e on, "and warth a
score sic birkies as this one; but it was ill-luck his meeting as they
did that day, and it winna do--it winna do! We shall be having sair
wark yet, I'm afraid. They're kittlecattle these womenkind, and I
nearly suffered shipwreck with them mysel'."

"There's no one here," said his lordship, now condescending to speak, as
they drove to where the road faded away into a faint track, which, in
its turn, led to the pine-grove.

"We'll get doon and hopple the ponies, my laird, and walk on to the
pine-wood. My young leddie may be in there."

"Confound his barbarous tongue! Why don't he speak English?" muttered
the Viscount. "I don't understand one-half he says."

But McCray's acts were plain enough, even if his words were obscure;
and, descending, he secured the ponies, and was about to start towards
the wood, already looking black and gloomy, when one of Brace Norton's
cries for help smote his ear.

"Gude save me! Hearken to that, noo!" cried McCray, excitedly.

"Only a marsh bird," said his lordship, contemptuously.

"Gude save us! Come alang; that's a soul in sair peril, my laird," And
starting in the direction of the cry, as fast as the treacherous nature
of the ground would allow, McCray soon came in sight of that which made
him redouble his pace.

"Here! Help, here!" cried a voice from behind. "I'm sinking!" When,
with a glance over his shoulder, McCray saw that his companion was
already above his knees in a soft place.

"De'il help ye--ye ill-far'ed, handle-named loon!" muttered McCray,
fiercely. "Why couldna ye walk like a Christian, and not get in that
way? I've ither work in hand."

Then hastening on, he stepped from tuft to tuft, with an agility not to
have been expected in a man of his years, till well within reach of
words:

"Haud oup, then," he cried--"haud oup, my bra'e laddie, I'm with ye.
There!" he cried, as he threw himself at full length upon the yielding
moss, and reached to where, ghastly of face, Brace still clung, and held
up his charge--"there! I ha'e yer hand. Loose the rushes, and grip it
weel--grip it weel."

"Her first--take her first," sobbed Brace, hoarsely.

"That I will!" cried McCray, working himself forward. "Gude save us,
though, it's sair wet work here, and I'm a deal heavier than I thocht.
Noo I ha'e her, and she's leet as swansdoon aifter a'. The puir bairn,
I ha'e her safe, but she's half dead. Lie there, my pretty, while I pu'
out th