The MYSTERY OF GLENMOHR.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 44, 31 May 1907, Page 2

The MYSTERY OF GLENMOHR.

( Copyright.)

By Eric St. C. K. Ross.

v PART 9. CHAPTER XXIII. AN IRRESOLUTE VISITOR. There was the sound of many voices within; at least so thought Hew as he knocked louder, and this summons was followed by the barking of several dogs. After this some confused noises, and the approach of a firm heavy step. Then a voice asked a question in Gaelic : “It is I,” cried Hew. “Let me in” “And who wass you ?”• “Hew—Hew Monteith.” After this there wa‘s a low conversation in Gaelic held within, and then the door was opened, and Donald M’lver, with a very red face appeared, saying ; i “It wass very plain that you wass j no Iliclander. What for did ye not I open the door ? Neighbour fowks are { aye welcome here, especially the j gentlefowks.” i ' “I thought you had company,” re- | turned Hew, cheerfully, '“and so I I thought it best to knock, And where j have your dogs gone?” i “My togs ! Oh, my togs have gone to bed, and my poys wass going to follow them, when yon wass knocking like to knock the auld boose doon. But now that yon haf come, shust haf a dram to warm you on the road liame.” “I have no intention of returning home yet Mr. MTvcr,” said Hew, coining into the spacious room. “Oh, you wass not in any hurry. I wass fery glad of that because we wass aide then to haf more ass four or three drams mirover. Here wass Dawvid my son who bass not been very weel for a king time and Hamish too, who wall not yet bo able to see his pair auld fasser under the table. They wass both of them goot kuls, but it wull be Harold that wull tak’ very kindly to th’ barley bree whatefer.” “What has become of Harold?” asked Hew. “I wish very particularly to see him.” “Your wish wull be very easy, satisfied, thin,” returned Donald, as he paused and listened. “Ho bass only gone l.q gif the togs their suppers, pair things. But here wass the pottle, Yon haf seen it more than wanco before. Drink hearty. There wass plenty more where that come frae.” The room into which Hew was now ushered was the apartment closest to the roadway. The floor was of hard, beater, earth, and the only furniture visible was an old high-backed settle two chairs, as many stools, a long deal table, and a box-bed. The latter slood in a kind of recess near the door, and had four folding doors which it was the custom to close almost entirely during the long winter nights, so that the cold might be e (Te ctn all y banished. The, roof was composed of three broad beams that certainly looked as if nt one time they had supported the. deck of a goodly ship, from the slight course upwards towards the’ centre. The night was more than chilly and Hew was not a little grateful for the genial warmth of the odorous peat lire although the air was somewhat limited ami peculiar—perfumes, shall we say?—came clown from the roof, where from numerous hooks hung legs of ham, bacon, rows of haddocks, and herrings of the past season, together with bags of onions and other articles meant for food, which were to him unrecognisable. After having a largo glass of whisky placed before him, ITow sat for a considerable time gazing dreamily inio the turf fu-o. He briefly and rapidly van through a theory he had formed regarding his sister’s disappearance, and now he turned to consider his own ability to cope -with those cunning and hardy Highlanders, whom ho had honoured with his most serious suspicions. Ho had expressed his desire to have a serious conversation with Donald, and a wish to see young Harold, or ho would most , certainly have retreated after dis- ’ posing of his first glass, and postponed his intended inquiry, until a Snore favourable occasion, On the yacht he had formed the resolution of trapping Donald when he was under the influence of too much whisky; but matnrer thought showed him that such nn occasion might never arise. This new view of the situation became (ho more embarrassing as he had himself taken more than his usual quantity of wine and on the trip homo, when the approach of night had made the open sea rather chilly, Donald had boon very attentive to Ronald and himself in the only way the old fellow seemed to understand the moaning of courtesy—by frequently sending round the old silver-bottomed square black flask. Now, when it was too late he found that Donald did not seem the least affected by (he mighty draughts he had consumed of the raw “peat-reek” liquor, while ho felt quite ■ overcome by only one sip of the glass before him. Ho made one supreme effort to cast off the drowsy feeling oppressing him and he thought he had partially succeeded, when Donald said : “Perhaps Mester Monteiss, you would like your grog made into toddy? Wo wull soon be bringing the lamp in, and then it wull be likely that we wass able to see what we haf got to hear.” “I would prefer the whisky hot,” faltered How.

