DAUGHTER OF EXILE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 175, 6 May 1944, Page 6

DAUGHTER OF EXILE

Strange Gaelic Prophecy.

(Copyright).

(By Alexander Campbell)

SERIAL STORY.

CHAPTER XXXII. DOWN THE CLIFF EDGE. Incautiously he looked down, and liis stomach heaved sickeningly, while his head buzzed. The ledge on which Heinrich sprawled had seemed broad enough when seen from above. Now it looked like a narrow cat’s walk of rock with scarcely room enough for a man to stand. And far below it was the dark heaving mass of the sea. He gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and held fast to the rope. He was lowered gently, inch by inch. Warned now of what the wind could do, he had his feet ready to brace himself away from the cliff face. It seemed that an eternity passed, but it was in reality only a few minutes, before his feet touched not the wall of the cliff, but the solid plateau of the ledge. He lowered himself cautiously until he was on his hands and knees. The helpers' above slackened the rope to give him more freedom of movement, but dared not let it go. Shane crouched beside Heinrich and made a rough examination of the man. He was relieved to find that the giant was still breathing.'His head was cut, and there was a nasty gash on his right temple. There was no doubt about the leg which was doubled under him so ominously. It was broken. Possibly the man had sustained other injuries, but what they were or how serious Shane had no means of finding out. The ledge left him little room, for movement. He had taken a flask of brandy with him, provided by the professor, but he decided it would be better not to force it between Heinrich’s blue lips. If the giant was revived he might topple over. It would be easier to bring him to the surface while he was still mercifully unconscious. There was nothing Shane could do except wait until the rescuers arrived from the village. The time passed interminably. Shane was cramped, and he began to shiver. It would not do to let himself become incapacitated. He took a sip of the brandy, and the fiery spirits warmed and heartened him. At long last there were shouts from the cliff top. Craning his neck upward, Shane saw more lights, this time the flicker of lanterns. He sighed thankfully. The men from Carnach had arrived. , Another rope snaked down from the cliff top, and Shane reached out a hand and caught it. He gave it three tugs to let them know he had got it. The hardest part of his task had arrived, for he had to secure Heinrich and himself so that they would be drawn up together. He would have to hold the giant to prevent him being dashed against the cliff face. He tied the rope securely, then tried to drag Heinrich upright and got the man across his shoulder. The giant’s weight was terrific, and even his bulk was a severe handicap. One slip would precipitate them both into the waiting sea. Inch by inch Shane manoeuvred the giant’s body, until at last he stood upright, his body pressed close to the cliff face, and the giant slung over his shoulder like a vast sack of potatoes. The rain beat in his face and the wind screamed past him, as though trying to tear him and his burden from the ledge. Shane tugged hard on the rope. There was an agonising pause. And then he felt the strain, on his shoulders and was lifted off his feet. He had secured the ropes like the straps of a parachute about the pair of them, but he had not bargained for the strain. The ropes cut into his flesh like knives, and he thought he was going to be hauled in two. He set his teeth on his lip until it bled. Gripping the giant’s unconscious form, he put his feet against the cliff face in an effort to ease the strain. The worst moments came when the wind tore him away from the cliff, so that he and Heinrich spun helplessly in mid-air and then dashed him against the rock. The wind assumed for him the character of a demonaic personality • intent on his destruction. He began to curse it in a low monotone, unconscious of what he was doing or saying. At last light was dashed in his face. He felt hands gripping his body and drawing him inwards, away from the abyss. But when he was safely landed on the cliff top he still clutched at his living burden. They cut the ropes and took Heinrich’s weight off him. He felt hands gripping his limp one and shaking it. Voices cried excitedly in his ears, but he did not understand a word. Then a pair of arms went round his neck and soft lips were pressed fiercely against his bleeding ones. His sight cleared. Martha stood pressed against him, and there was a glorious light in her eyes. Shane grinned weakly. “I told you,” he said faintly, “that it was as safe as houses!” Then he fainted. • » » •

Shane awoke to see the black expanse of the wind-swept, star-blurred sky serving as a background for the heart-shaped face with its halo of golden hair which bent anxiously over him. ” The flickering light of the lanterns glinted on the hair and showed the trouble in the blue eyes. Shane forgot his throbbing head and the pains which tore at every muscle in his racked body. He smiled and put out a shaky hand, clasping her small cold one in it.

Then he remembered, and struggled upright. “Heinrich! Is he all right?” The men from the village had made a rough stretcher and had laid the giant upon it. Heinrich was still unconscious. They looked admiringly at Shane, muttering compliments in Gaelic. Shane felt uncomfortable.

“Are you all right?” whispered Martha. There was an adoring look in her eyes. Shane laughed. “A bit shaky —otherwise fit as a fiddle.” He pressed her hand reassuringly, and turned to Professor Pelmann.

“We must get him to the house at once.” He indicated the stretcher. “And what about a doctor?”

Captain Macpherson said: “The vil-

lage doctor is out at a case. I asked for him. Somebody will have to go to Stornoway.” General Mitchell said swiftly: “I’ll go. My car is back on the road.” He did not explain how his car came to be there at that time in the morning. Professor Pelmann gave him a sharp glance, but said nothing. Under the captain’s directions, the men from Carnach lifted up the stretcher. The whole party left the cliff top and wended its way slowly across the moor towards the House of the Birds. The lanterns flickered fitfully in the wind. Shane noted that the rain had gone. Professor Pelmann walked beside the stretcher.' Martha squeezed Shane’s hand, and went to her father’s side. The general tapped Shane’s sleeve, and said gruffly in his ear: “A fine bit of work, young feller. I owe you an apology. I’ll explain about it later. Got to get that doctor right now.” He went off into the darkness before Shane could reply. Shane became aware of Halford by his side. Halford spoke with difficulty. “That was magnificent. You’ve taught me something to-night. I wish you and I could have got together a bit more.” His voice was husky and wistful. “I’m going to try and —” He words were lost in a gust of wind. Shane caught something about “making amends.” “What?” he bawled. “Nothing,” said Halford hastily. He walked hurriedly away. Sliane remembered that Halford had tried to kill him a few days ago. He shook his head in perplexity. As Captain Macpherson had forecast, the storm was dying away as rapidly as it had come. When they approached the house the wind was almost gone, although the breakers still pounded on the rocks at the foot of the cliffs. It was a sound Shane would never hear again Avithout a shudder. The faint light of dawn was spreading slowly across the moor. A neAv day Avas being ushered in. (To be Continued.)