The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-27
CHAPTER XIII.
A FAITHFUL HEART.


Biddulph never forgot the night when
he started out amid the snow, with Tam
Mackenzie by his side, TO seek the young
gillie. The scene was weird and wonder
Gus in the extreme; for that rift in the
sky had spread and spread, and, as they
crossed the dark water, the moon sud
denly shone out amid the heavy clouds,
and lit up the white world around them
with indescribable beauty.
1t was wild and dangerous journey,
he knew well. The deep defiles among
the mountain range would probably be
blocked with snow, and constant dan
ger would exist, too, of heavy fall of
snow from the shelving rocks and preci-
pices suddenly descending on them. But
Biddulph was strong and courageous,
and had been deeply moved by the story
OF the lads fathfulness; and Tam Mac
| kenzie thought only of rescuing his young
brother
They took with them the st. Bernard
dog, Glen-a noble creature. rich ruddy
brown in color, with n broad breast and
splendid head which denoted his race. lie
was of pure breed, Biddulph having pur-
chased him from a friend, who had act
ually bought him of the good monks at
the monastery from which he derived his
name. Biddulph had thought of taking
some OF the deer hounds and keepers, but
Tam begged him not, as he was sure Rob
would not be found if he thought his hid
ing place were publicly known.
They crossed the loch, then, alone,
these two, in the glinting moonlight, and,
avoiding passing through the struggling
village of Balla, soon came TO the foot of
the vast mountain range beyond it, at the
commencement of which is the rugged
and romantic pass known as the Glen of
Balla, haunted for Biddulph with such
grim and CHASTITY thoughts.
As they entered it, he involuntarily
shuddered. The gloom here was very
great, in spite of the moonlight and the
white snow, for the towering crags on
either side left but narrow strip OF sky
line visible. Biddulph held the st.
Bernard in leash, and as they neared the
fatal spot where the woman had shrieked
and died, the creature suddenly stopped,
lifted its noble head, and emitted weird
and portentous howl, which rang echoing
through the Glen, and produced on Bid
dulphs heart strange startled feeling,
almost of dread.
He was glad when they quilted that
dark defile and emerged again into the
silver moonlight shining on the white
hills. The scene was now OF extraordin-
airy beauty, and as they kept skirting the
loch, close at the foot of the mountain
range, the snowy peaks glittering in the
cold rays of light, the effect was so mar
velous that Biddulph paused more than
once, wondering and amazed.
"Wel gan in thar" said Tam pres
sently, now pointing 10 another pass among
the mountains; and as they entered this
fall of snow fell with shuddering sound
from one of the cliffs Just in front of them
and completely blocked their path.
To plunge through this took both time
and strength, and their way now became
most toilsome and dangerous. Again and
again snow-falls occurred as they winded
among the hills, and struggled through the
deep drifts, and both Biddulph and Tam
became exceedingly exhausted. At last
Tam made the welcome announcement
that they were approaching the spot
where Rob had kept their tryste.
cts ma far 20 gan now," he said and it
was not. They had reached little Sc
cluded glen, where in the summer time
the tangled copse-wood and bushes grew
thick, affording splendid shelter for the
black game, which made il a favorite re-
sort. Now all was cold, white and DESC
late, and no answer came when Tam Mac
hNhoit OAiN1 AhOAO oAAOhb1d NhC AlhAARC VI LIS
absent brother.
''Thar's the bit supper haze left" said
| Tam, pointing TO some food on a stone,
from which he had brushed the snow on
his first visit this evening to the glen. At
this moment the moonlight was shining
with remarkable brilliancy, and every OBJ
ject was as plainly visible as by daylight
and they saw that the food was untouched
and that Rob had at least not visited the
spot since Tam had been there.
In one part of the glen, a projecting,
shelving crag formed a sort Of cave, and
Tam told Biddulph that Rob said he some.
times slept there. But a deep drift of
snow had blown into his rocky cavity
and il suddenly struck Biddulph that poor
Rob might be sleeping there now, in the
still sleep OF death.
He led the st. Bernard near the spot
and then Unbiased him. The sagacious
creature seemed to understand what he
was expected TO do; stood still, shifted
the frosty air; grew restless, gave low
short, inquiring bark, and then plunged
| into the snow-drift.