ed them to
ring the great alarm-bell incessantly; then into the yard, and sent
messengers to the village, and to all his tenants, and in about an
hour there were fifty torches, and as many sheep-bells, directed upon
Cairnhope hill; and, as men and boys came in from every quarter, to know
why Raby's great alarm-bell was ringing, they were armed with torches
and sent up Cairnhope.

At last the servant returned from "The Colley Dog," with the alarming
tidings that Miss Carden and Mr. Coventry had gone up the hill, and
never returned. This, however, was hardly news. The Gabriel hounds
always ran before calamity.

At about eleven o'clock, there being still no news of them, Jael Dence
came to Mr. Raby wringing her hands. "Why do all the men go east for
them?"

"Because they are on the east side."

"How can ye tell that? They have lost their way."

"I am afraid so," groaned Raby.

"Then why do you send all the men as if they hadn't lost their way? East
side of Cairnhope! why that is where they ought to be, but it is not
where they are, man."

"You are a good girl, and I'm a fool," cried Raby. "Whoever comes in
after this, I'll send them up by the old church."

"Give me a torch, and I'll run myself."

"Ay, do, and I'll put on my boots, and after you."

Then Jael got a torch, and kilted her gown to her knees, and went
striding through the snow with desperate vigor, crying as she went, for
her fear was great and her hope was small, from the moment she heard the
Gabriel hounds.

Owing to the torch, Grace saw her first, and uttered a little scream; a
loud scream of rapture replied: the torch went anywhere, and gentle and
simple were locked in each other's arms, Jael sobbing for very joy after
terror, and Grace for sympathy, and also because she wanted to cry, on
more accounts than one.

Another torch came on, and Jael cried triumphantly, "This way, Squire.
She is here!" and kissed her violently again.

Mr. Raby came up, and took her in his arms, without a word, being broken
with emotion: and, after he had shaken Coventry by both hands, they all
turned homeward, and went so fast that Coventry gave in with a groan.

Then Grace told Jael what had befallen him, and just then another torch
came in, held by George the blacksmith, who, at sight of the party,
uttered a stentorian cheer, and danced upon the snow.

"Behave, now," said Jael, "and here's the gentleman sore hurt in the
river; Geordie, come and make a chair w