ere, at the foot of a glistening curve of water which seemed to
leap from amidst a pile of black rocks, stood Tavish, bending forward.
Long Shon was below him, standing waist-deep, and holding on to prevent
being swept away, while Scoodrach was many feet above, climbing to his
right, and evidently scanning the stream.

"They think he's washed down there," cried Max aloud, "when he must be
up yonder at the foot of the falls."

He shouted wildly, but his feeble voice would not penetrate to them as
they stood amidst the racing water, and in his agony Max was in the act
of starting to run again, when he saw Scoodrach throw up his hands, and
directly after Tavish seemed to make a bound into the foam, where he
fell and disappeared.

Max's mouth felt dry at this fresh misfortune, and he stood as if turned
to stone, waiting to see the gillie reappear, which he did, but not
where Max expected by fifty yards farther down the stream, where Long
Shon stood, and, as the latter held on with one hand, he could be seen
to stoop and catch at something in the water.

Max could hardly believe what he saw, as Tavish rose up high above Long
Shon, when the pair slowly climbed out, the great forester with
something beneath one arm.

The frozen feeling of helplessness passed off, and Max ran on down the
rough slope, nearly falling again and again in his eagerness to reach
the spot where from time to time he could see the group, on a green bed
of moss beneath some pendulous birches; and when at last he reached
them, it was to find Kenneth lying upon his back, with his head and
shoulders supported against Tavish as he knelt there; Scoodrach stooping
and holding his hand; and Long Shon busily binding up a cut upon the
lad's head, the blood from which had trickled down over one cheek.

"Is--is he dead?" cried Max hoarsely.

There was no reply, and Max felt his heart seem to contract as he stood
in the pool of water which had streamed down from the group.

"Na, na," said Tavish, suddenly thrusting away Long Shon's hand. "She'd
petter let her pleed."

Long Shon looked at him wonderingly, but gave way.

"Maybe she shall. Puir laddie, ye canna dee like that."

But for a time it seemed as if poor Kenneth's race was run, so still and
white he looked.

"The doctor! some one go for a doctor."

"There's nae doctor this side o' Stirling or Inverness," said Long Shon
quietly. "Puir laddie! Was this your doing, Scoody?"

"Na, father; she