ad away over the salt sea, salt
sea? Stay! answer me, I charge you!"

"What do you mean, my good dame?" asked Harry, as he at once recognised
the occupant of the hut in which he and his brother had taken refuge
from the storm.

"Good dame, forsooth; you call me so now, for ye have learned to respect
me. I ask, was it by your orders yon lad was forced away against his
will over the wide, salt sea?

"`The lot fell on the youngest,
The youngest of the three,
That he should go a-sailing
All on the salt sea, salt sea -
That he should go a-sailing
All on the salt sea.'"

"I know of no lad having been forced to go to sea against his will,"
said Harry, quietly. "Of whom do you speak? Tell me his name."

She passed her hand over her brow, as if to collect her thoughts. She
then answered in a calmer tone than before--

"He is the son of old Halliburt, the fisherman. Two of his sons have
been borne away already to feed the insatiate maws of the cruel salt
sea; 'tis hard that the old man should lose a third."

"I will do all I can to save the lad, and punish those who have
attempted to treat him as you say," answered Harry, much interested.
"If you can tell me where he has been carried to, I will do my utmost to
get him set at liberty."

"I stay for no one when on my destined course," she answered, moving
forward. "Your help will avail him nothing, as he will soon be far away
from the shore," and Mad Sal, flourishing her staff, as she generally
did when walking, took the way towards Adam's cottage.

Harry and his companions rode on to Downside. He intended, should May
not have returned, to leave Julia there, and go in search of the mad
woman. An undefined fear seized him that something might have happened
to May. On reaching the house, Harry threw himself from his horse.
Miss Jane, in a state of great agitation, was at the front door
directing Susan to summon the gardener, that he might set off and
ascertain what had become of Jacob. Harry fancied that she was speaking
of May, and the dread seized him that she had been carried off.

At that moment he caught sight of her as she came out of the
drawing-room, and forgetting everything else, he sprang forward and
pressed her to his heart, as he exclaimed--

"Thank heaven you are safe, May! what has happened?"

"Jacob was attacked while defending me from some men on horseback, and I
fear they have carried him off, as they failed to capture me," sh