“I wass thocht so,” proceeded Donald, snecringly. “The Sns.senachs spoils his ,\v husky* an’ then they

wonder why they are not able to ao a (lav's work wi’ an honest Hielandnian. Nofcr mind, Mester Hew, we wass not all able to be horned everywhere. It wass not the luck of every, pody to be porn in the Hielands, and Strathmohr, mirover. And that wass a goot thing too for when there wass too many peoples in a country, it wull be hard, very hard, for honest fowks to get a crust of bread or a pock o’ meal mirover. But I wass forgetting your trinks whatefer, and your toddy—Lowland pushan. Faugh ! it wull mak’ an auld man like mysel’ so angry I could troon a whole poat fu’ ov the pair fowks and never raise a hand to help them mirover ! But they wass not worth my raving aboot them. Here, Hamish, my mannie, wake up! Wass you going to sleep till the day of Pentecost? Run, there wass a goot lad, and get some hot water for Mester Monteiss’s toddy. Ha’ ha Hooch! It wass a goot trink, and a strong dram mirover.”

Hew was certainly not very anxious for the return of the whisky and was thinking that Harold must be very fond of his dogs to spend such a long time over their feeding. He was just concluding not to broach the subject most at heart that night when a good-looking matron appeared in an open door near the chimney he had scarcely observed She bore a lantern in her handsuch as are suspended in the cabins of ships of modest pretensions—and as she proceeded to hang this upon a hook in the centre of the room she spoke a few words in Gaelic-: “Hooch ! Ho! That wass it, wass it? Oh, fery weed. An’ why not? Gentry fowks is gentry fowks” .Then turning to Hew, she continued; “My .poy Harold wass going away soon, in a month or three weeks or a fortnight whatefer. Ho wass a poy what wass making goot pays, and he prings some home to the auld man mi noven. He has travelled everywhere, and bass got mad fancies that wass fery strange in the Hielands. He wass haf a lectio room here, and lie wass call it his den as if he wass a wiki beastsos. Wool, he wass a goot poy, and a penny, and so if you wass ready sir, we wull go ben to him.”

CHAPTER XXIV,

HEW MONTEITH ASTONISHED AND AMAZED. • Monteith rose, thankful for the change. Passing through another room similar to the first, upon the hearth of which a low lire was burning, they came to a cross passage through whiclt a refreshing current of air was passing. Our friend could scarcely refrain from expressing his wonder at the magnitude of tho space occupied by this so-called cottage, when they turned ag'ain to the right. In this passage there was another nautical lamp suspended, and before Hew had proceeded far the delicious odour of a Havana cigar greeted his nostrils. He prepared for another surprise. A bar of brilliant light came across the narrow way, and this, again, was quickly partially obliterated or darkened. It was plain that this light came from a suddenly opened door, and coming np to it they found Harold M’lver standing against tho left side, with his right hand elevated against the other jamb His appearance was indeed a sui'priso. Clad in soft white flannel trousers, Indian mocassins richly embroidered, he looked the realization of picturesque comfort. On his head he wore a Turkish fez, carelessly inclined forward, until the edge nearly touched his handsome eyebrows. Between his lips he hold a choice cigar, and altogether he stood there a supplementary revelation for Hew to add to his fanciful theory of Muriel’s disappearance. The handsome face was lit up by a very winning smile, and la"ge carrings of tho most precious and cur-iously-wrought gold were in his

oars. He made no attempt to offer his hand to the guest his father had brought him, nor did How offer his, although at the first sight of the man all his suspicions vanished. “This is no unprincipled desperado,” he mentally remarked. “I am very glad to see j’ou, sir,” was Harold’s greeting, in very pure English. “Come in, and be seated.” Hew accepted the invitation without the slightest hesitation, and was very favourably impressed by the tastefully decorated room into which he was welcomed. In the daytime it was lit from above, but now one artisticallywrought silver lamp hung from the centre of the roof, while the soft, subdued light of eight wax candles placed upon curious sconces on the walls, made the illumination of the room uniform, and the opposite of dazzling. A luxurious carpet lay upon the floor, and skins of bears—Arctic and Russian—tigers, and of sheep, curiously dyed, lay all around. Two luxurious couches were placed —one opposite the fireplace and the other beside it. The fire was of coals and the grate of polished steel, as were the fonder and fireirons. Although the tastefully-decorated ceiling was low, the room was made to appear loftier than it was by the hanging of a few beautiful pictures very low down on the walls. At what may be called the end of | the room, nearest to the front of the 1 building, stood a pianoforte and a I harmonium side by side, and Hanking i these two instruments wro two, I large, well-filled cases of books. ; Over the chimney-piece was the usual i mirror of modern civilization, hut | above that were three excellently ; modelled busts—Shakespeare in the J centre, Robert Burns on the right, I and Sir Waller Scott on the left. At j the far side of the fire was awido 1 easy chair, to which Harold moliou- ‘ ed lus grandfather. “Be seated by the (ire, Mr. Momeith," he said next, ; pointing to the couch on the "ight, : “and help yourself to a cigar.’’ ; Hew did as he was requested, and ! very quickly begun to feel that he ! was in the society of friends. “And , : yet,” he would ask himself, “why all j this masquerading?” He felt certain | that no one beyond the family at | Sirathmoor suspected that such a

