^  This  road  is  narrow — ^let  us  make  a  chain  across  it,'  exclaimed
Lady  Edith,  steadily  planting  herself  in  the  centre,  while  the  other
ladies  hand-in-hand  instantly  formed  a  line  which  could  not  be
passed.  As  the  excited  animal  approached  this  barrier,  he  slackened
his  speed,  and  at  length  paused  as  if  doubtful  whether  to  turn  or
advance.
Lady  Edith  then,  speaking  gently  and  approaching  slowly,
succeeded  in  seizing  an  end  of  the  broken  rein,  and  Beatrice  in
a  moment  cut  the  stirrup  ^strap,  so  as  completely  to  disengage  the
prostrate  rider's  foot.  It  was  the  work  of  a  moment,  and  the
horse  then  left  to  himself  galloped,  fleet  as  the  wind,  out  of  sight
towards  Eaglescaim  Castle.
The  horseman  lay  apparently  dead,  his  coat  torn,  his  face
disfigured,  and  his  whole  person  so  dabbled  and  besmeared  with
blood  and  dast  that  no  one  could  recognise  him  ;  till  at  length
Anne  exclaimed,  with  a  shriek  of  sudden  horror,  '  It  is  Sir  Allan !'
Another  glance,  and  Ijidy  Edith  saw  that  it  was  so.  Meanwhile,
the  servants,  by  her  orders,  had  brought  out  a  mattress,  on  which
the  insensible  sufferer  was  laid.  They  bore  him  carefully  into  the
cottage,  and  a  heavy  moan,  when  M' Ronald  laid  him  on  the  bed,
was  the  only  sign  he  gave  of  life  and  of  suffering.
Lady  Edith,  with  solemn  anxiety  too  great  for  utterance,  had
him  placed  in  her  own  room,  and  sent  instantly  for  the  nearest
advice,  not  only  from  Clanmarina,  but  alSo  from  Inverness.
