ight, and one such as never before had been seen
there--the long line of lights bobbing about as the searchers moved
through the darkness.

Meanwhile, Hector's search was being diligently made. Dour and Dandy
hesitated once or twice as if puzzled, but in a moment trotted on
again, and before very long they led Hector to the coulee. The excited
boy fell rather than climbed down, and made straight for a sort of
pocket in the bank where he could hear the dogs sniffing.

And there lay Ailie! Curled up like a kitten, and so motionless that,
for a moment, Hector's heart stood still with fear. Then a quick move
forward in the dim light, and his hand was among the clustered curls,
and touching the warm, soft neck.

Ailie was alive! hurt, perhaps, but alive, and in the greatness of his
joy the boy sent forth a shout that caused Dour and Dandy above to
break forth into an 'exposition of barking' that attracted the
attention of several of the searchers, making them wonder if the wise
dogs might not have discovered something.

Hector picked up Ailie with the utmost tenderness. The child, aroused
from her stupor, gave a little cry of fear, then threw her arms about
her brother's neck, and burst into tears.

He hugged, and patted, and soothed her with loving words. 'And are ye
no hurt anywhere?' he asked her, half in wonder, half in joy. 'Just to
think of it. Oh, but the good God took wonderfu' care of you. Now
just you bide there a minute, and I'll try to let them know I found ye.'

Ailie, puzzled but obedient, stood as she was directed, and Hector
began to shout with all the vigour of his healthy young lungs. 'Hi
there! Come here! I've found her! She's not hurt.'

The clear strong voice rose out of the coulee, and was first heard by
those who had noticed the eager barking of Dour and Dandy. 'Ah! ha!'
exclaimed one of them, Black Rory Macdonald, his shaggy face lighting
up eagerly. 'Come awa', there,'--and off he went as fast as his mighty
legs could carry him. He had no trouble in locating the dogs, and
holding his lantern over the edge of the little hollow, he at once
caught sight of Hector and Ailie.

'The gude Lord be praised!' he cried fervently. 'The bairnie's found,
and there's nae hurt upon her.'

His joyous shouts rapidly brought the other searchers, Mr. Macrae being
among the first to reach the spot. Without loss of time, the boy and
girl were lifted out of the coulee, to be overwhelmed with
de