room existed in Donald M’lver's cot-' tage. "Aly father is prejudiced in favour of our national beverage,” Harold went on, with perfect ease, “and I do not blame him. We, however, who are not home birds, very soon acquire other habits. We have a few wines here which you may enjoy. You may, however, bo one of those who believe that either wine spoils the flavour a cigar or that the cigar spoils the wine. Do you like the 'smoko?' I thought you would. Well I fancy I can concoct for you a common Cuban drink that will enable you to enjoy yourself better than you would if you tried ray wines, or remained faithful to my grandfather’s ‘peat-reek;’ and without further explanation the young seaman began to make a mixture of champagne, brandy, and sundry other ingredients ' which were all ready po his hands. When he had added ice, lemon and some spices, he triumphantly, handed the large glass to his guest, and asked for his verdict. “It is most delicious,’’ said Hew. “And harmless,” returned Harold. “The Cubans drink it all day long.” How had considerable experience of what are called ‘‘American drinks,” and privately entertained the opinion that the one just given him was of a most insidious kind. His suspicions returned at once, and he suddenly resolved to broach the object of liis visit, without further delay or circumlocution.

“I am sure yon will pardon me for drawing you away so abruptly from a subject so pleasant. I had a purpose in intruding hero to-night.” “Oil, don't call it an intrusion when wo look upon your visit as a pleasure as well as as honour.”

“We will not talk of the honour, Mr. Harold,” said How, “since it is plain to me (hat you have carved out a very distinguished career' in an unusually brief space of time.’'

“I scarcely understand.” “A man to bo a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve must have commanded highly important British merchant ships, and, in addition to that, must bo a man of unimpeachable character.” “Oh, you allude to the accidental discovery on the day of the trial of the Goldwing!” said Harold smiling. “I feel that I am- honoured then, by being your guest to-night,” proceeded Hew, ‘‘and my sense of the pleasure of your society would be as lively as my estimation "of the honour you do me, but for one thing.” “And does that concern us ?”- “Assuredly, or I should not mention it.” “Does it concern my father or myself?” “Both.” “Please explain yourself.” “Need I explain the terrible loss I have lately sustained”

“No,” said Harold M’lver. “Your grief and the cause of it are too serious not to bo understood by people who have suffered and suffered deeply themselves. The tragical story of your sister's disappearance pained me as deeply as it could possibly pain anyone connected with her. This may surprise you, but it is nevertheless true,” added Harold, in a pathetic tone, as ho turned away ostensibly to look for something he could not find. That ho was moved by some strong emotion How was certain, and this added to his former suspicions.

“The loss of your sister,” resumed Harold, turning again, a melancholy smile on his handsome face. “Ah, you said your visit was connected with this, and that it also concerned my father and myself ! Once more I ask for an explanation.” “I shall give it to you the more frankly because since I have been in this room I have dismissed certain unworthy suspicions from my mind. Your father went to Glenmohr with Mr. St. Clair and Mr. Mackay immediately’ after the former brought the intelligence of my sister’s murder “And I wass persist every way I wass able, that there wass no murder.” “Is that your opinion still?’-* “It wass.” “Is it possible that yoy know anything of the matter and would continue to conceal it from a brokenhearted brother who cannot see his way. to the solution of a mystery it is his duty to solve?” “I wass ken nossing my ainsel’.” "But you know someone who does” ”1 do.” “For Heaven’s sake name him?’* “It wass my poy Harold there, who knows everysing.” “You flatter me, father,” smiled Harold. “However, I fancy it is now time I should speak. Will you kindly answer me a few questions?” “Willingly.” “Frankly, because a good deal depends on it.” “I shall reserve nothing.” “Are you and your cousin on very good terms?” ■“Well, so-so.” ■”I thought so. He is wealthy?’'. "The senior partner of an eminent Glasgow firm.” “Senior and sleeping partner ?” “‘Oh, not at all. He’s very wide awake.”

