upid people, who think that what
they cannot read has no existence.

"They'll be found, never fear," said a kindly policeman. "To-morrow
morning the description will be telegraphed to every town in the
country. There'll be posters out everywhere, and they can't fail to
be found by some one."

"To-morrow morning! And what about to-night?" Mrs. McDougall asked.

"Nothing can be done to-night! it's nearly eleven now," the man
replied. "You just go home, and don't worry. They're safe somewhere,
I'll be bound--perhaps nearer at hand than you have any idea of."

It was true enough: there was nothing further to be done--nothing but
to tramp back with that heavy load of care and the dread of terrors
too great to put into words.

So she took her way home again. It was long past midnight when she
reached the cottage. Grannie was waiting up, crooning to herself over
the fire. On the table lay the book and the tie bought for Elsie's
birthday.

Mrs. McDougall took them up hastily, and put them out of sight. "Go
to bed, mother," she said; "they'll be home to-morrow."

"I'm glad o' that; it's all well, then," she said, quite
unsuspiciously. "You're upset, Meg. It's been a shock to you."

"I'm tired. I'll get a bit of supper and rest a bit," Mrs. McDougall
returned. Her eyes were red and ringed, and had a look in them worse
than the look of tears.

The old woman went off to bed, and Mrs. McDougall sat down by the
fire, though not to eat. All night she sat listening, and many a time
she got up and walked out to the gate, peering through the darkness,
in the fancy that she had caught some sound.

Still the rain poured down, the night dragged on, and the children
were, as we know, far enough away.

CHAPTER XIX.--MRS. FERGUSON IS BAFFLED.

When Robbie awoke next morning at his usual early hour, and saw no
sign of his mother in the room, he thought he must have overslept
himself, so he jumped up quickly, and dressed.

He ran downstairs into the kitchen, and found Mrs. McDougall seated
before the empty grate.

She turned her head quickly as Robbie entered. In a moment the child
saw that something dreadful was the matter. Never in all his life had
he seen his mother look like that.

The child glanced at her wonderingly, then came close to her, with
the quick sympathy which is so sweet.

"Mother," he said, "is it Elsie and Duncan? Haven't you found them
yet?"

"No, Robbie," Mrs. McDougall replied. "They're just lost, a