nd; and the reason for its coming here, instead of into the
harbour, was--the best of reasons for the lady--that Macdonald had fears
that the Macleods who manned the vessel would be friendly to his
prisoner. So the minister and his party were to be landed in the
sloop's yawl; and the sloop was to be quietly brought into the cove
after dark, that the lady, supposed to be still on the island, might not
have _any_ opportunity of getting on board."

This did appear a most promising opportunity of deliverance. The sloop
came round when expected; and, soon after she was moored, Rollo and
David went on their raft, and spoke from it to a man who appeared to be
in command, and who was, after some time, persuaded to think that he
could, for sufficient payment, go so far out of his way as to land a
lady passenger on the main--the lady being in anxiety about her family,
and able to pay handsomely for an early opportunity of joining them.
The negotiation was rather a long one, as some of the points were
difficult to arrange; and the master of the vessel appeared somewhat
careless about the whole matter. But at last Lady Carse's anxious ear
heard the slight splash of the raft approaching through the water; and
then the tall figures of the young men were dimly seen between her and
the sky. Her tongue was so parched that she could not speak the
question which swelled in her heart.

"Come," said Rollo, aloud. "The master will land you on the main. You
had better get on board now, before the sea roughens. Come, they are
looking out for you."

Lady Carse endeavoured to make haste; but her limbs would hardly support
her. Her companions lifted her upon the raft, and one held her steady
while the other paddled. Strong arms were ready on board the sloop to
hoist her up and carry her to a heap of plaids, made into a sort of bed
on deck. In another moment she sprang up, saying that she must speak to
her companions one more word. A sailor who stood over her held her
back; but she declared that she must thank those who had rendered her a
great service. At the bidding of someone who spoke in Gaelic, the
sailor withdrew his opposition, and she tottered to the side of the
vessel, called to Rollo, desired him to give her love to his mother, and
promised that he and David should find that she was not ungrateful.

Rollo and his comrade leaped ashore with a comfortable feeling that
their business was all achieved; but yet with some little