reach. At last, with a thrill of
joy, his eye perceived one, and, summoning all his energies for a
supreme effort, he darted thither.

The ravening swine were gaining upon him at a rate which meant his soon
being overtaken, and if he should stumble his fate was certain.

[Illustration: "THE RAVENING SWINE WERE GAINING UPON HIM."]

But the sure-footed faculty of the Highlander stood him in good stead.
He neither slipped nor tripped, and kept steadily on, until well-nigh
spent he won his race for life by so scanty a margin that the baffled
boar drove hard against the friendly rock up which his intended victim
had sprung to safety.

It was little more than a ledge which afforded Donalblane such timely
sanctuary, and it did not lead far; but, about twenty feet from the
ground, he found a sort of niche wherein he could dispose his exhausted
body with some degree of comfort.

"Eh, man, but I'm well-nigh dead!" he panted, as he stretched out on
the moss-covered rock. "Anither ten yards and he'd have had his tusks
into me. Ah, weel, he'll no' get anither chance, though I stay here a'
nicht!"

As the boar was grunting and gnashing, and his squealing family were
evidently determined to invest the place, Donalblane proceeded to
settle down as comfortably as he could.

Happily the moss lay thick on the rock, and really made quite a soft
couch. It was a fine, warm night, and if he had only had food and
drink he would not have greatly minded. But the pangs of hunger, and
especially of thirst, took possession of him, and he had a wretched
time of it as the long hours dragged slowly by. Some time during the
night the pigs disappeared, and when day dawned the coast was clear.

Feeling very stiff and sore and out of sorts, Donalblane clambered down
into the valley, and set off to find his ship. By a lucky chance,
after a couple of hours' vain wandering, he came upon a couple of
natives laden with oranges evidently intended for market.

They, of course, could not understand his words, but by vigorous
pantomime he got into their heads the two facts, that he wanted some of
their oranges, and to be shown the way to the harbour.

For a bit of silver they filled his hands with the fruit, which the
starving boy found very refreshing if not quite satisfying; and then,
by keeping them company, he came in due time to where the welcome sight
of the _Bonnie Scotland_ gladdened his eyes. On his return to the ship
he found his frie