nd gazed from the
summit into the night. For a second, another flash of lightning half
blinded him with its lurid glare, but when he was again accustomed to
the darkness, he saw a dull glimmer in the distance, and supposing it to
come from the hotel, sprang down the rock again to Violet's side.

"This way," he said, "dear Violet; I see a light, and from the direction
of it I think it must be from our hotel. Keep up courage, and we shall
soon reach it."

Dangerous as it was to hurry over the wet and slippery shale, and down
the steep sides of the rugged hill, Kennedy half drew, half-carried her
along with swift steps towards the place from which the dim light still
seemed to allure them by its wavering and uncertain flicker.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

A NIGHT OF TERROR.

"For the strength of the hills we bless Thee,
Our God, our Father's God;
Thou hast made our spirits mighty,
By the touch of the mountain sod!"
Hemans.

"Here you all are, then," said the cheerful voice of Mr Kennedy, as
Julian, Eva, and Cyril, followed by the guide, entered the little Murrem
Inn.

"Here are three of us," answered Julian; "haven't Edward and Violet
arrived? Not having seen them for the last half-hour, I fancied they
must have got before us by some short cut."

"No, they've not come yet. Fortunately for you, Eva, Aunt Dudley is
very tired and has gone to bed," he said laughing, "otherwise you would
have got a scolding for not taking better care of Violet."

"Oh, then, they must be close behind somewhere for certain," said
Julian; "they could not have missed the path--it lay straight before us
the whole way."

"Well, I hope they'll be in soon, for it begins to look lowering. I've
ordered tea for you; make haste and come down to it. You're ready for
tea, Cyril, I have no doubt."

"_Rather_!" said Cyril, reviving; for fatigue had made him very quiet
during the last half-hour. And, indeed, the tempting-looking display on
the table, the bright teapot, and substantial meal, and amber-coloured
honey, would have allured a more fastidious appetite.

They ran up-stairs to make themselves comfortable before having tea and
retiring to bed, and on re-entering the warm and glowing room, their
first question was, "Have they come?"

"No," said Mr Kennedy, anxiously, and even the boy's face grew grave
and thoughtful as Julian rose from the tea-table and said, "I must go
and search for them."

He seized his straw hat, put