r the first time since their departure, sunk into a kind of
sleep or stupor from exhaustion, from which he could not bear to arouse
her. Watching her for some little time in silence, his attention was
attracted by whispering voices, only separated from him by a thin
partition. They recounted and compared one by one the dress and peculiar
characteristics of himself and his companion, seeming to compare it with
a written list. Then followed an argument as to whether it would not be
better to arrest their progress at once, or send on to the Earl of
Buchan, who was at a castle only five miles distant. How it was
determined Dermid knew not, for the voices faded in the distance; but he
had heard enough, and it seemed indeed as if detention and restraint
were at length at hand. What to do he knew not. Night had now some hours
advanced, and to attempt leaving the hostel at such an unseasonable hour
would be of itself sufficient to confirm suspicion. All seemed at rest
within the establishment; there was no sound to announce that a
messenger had been dispatched to the earl, and he determined to await as
calmly as might be the dawn.

The first streak of light, however, was scarce visible in the east
before, openly and loudly, so as to elude all appearance of flight, he
declared his intention of pursuing his journey, as the weather had
already detained them too long. He called on the hostess to receive her
reckoning, commanded the mules to be saddled, all of which was done, to
his surprise, without comment or question, and they departed
unrestrained; the old man too much overjoyed at this unexpected escape
to note that they were followed by two Englishmen, the one on horseback,
the other on foot. Anxiety indeed had still possession of him, for he
could not reconcile the words he had overheard with their quiet
departure; but as the day passed, and they plunged thicker and thicker
in the woods of Carrick, and there was no sign of pursuit, or even of a
human form, he hailed with joy a solitary house, and believed the danger
passed.

The inmates received them with the utmost hospitality; the order for
their detention had evidently not reached them, and Dermid determined on
waiting quietly there till the exhausted strength of his companion
should be recruited, and permit them to proceed. An hour and more passed
in cheerful converse with the aged couple who owned the house, and who,
with the exception of one or two servants, were its s