Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 3

390 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
they both lost their temper, but failed to obtain any satisfactory informa-
tion. They both passed a sleepless night, and at dawn of day Hector
started, accompanied by Kenneth, in pursuit of the fugitives, feeling sure
they could not have gone far in such a Avild and rocky country. He kept
a strict watch on Kenneth, who, notwithstauduig, managed in the course
of the day to get near the cave, and unseen by his companion gave a sig-
nal, which he was delighted to see answered. He now knew that his
friends were safely lodged, and had no fear of their discovery by
Hector, but how to communicate with them he could not imagine, for
Hector kept the most jealous eye on his slightest movements.
The day was nearly spent ; the men, fagged and wearied with their
long and toilsome search among the mountains, lay down on the heather.
Hector, sulky, and deeply mortified at the trick played upon him, lay
thinking of what excuse he coidd make to his chief, and how that high-
spirited gentleman was likely to receive the news of Flora's escape. One
thing was certain, he must at once acquaint his lord Avith all the circum-
stances, whatever the consequences might be to himself; but the dil'fi-
culty was, how to do so. He first thought of securing Kenneth, and
taking him a prisoner along with him, but glancing at the weU-knit,
hardy figure, and determined eye of the young Highlander, he concluded
it would be no easy task to secure him single-handed ; and Hector,
who, though brave, was also very prudent, saw no benefit likely to accrue
from a combat between himself and Kenneth, which would probably end
ill the death of one, perhaps of both of them. At last he decided that
the best plan for him would be to go off quickly and quietly, give infor-
mation to his chief, and return Avith a sufficient number to trace and
secure Kenneth and the runaways. The idea was no sooner conceived
than executed. Seeing that Kenneth lay with his face covered, buried
in thought, Hector rose and ran through the hiUs witli the fleetness of a
deer.
Kenneth lay for some time, revolving scheme after scheme, when,
wondering at his companion's unwonted silence, he raised his head, and
was astonished to find him gone. He jumped to his feet and looked
eagerly around ; at last he espied him at a distance, running as if for his
life. This conduct somewhat puzzled him, and for a moment he was
tempted to send an arrow after him, but recollecting he was now too
far away he dismissed the idea from his mind, and began to reflect how
best to turn Hector's absence to his own benefit. The first thing he did
was to hasten to the cave to inform its inmates of the strange and abrupt
departure. Flora, with her usual intelligence, soon defined the
reason, and a consultation was at once held as to what they had better do
in the perplexing situation in wliich they now found themselves.
They could not stay in the cave for any length of time for want of
provisions ; the small stock they had brought with them would soon be
exhausted ; the goat's milk would not even be sufficient for little ]\Iac-
Gabhar himself, and it would be unsafe for Kenneth to venture out to
procure food for fear of their retreat being discovered, and they dreaded
this might be the case even as it was, for if their enemies brought their
slot hounds they would soon be tracked. Under all these circumstances,
in about a week they concluded upon going down to the seashore, trust*