begging her to come and talk matters over with her. There were such
obvious reasons why Margaret could not go to Christine, that the
latter readily complied with the request; and such was the influence
that this calm, cool, earnest girl had over the elder woman, that she
not only prevailed upon her to accept money to fee the lawyer in
John's defence, but also whatever was necessary for their comfort
during the approaching winter. Thus Christine and Margaret mutually
strengthened each other, and both cottage and prison were always the
better for every meeting.

CHAPTER V.

But soon the summer passed away, and the storms and snows of winter
swept over the lonely island. There would be no court until December
to try John, and his imprisonment in Kirkwall jail grew every day more
dreary. But no storms kept Christine long away from him. Over almost
impassable roads and mosses she made her way on the little ponies of
the country, which had to perform a constant steeple-chase over the
bogs and chasms.

All things may be borne when they are sure; and every one who loved
John was glad when at last he could have a fair hearing. Nothing
however was in his favor. The bailies and the murdered man's servants,
even the dominie and his daughter could tell but one tale. "Peter Fae
had declared with his last breath that John Sabay had stabbed him."
The prosecution also brought forward strong evidence to show that very
bitter words had passed, a few days before the murder, between the
prisoner and the murdered man.

In the sifting of this evidence other points were brought out, still
more convincing. Hacon Flett said that he was walking to Stromness by
the beach to meet his sweetheart, when he heard the cry of murder, and
in the gloaming light saw John Sabay distinctly running across the
moor. When asked how he knew certainly that it was John, he said that
he knew him by his peculiar dress, its bright buttons, and the glimmer
of gold braid on his cap. He said also, in a very decided manner, that
John Sabay passed Ragon Torr so closely that he supposed they had
spoken.

Then Ragon being put upon his oath, and asked solemnly to declare who
was the man that had thus passed him, tremblingly answered,

"_John Sabay!_"

John gave him such a look as might well haunt a guilty soul through
all eternity; and old Dame Alison, roused by a sense of intolerable
wrong, cried out,

"Know this, there's a day coming that will show the blac