the air. For Kenneth had opened his eyes, gazed
wonderingly about, and then fixed them on Max, as he knelt down and took
his hand, and smiled.

"What is it?" he said feebly. "What's the matter?"

Max was choking. A great ball seemed to be rising in his throat, and he
had to get up hastily and turn away to hide his emotion.

"I--don't quite--What's the matter, Tavvy?"

"Matter, my bonnie laddie!" cried the great forester, dropping on his
knees and placing his hands tenderly on the injured brow; "on'y a wee
bit scratch on the heid. Gie's the cloth, Shon lad, and I'll bind it
up. Ye had a dip i' the watter, but ye're a' richt the noo."

"Yes, I'm all right now," said Kenneth feebly; and he smiled faintly in
the great forester's face, as the great rough fellow bound up his brow
as tenderly as a woman.

Max had drawn back, and, as soon as the two men's attention was taken
up, he crept round behind a clump of the hazels, and, as soon as he was
well alone, the pent-up emotion would have vent, and, sobbing wildly, he
dropped upon his knees and covered his face with his hands, repeating
the prayer of thanksgiving that rose to his lips:

"Thank God! Thank God!"

Then he started to his feet, ashamed of his emotion, dreading lest any
one should have seen his position and heard his words, for a low, hoarse
moan seemed to come from farther in the little patch of woodland.

Was there some one else hurt? he thought; and, taking a few steps in the
direction, he came suddenly upon Scoodrach at full length upon the moss,
face downwards and buried in the soft green growth, while his hands were
clutching his shortly-cut hair behind, and his shoulders heaved as he
moaned forth,--

"She'll never hantle a poat acain! she'll never rin wi' her ower the
hills! Maister--Maister Ken, she's deid, she's deid!"

"No, no, Scood!" cried Max excitedly. "He's better! He has just come
to!"

Scood sprang to his feet, and a flash of wild delight darted from his
wet red eyes. Then, as if recollecting himself, he dashed his hand
across them and gave it a slap against his side, scowling heavily.

"On'y ta watter rin doon oot o' her hair," he said surlily. "Ta young
Chief's not trooned?"

"No, no, Scood; he's--"

Max stared, for Scoodrach had turned his back, begun to whistle, and
walked away.

"He was ashamed to let me see him crying," thought Max. "I'm not the
only coward in the world."

He stood for a few moments gazing after