ng into a cottage he asked an old
daleswoman who lived there if he might trouble her in the way of trade
to make him some breakfast. The good soul took compassion on the young
man's weary face, and said he was welcome to such as she had. When
Robbie had eaten a bowl of porridge and milk, the fatigue of his
journey quite overcame him. Even while answering his humble hostess's
questions in broken sentences he fell asleep in his chair. Out of pity
the old woman allowed him to sleep on. "The lad's fair done out," she
said, glancing at his haggard face. It was later than noon when he
awoke.

Alas! what then was lost forever! What was gone beyond recall!

Starting up in annoyance at the waste of time, he set off afresh, and,
calling at the inn as he passed by, he learned to his great vexation
that if he had come on there when, at sunrise, he went into the
cottage a hundred yards away, he must have been within easy reach of
Sim and Ralph. The coach, nevertheless, had not yet got to this stage,
and that fact partially reconciled Robbie to the delay.

He had little doubt which path to take when he reached the angle of
the roads at the corner of the churchyard. If Ralph had taken the road
leading to Gaskarth he might be safe, but if he had taken the road
leading to Carlisle he must be in danger. Therefore Robbie determined
to follow the latter.

He made no further inquiries until he had walked through the market
town of Penrith, and had come out on the turnpike to the north of it.
Then he asked the passers-by who seemed to come some distance if they
had encountered two such men as he was in search of. In this way he
learned many particulars of the toilsome journey that was being made
by his friends. Sim's strength had failed him, and Ralph had wished to
leave him at a lodging on the road while he himself pushed forward to
Carlisle. But Sim had prayed to be taken on, and eventually a
countryman going to the Carlisle market, and with space for one only
on his cart, had offered to give Sim a lift. Of this tender the
friends had thankfully availed themselves.

It was only too clear from every detail which Robbie gleaned that
Ralph was straining every muscle to reach Carlisle. What terrible
destiny could it be that was thus compelling him to fly, perhaps to
his death!

Mile after mile Robbie plodded along the weary road. He was ill,
though he had scarcely realized that fact. He took many a rest.

Daylight faded, and once more