y then; lose no more time, now; a minute is all the
space between risk and safety;" and with these words he sprang forward,
and lifted the young girl to her saddle, ere she had time or forethought
to decline the service.

"May we not know the name of our kind adviser?" asked Sir Marmaduke, as
he mounted his horse.

"Hark! there it comes!" said the youth, pointing upwards to the brow of
a cliff, over which a leaping torrent had just bounded. "The mountain
lakes are flooded, when Derrybahn is spouting. Away! away! if you care
for safety."

They turned their horses' heads as he spoke, and with a hasty "good bye"
they spurred forwards. Short as the time had been since they travelled
the same path, the scene was wonderfully changed; the placid stream that
stole along, murmuring over its gravelly bed, now rushed onward with a
yellow current streaked with white foam; the tiny rivulets that came in
slender drops upon the road-side, were now become continuous streams of
water, hurrying on to bear their tribute to the river. The sky itself
was black and louring, resting midway on the mountains, or drifting past
in heavy clouds, while no breeze was stirring below. The many torrents
as they fell, filled the air with a low monotonous sound, like the noise
of tree tops moved by a distant-storm.

"I thought I heard a voice calling to us," said Sir Marmaduke, as for
the first time they slackened their pace, to clear several loose stones
that obstructed the way--"did you hear it?"

"I half thought so, too," replied his daughter; "but I can see no one
near. There it is again!"

They halted and listened; but the swelling uproar of the waterfalls
drowned every sound, and they spurred forward once more, fearing to
loiter longer; yet, both as they went, thought they could trace
the words, "come back, come back;" but from some strange dread of
communicating fears that might not be real, neither told the other.

"He said the left side of the valley; but surely he mistook: see how the
water has gained here, and the opposite bank seems dry."

"Let us follow the advice, father," cried Sybella, "we have no guidance
save his; he could not--would not deceive us, Is it not grand! with all
its danger, I can admire it."

As she spoke, a tremendous clap of thunder broke above their heads, and
made the valley tremble with the sound, while, as if by the shock the
charged clouds were rent open, and the rain descended in torrents. With
the swoopi