departure, and the motives which induced her to
seek them.

"But," said Birch, "why follow us here, when we were left on the
opposite hill?"

Frances related the glimpse she had caught of the hut and the peddler,
in her passage through the Highlands, and her immediate conjecture
that the fugitives would seek shelter of this habitation for the
night.

The peddler seemed satisfied; for he drew back, and watching his
opportunity, unseen by Henry, slipped behind the screen, and entered
the cavern.

Frances and her brother, who thought his companion had passed through
the door, continued conversing on the latter's situation for several
minutes, when the former urged the necessity of expedition on his
part, in order to precede Dunwoodie, from whose sense of duty they
knew they had no escape. The captain took out his pocket-book, and
wrote a few lines with his pencil; then folding the paper, he handed
it to his sister.

"Frances," he said, "you have this night proved yourself to be an
incomparable woman. As you love me, give that unopened letter to
Dunwoodie, and remember that two hours may save my life."

"I will--I will; but why delay? Why not fly, and improve these
precious moments?"

"Your sister says well, Captain Wharton," exclaimed Harvey, who had
reentered unseen; "we must go at once. Here is food to eat as we
travel."

"But who is to see this fair creature in safety?" cried the captain.
"I can never desert my sister in such a place as this."

"Leave me! leave me!" said Frances; "I can descend as I came up. Do
not doubt me; you know not my courage nor my strength."

"Captain Wharton," said Birch, throwing open the door, "you can trifle
with your own lives, if you have many to spare; I have but one, and
must nurse it. Do I go alone, or not?"

"Go, go, dear Henry!" said Frances, embracing him; "go! Remember our
father; remember Sarah." She waited not for his answer, but gently
forced him through the door, and closed it with her own hands.

For a short time there was a warm debate between Henry and the
peddler; but the latter finally prevailed, and the breathless girl
heard the successive plunges as they went down the side of the
mountain at a rapid rate.

Immediately after the noise of their departure had ceased, Harper
reappeared. He took the arm of Frances in silence, and led her from
the hut and down the mountain.

Wondering who this unknown but powerful friend of her brother could
be, Frances gli