CHAPTER LXVIII. THE HERMIT'S CAVE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 301, 22 September 1888, Page 5

CHAPTER LXVIII. THE HERM IT'S CAVE.

Now cling to me with all your might,' he said, gently, • and don't look down ; keep your eyes on the moon. Poor little dove, do not tremble so ; I'll not let you fall.' He swung himself out, holding on to the window-sill, and Maggie clasped him close with her lithe, young arms, her wide, brown eyes fixed upon the white September moon, dropping slowly out of sight behind the Scottish hills. Down he went, swinging himself from one twisting vine to another, never for one moment loosening his firm clasp. Maggie could feel his heart throbbing with great bounds, and hear him breathing in gasps, so tremendous was his exertion. High fellowship begets love, it is said, and I think the old doctor's fair daughter verified the old saying in her hazardous descent that night. If she did not love this bra\e joung stranger, who held her so firmly in his arms, and risked his life for her sake, with every breath he drew, her heart was filled with a boundless gratitude. Down and down, from one gnarled vine 1o another, pa*t the h ary battlements, past the mullioned windows now suspended in midair, ano.i &liding down the rugged iock, deceived by a treacherous hold, but sate at last. Maggie's feet touched the crisp, brown soil ot the blighted hsath, at the base of the great tower ; her brave knight relaxed his linn grasp, re°led tor a moment, danting and gasping for bieath, and then stood nobly erect. ' Oh, what shall 1 ever do to repay you ?' began Maggie, in her gratitude, but lie cut her short. ' Hush!' he said, grasping her hand ; 'we shall have the blood-hound at our heel.*. Come !' He hurried her aero&& the heath, round the skirt of the fir thicket, and under fclio base of the mountain, towaid the ca\ern known as the ' Permit's Cave.' The entrance was indescribably gloomy in the fitful light of the setting moon ; a gredt, yawning chasm opening under a rocky-voof, curtained by black fir-branches, and rank-growing vines. He smiled down upon her as they neared the dismal entrance, something unutterably tender and reassuring in his bright, resolute eyes. ' Don't be afraid, little one,' he said, kindly ; ' you have been very brave tonight We are safe now— a' friend of mine lives in this gloomy cave — a good and wise old man, whose hospitality we must share to-night. You can trust me, can you not?' ' 1 1 can trust you,' said Maggie, quietly. He led her through a kind of rocky tunnel, dark and damp, which led at last into a wide, leverbeiating cavern. Away at the remote end a taper glimmeied, and as they drew near, Maggie perceived a little square compartment, lormed in a turn of the cavern, fitted up as a human dwelling. At their approach, an old man, wearing the garb of an ancient monk, with a black cowl on his head, and a white, flowing beard, appeared in the entrance. ' Who comes?' he, demanded, his voice awakening a thousand sepulchral ech6es. ' A friend,' responded the young man. At the sound of his voice the hermit advanced to meet them. ' You are welcome, my son,' he said ; then his eye falling on Maggie, who clung to her deliverer's arm half in terror, he added, ' You have succeeded, I see- come, my child,' extending his hand to her,' ' the j hefmit bids yoit'welcome. ' I He led her into his rude little temple,

and seated her on the bench before the wood h're that blazed in one corner. ' You are white and cold," 1 he said, turn-, ing to a small table, and pouring some wine from a flask ; « drink this, it will do you good.' Maggie obeyed, and felt the rare old vintage tinging through her chilled veins, and bringing a glow to her cheeks. ' And you, my son,' continued the hermit, turning to the young man, ' look worn out— a drop will renew your strength.' But the young man shook his head. ' No wine for me,' he said, smiling, ' bub a glass of cold water, if you please — and five minutes to breathe in, and I must leave this young lady in your care, and be off again — the Earl of Strathspey is prisoner in the old dungeon.' The hermit turned in amazement. ' The Earl of Strathspey a prisoner ? How can that be ?' -> ' The man who hears his name, who has been reared as his son, has confined him there to die.' 'And wherefoie?' ' To secure the earldom — the earl doubted that he was in truth his son, and talked of renouncing him.' For a minute the two looked into each other's eyes, aad then the hermit laid his hand upon the young man's shoulder. ' I see !' he answered, solemnly ; ' Romulus, my son, Heaven's justice may be slow, but it is sure !' The young man sat silent an instant, and then he arose ' I must not delay,' he said ; ' every moment tells, and the earl must be rescued this night.' ' Why not call out the proper authorities, and have the ruins searched ?' suggested the hermit. ' That would take time in this wilderness,' replied the other, * and the earl's enemies would be pretty sure to murder him while a pair of officers are pounding at the gates. No ; I'll try it myself. I've climbed the tower twice to-night, and I'll make the third attempt. I can get on better without help than with it.' He started down the cavern, and then turned back abruptly. ' If anything should befall me,' he said, coolly, ' and I don't i*eturn, you w ill see that this young lady is restored to her friends ?' 'I will,' replied the hermit. 'But, my son. do not rashly throw away your life.' 'I shall save the earl and myself too, if possible,' was his quiet answer. ' I think I'm a match for Mother Gwynneth and all her emissaries, the bloodhound included.' He took a short knife from a crevice overhead, and put it in his belt as ho spoke. Maggie watched him with whitening cheeks, her very heart sinking within her. She arose, and extended her hand. ' You risked your life bo save me,' she faltered, ' and I have not even thanked you — and now ' 'My success in saving you is ample reward,' he replied, taking her trembling hand, and retaining it in his firm clasp. 1 You are nob afraid to remain here ? Why do you tiemble so?' ' Not afraid — oh, no, not for myself — but for your safety,' she murmured, dropping her ej es shyly beneath his gaze. A sudden light flashed over his handsome face, and he raised the little hand he held to his lips with a grave reverence. 'Do not fear,' he replied, gently; 'I shall come to no harm. Farewell !' He turned again to go, bub looked back struck by a sudden remembmnce. ' You said you had proof,' he &a"d, ' that this man who beats the eaiTb nanie it. nob his son. May I ask what proof V' Maggie resumed her seat, and, with a deprecating glance and a movement of exquisite grace and m >desty, removed the boot from her dainty foot, and ox traced the yellow paper from ibfc hiding-place beneath the lining. 1 1 put it theie for safe keeping,' &he explained, as she handed it to the young man. ' I had only found it when I was drugged and forced from home." He ran it over with his keen blue eyes, a hot Hush mounting to his cheeks. Then he passed it to the hermit. 'Little girl,' he said, turning again to Maggie, 'I think there is some power, higher and more divine than mere chance, at work for us all to-night. You will bhink so too, by-and-by. Uood-bye.' And, with a bow and smile, he disappeared, and Maggie was left alone in the hermit's ca\e.