from it. The little blue-stocking remembered

her Horace

"Tantalus a labris vitiens fugientia captat
Flumina"

and thought herself much worse off than Tantalus.

About noon the elderly attendant brought her some luncheon, a lobster and a pint bottle of still hock. She asked for Mary Clymo, but got no reply. So she ate her refection as placidly as she could, thanking Walter Nugent for at least deigning to keep his captive alive.

She had ended her entertainment, and felt somewhat refreshed, and was deep in Béranger again, when suddenly strange noises were audible outside. Going to the window, she saw nothing save the quiet sea and Devon's green coast beyond. But she heard, and grew frightened as she heard, noise of scuffling and swearing and shrieking-which to her horror came nearer and nearer. What could it be?

She stood opposite the door, with her toy-pistol ready in her hand.

Suddenly the door flew open, smashed out of the panel by a mighty kick, and there entered no less a personage than Musical Willie's Highlander, the gigantic Donald. Several men and women were trying their best to drag him back, but they might as well have tried to move Ben Lomond. When he saw Miss Saint Osyth, he cried out, “Ah, I knew the poor lassie was here!" and with a sudden movement of his elbows backward drove the people who were hanging upon him clear out of his way. One fellow was thrown on his

back, and lay stunned.

Louisa, knowing Donald, felt that she was safe. The Highlander, out of breath, took a great gulp of whisky from his flask, and then said,

66

'Now, lassie, if you're ready, I'll take you out of this den of thieves. Everybody in Silchester is mad about you, but we shall soon put them at their ease."

"But how did you know I was here?” asked Louisa.

“Oh, I'll tell you all as we row back. Don't stay for anything. I want to get you home quick."

Louisa obeyed:

"Women all obey

Who are true women."

She was only too glad to escape from her prison urharmed. The Highlander took her down to a point where a boat was moored. But, just before they reached it, they heard a fearful yell, and turning round beheld Nugent's panther bounding towards them. The man whom Donald had stunned, when he came to himself and saw his conqueror on the beach, let Cleopa:ra loose, enraging her by a cry which he had heard Nugent use for that purpose. Away she rushed like the wind in pursuit.

Donald seized a boat-hook that lay on the shore, and tried to get in front of Louisa.

"Stay!" she cried.

"Look here!"

She

waited, with her saloon-pistol in her hand, till the panther was close on them, and then fired straight at the brute's eye.

The conical shot

killing it instan

went right into its brain, taneously. The Highlander was amazed; as indeed were the wretches who had let it loose.

"You are a brave lassie," exclaimed Donald. "And to think that bairn's toy would kill that big beast. It's amazing.”

There was no more adventure. As they rowed homeward, Donald explained that Mary Clymo had managed to get off from the island without being perceived, and had come ashore at Mount St. Nicholas, where Donald was the first person she saw. He heard her story, and took boat at once, only staying to see she was in good quarters, and entreating her to say nothing to anybody till he came back.

"You see, Miss," he said, "I want to punish that villain, though he is of my dear master's kin."

"But why did you not bring some one to

help you?"

"Was there any need?" asked Donald, rather vain-gloriously, doubtless remembering Bannockburn and Robert the Bruce.

When they came ashore, Mary Clymo, who had been at a fisherman's cottage, came to meet them. Louisa could scarcely find words to thank the brave Cornish girl, and was obliged to supplement them with tears. The strain on her energy and patience had been no trifle.

"Poor lassie!" exclaimed Donald, "I ought to have thought before to give her a drop of Glenlivet.”

Louisa, though Donald's whisky was pretty strong, found herself much better after a drop.

Donald, who had a scheme of his own, took Louisa and Mary Clymo by a field path toward Silchester Rectory, avoiding the village. This path led to a wicket gate, usually locked to foil the tramps (for even in Devon there are tramps), whereof both Louisa and her uncle kept a key.