Rising from the stone on which he had sat for some time, he was walking leisurely up the ascent, when something started suddenly forth from beneath the shadow of the underwood, on the dark side of the road, a few paces before him. He involuntarily cocked and presented his gun. figure threw its arms abroad, and he instantly took down the piece from his shoulder, and uncocked it, for he beheld the Dwarfie Carline standing in the middle of the path.

The

She advanced to him with a quick step, and taking him by the arm," Amherst Oakenwold !" said she, in a more subdued tone of voice than she had ever before used," I have waited long for you here, but 'tis well I have met you."

"Waited for me!" said he, with surprise, "how could you have looked for meeting me here ?"

"Hush!" said she, motioning with her hand, "ask no questions-time presses, and I have much to say. The hour at last approaches when you must leave these mountains. But first you

have a great work to perform; and here, you must solemnly promise to meet me two hours be

fore to-morrow's midnight, by the Fairies' Oak

on the north side of Loch an Eilan.

the

You know

was

spot ?" "I do," said Amherst, with a feeling of hesitation, which, though but faintly expressed, quickly caught at by this mysterious being, 501-£ You cannot fear me!" said she, with much emphasis, at the same time expanding her arms, and throwing back her head with an air of dignified surprise

I

"I do not fear you," said Amherst, "but yet may be excused for wishing to have some rea son assigned for so extraordinary a demand, from one of whom I know so little.”

What!" said she, " do you doubt me, after having within this very hour saved your life! after having saved you from cruel and remorseless murder ?"

7:26

It was you then," eagerly inquired Amherst, it was you then who

Hush" said the Carline interrupting him, and lifting her hand up in the attitude of silence "I tell you we have no time to speak of such things now. Once for all, will you meet me at Loch an Eilan to-morrow night at the appointed trysting tree?two hours before midnight PI

talk not of your life-what would your life be to me?-the fate of Eliza Malcolm hangs upon your promise."

I

"Eliza Malcolm !", exclaimed Amherst with astonishment. "Good Heavens! how can her fate be connected with any spot within the circle of these mountains?"

adgons f Hush! speak not so loud," said the Carline. 66 But, answer me- -Will

ed for his reply... F

you come?" She wait

Amherst was moved by the powerful talisman of the name; and he thought the signal deliverance this friendly being had so lately effected for him, in a manner so miraculous in itself, a sufficient guarantee that at least she could intend him no treachery.Com det av by as "I will come," said he.

Then listen to me," said the Carline. "Come with your attendant, armed, and with your horses prepared for flight, Let not your real intentions be known at Lochandhu, but make some rational pretence for leaving it. Think of what you overheard pass to-night between those murderous villains in the hut. Nay, start not with

CHC

surprise. Think you that I too heard them not?

They will be with your attendant by cock-crow tomorrow. Let him be prepared to mislead them, with the story of your expedition to Glenmore. Leave Lochandhu to-morrow afternoon, as if for the purpose of going thither. The robbers' road lies on the south side of the loch-let your way be on the north. Halt, and conceal yourselves and your horses among the thickets of the Ord Bain, till the trysting-hour, and then fail not to meet me under the appointed tree. Return now to Lochandhu-be cautious till your departure. Again, I tell you, that upon your prudence for the next twenty-four hours depends the fate of Eliza Malcolm !—If you fail-lost to your friends and to your country, your bones shall whiten beneath yonder silent wave, and your lonely spirit shall wander through these pathless wilds, or hover amidst the cold mists of the loch, without one kindred ghost to listen to its wailings. Remember!-two hours before to-morrow's midnight, at the trysting-oak !”

As she finished speaking, she raised her lean arms, as if to impress her words more deeply upon his mind, and instantly disappeared among the brushwood, leaving Amherst in amazement.

Having recovered himself, he hastened forward, and had gone but a very short way when he met with O'Gollochar, who had just set out to look for him, and was overjoyed to meet him.

Amherst did not exactly choose to trust O'Gollochar with all the particulars of his night's adventures, prudently considering, that what he might himself find rather a difficult matter to conceal from the penetration of Lochandhu and his wife, would be still more troublesome for Cornelius to keep. He therefore described the place where he was bewildered, and his route homewards as lying in a direction quite opposite to the truth. He was glad, however, that his good fortune, by having thus thrown O'Gollochar in his way, afforded him the opportunity of talking to him without the chance of being seen or overheard by others. He told him that it was his intention to go on his Glenmore expedition on the evening of the ensuing day, and as he meant to devote at least a week, partly to the pursuit of the deer, but chiefly to the wild scenery about the base of the mountains, on which he meant to employ his pencil, he should take his baggage with him.