t utterly blots out self for a brief moment in the person
affected, and allows the mind and frame for once to have free
unconscious play.

Elspie said, "Sh!--" and gazed aside with wide and lustrous eyes, head a
little on one side, a hand and forefinger slightly raised, as if to
enforce silence, and her graceful figure bent forward--a petrifaction of
intensely attentive loveliness.

Old McKay said "Ho!" and, with both hands resting on the ground to prop
him up, eyes and mouth wide open, and breath restrained, presented the
very personification of petrified stupidity.

Another moment, and the sound became too distinct to admit of a doubt.

"Here they are at long last!" exclaimed the old man, rising with
unwonted alacrity for his years.

"Thank God!" ejaculated Elspie, springing up and drawing a shawl round
her shoulders, at the same time making some hasty and futile attempts to
reduce the confusion of her hair.

It need scarcely be said that this was the arrival of the rescue-party
of which Daniel Davidson was in command. Before the starving pair had
time to get fairly on their legs, Daniel strode into the camp and seized
Elspie in his arms.

We need not repeat what he said, for it was not meant to be made public,
but no such reticence need trouble us in regard to old Duncan.

"Hoot! Taniel," said he, somewhat peevishly, "keep your coortin' till
efter breakfast, man! It iss a wolf that will be livin' inside o' me
for the last few tays--a hungry wolf too--an' nothin' for him to eat.
That's right, Okematan, on wi' the kettle; it iss yourself that knows
what it iss to starve. Blow up the fire, Peter Tavidson. You're a
cliver boy for your age, an' hes goot lungs, I make no doubt."

"That I have, Mr McKay, else I should not be here," said the lad,
laughing, as he knelt before the embers of the fire, and blew them into
a blaze.

"Wow! Dan, hev ye not a pit pemmican handy?" asked McKay. "It iss
little I care for cookin' just now."

"Here you are," said Dan, taking a lump of the desired article from his
wallet and handing it to the impatient man; at the same time giving a
morsel to Elspie. "I knew you would want it in a hurry, and kept it
handy. Where is Duncan? I thought he was with you."

"So he wass, Taniel, when you left us to go to Rud Ruver, but my son
Tuncan was never fond o' stickin' to his father. He left us, an' no wan
knows where he iss now. Starvin', maybe, like the rest of us."

"I hope n