Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 4

434 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
aptivating sight. Soon, however, tliis sylph of the wood relieved him
from his entranced state, by getting up, drawing her plaid over her
shoulder and slowly walking away, still singing as she went. With a long-
drawn sigh, partly of relief at his escape from the inliuences of the fairy,
and partly at regret at losing sight of the fair vision, young Grant pulled
himself together, and continued his ramble. But aU the beauty and
sweetness of the evening he had so enjoyed before seemed to have van-
ished with the nymph. Everything now appeared grey and cheerless, so
he improvised a hunter's bed, and lay down to rest.
Next day he resumed his sport, or at least attempted to do so, but in
reality his mind was occupied more with the lovely figure he had seen the
previous day. He often stood in a reverie listening for the sweet notes
which had so charmed him before, while the brown hare passed close to
him indieeded, and the gentle doe came within shooting distance un
harmed — for his bow was held unstrung and the arrows rested in the
sheaf. The evening turning out wet and stormy. Grant looked about for
a better shelter than that aftbrded by the leafy bowers of the forest. He
at last discovered a natural cave among the rocks, and gladly availed him-
self of the protection it provided against the fast-coming storm. He found
the cave ran in a good distance, and, though the entrance was narrow, it
was a good size inside, and had evidently been made larger by the liands
of men, than it originally was ; and as Grant penetrated fm-ther, he was
surprised to see tokens of its being very recently occupied as a dwelling-
place. "Ah !" exclaimed he, "this no doubt was one of the aliens' hid-
ing-places, and not a l)ad one either. I shall rest like a prince here."
There were several beds made of dried heather, covered over with skins,
ranged round the walls of this natural cavern ; and selecting the best, our
hero stretched himself upon it, and was soon fast locked in the arms of
Morpheus. How long he slept, he knew not, but he awoke with a start,
by a light shining on his face, and the noise of men's voices in loud and
eager conversation. The new comers had lighted a fire, the smoke of
which circling round the cave to find an exit, made the place so dark that
the aliens had not perceived the intruder upon their hospitality.
William Grant was one of the bravest of men, yet his blood ran cold,
and seemed to curdle in his veins. His heart beat fast, while a cold pers-
piration broke from every pore, as the imminent danger of his position
became apparent to him. Here was he alone, far from his friends, sur-
rounded by dozens of his inveterate foes ; any moment the merest chance
might discover him, when he felt sure to meet with a sudden and inglori-
ous death, Avithout the least opportunity of defending himself, and, worse
than aU, his body would be cast out as carrion for the birds of the air to
devour, and his friends would never know his fate.
Slirinking down on his heathery couch, and making himself as small
and invisible as possible, young Grant lay hardly daring to breath, while
eye and ear were strained to the utmost, noticing every movement and hear-
ing every word of the aliens to see if, by any unlooked-for chance, he
might yet escape their deadly clutches. Suddenly another fignire appeared
lyjon the scene. The new comer was a tall, powerfully-built man in the
prime of life ; and as the fire-light played on his rugged features and fierce
countenance, Grant recognised him as the leader or captain of the aliens.