coming out that preparation was to be
made for them.'

'I am Mr. Hilton. I have just come down to do lacum tenens for Dr.
Winter at Lannoch Port. I rode over on hearing there was a wreck, and
came here with the rocket-cart. I shall take charge of the man and bring
him up. He will doubtless want some special care.'

'If you will be so good!' she answered, feeling a diffidence which was
new to her. At that moment the crowd carrying the senseless man began to
appear over the cliff, coming up the zig-zag. The Doctor hurried towards
him; she followed at a little distance, fearing lest she should hamper
him. Under his orders they laid the patient on the weather side of the
bonfire so that the smoke would not reach him. The Doctor knelt by his
side.

An instant after he looked up and said:

'He is alive; his heart is beating, though faintly. He had better be
taken away at once. There is no means here of shelter.'

'Bring him in the rocket-cart; it is the only conveyance here,' cried
Stephen. 'And bring Mr. Hepburn too. He also will need some care after
his gallant service. I shall ride on and advise my household of your
coming. And you good people come all to the Castle. You are to be my
guests if you will so honour me. No! No! Really I should prefer to
ride alone!'

She said this impulsively, seeing that several of the gentlemen were
running for their horses to accompany her. 'I shall not wait to thank
that valiant young gentleman. I shall see him at Lannoy.'

As she was speaking she had taken the bridle of her horse. One of the
young men stooped and held his hand; she bowed, put her foot in it and
sprang to the saddle. In an instant she was flying across country a