ually fainter, and splashes as though of some one
struggling; a scream, and then what seemed an ominous silence.

It did not take a minute to launch a boat, and row out a few yards from
the shore. An upturned skiff told its tale of a repeated disobedience.
Clinging to it by one hand was Jeff, with the other he gripped Brian's
hair; but his little hand had just relaxed its hold as Mr. Colquhoun
approached. The effort to hold up his cousin had taxed his strength to
the utmost, and unconsciousness stole over him at the moment of rescue.

They were both saved. In five minutes, time the butler and footman had
carried in the two insensible forms and laid them safely on the rug in
the library.

It was not long before Brian gave signs of life. A gasp, a sigh, a
fluttering breath, and his eyes opened to see his mother hanging over
him. They wandered round the room and saw his father watching beside
Jeff for some sign of returning consciousness.

There was an ugly contraction of Brian's brow at this moment. To Mr.
Colquhoun the moments of doubt were full of anguish. Perchance Jeff
had given his life for his son's, for life seemed long in returning to
the little face that lay so still and white, with the pretty yellow
curls dripping wet. At last Jeff opened his eyes, but it was with no
rational gaze.

"Mother--I did try--they will tell you that I did try," he said
faintly. Then his eyelids closed again, and he muttered, "I will say
it now--'as we forgive them that trespass against us.'"

Mr. Colquhoun understood at last. Here was verily a little hero who
had suffered the guilt and punishment of another--a weak and sensitive
child who had borne a wrong silently, and had finally all but lost his
life to save the life of one he knew had sacrificed him.

By and by the doctor came, and Jeff was undressed and taken upstairs
without any other revival. Maggie had been sent for at once, to her
brother's cottage, and was installed in Jeff's little room as his
nurse. The doctor had lifted the wet curls above Jeff's temple, and
had revealed a dark bruise there. Evidently the boy had come in
contact with some obstacle in his wild plunge from the shore to the
skiff, only a few yards off. Jeff and Brian had both been learning to
swim with Sandy this summer; but Brian had made no progress, whereas
Jeff could manage a few strokes.

That was a very anxious night for the household at Loch Lossie. Even
little Jessie was suffer