“My opinion exactly,” proceeded Harold, with one of his quiet smiles. “Granddad,” he went on, “put on a pipe.” “I wull that whatofor.” returned Donald, pulling out of his pocket a very much coloured cutty. “Ay an’ smoke it, mirover.” Turning to Hew Harold resumed; "My next question is a very delicate one. Are you wealthy at all?” “On the contrary T have nearly exhausted all T possess. I can however make a good thing out of literature whenever T care about being industrious.” Another smile. “Have you any other expectations” “None that I know of.” “Arc you sure. Have you, or had you any relations from whom you might expect something?” “None,” cried Hew. “But stay,” he resumed, almost immediately. “I had an uncle—a dreamy, rackotty sort of follow I remember of whom the whole family were heartily ashamed, who was always going to make a colossal fortune when it i suited him. 1 don't recollect ever having seen him. My relations used to do me the honour of comparing me to hinr.” “Indeed!’ 1

“Tes, and they used to add, “You will come to no good in the end, just like poor Unde Jack.’ ”

“That was very kind of them,” proceeded Harold MTvcr gravely. “And your cousin Malcolm has made no communication to you lately regarding any expectations he or the family jointly had?”“No.” “Never?” “Never at any time.” “I thought so,” proceeded Harold. “Well T fancy it is about time I spoke. I have sailed a great deal on the Pacific Coast, and I used to mix a good deal with the ‘boys/ particularly the British adventurers when ashore. I think I may add that your racketty, ■ and dreamy Uncle Jack did leave—some money. Now, don’t get excited, there a good fellow.”

“Oh, I’m not excited!” cried Hew. “What I am annoyed at is that Malcolm should know this, and keep it from me.”

“Yes, that looks black/i said Harold. “Well, briefly, your uncle Jack has, I believe, left a large, nay a colossal fortune in funds, money deposited, and house property in Han Francisco. He made a will but that document is lost or missing. In the event of its recovery I believe you and your sisters to be joint heirs. In the event of its loss or destruction, Malcolm will share equally with you, although it seems he was excluded from the will, being wealthy, ami because his lather treated your Uncle Jack shamefullv.”

“Then it is his interest to procure (hat will and destrov it” faltered How.

“Just so,” returned Harold. “But more remains behind. “It would be to his interest to marrv his cousin Muriel.”

“Yes, lhat bo may enjoy twothirds of the fortune.”

"And what follows next! When a man covets twice his share, it is easy to desire three times the amount. A chance bullet might add •a hundred thousand pounds to his fortune any day.” “Great Heavens!" cried How rising and growing deadly pale. “No, no, I don’t believe him capable of instigating such a crime. I shall start for London to-morrow ’’ — “Whore there arc several vultures of society—financial and next-of-kin agents—ready to play one heir off against another. I wouldn't give five dollars for the life of the man who made the lowest bid for the will There are several of the greatest rascals from San Francisco on your track. ”

“Oh, merciful heavens! Is it possible that my poor sister has fallen a victim to this inordinate greed for money?” moaned Hew.

“No. You are not yet familiar with the subject,” proceeded Harold. “The real interest of any scoundrel getting her into his power would be to preserve her life and marry her. Ladies are not often married against their will nowadays, unless they are brainless creatures who do as interested relations command them. Once Miss Muriel married one of the plausible and unscrupulous rascals I know to be in pursuit of this fortune the lives of you and your cousin Malcolm wouldn't bo worth the sum I last named; but I fancy he is as unscrupulous as the rest of thorn. Don t you think this generous trip to the North was to keep you away from Glasgow, where you might hear something of your Undo Jack’s death?”

“Oh, I must have time to think over all this!” moaned Hew, covering his face with his hands.

“Let us resume the subject tomorrow, when our minds are fresher and clearer. Meantime, granddad’s retiring. When ho has gone we will have a few more prepared temperance drinks, and then you can turn in hero. You will find plenty of rugs and I will call you early in the morning.”

Two hours later after several of those boasted decoctions, Hew fell back on his couch in a heavy sleep. His friend Harold rose with a smile upon his mobile face, saying: “I shall try the experiment, whatever may be the consequences.” Then he walked to the extreme end of the room, whore a great plateglass mirror appeared to be let into the wall. Touching its heavy frame of black and gold, it swung back, revealing another room in the centre of which was suspended a blue silk hammock.

Turning and looking once more at the sleeping heir-presumptive to Uncle Jack, he pulled a cord, and the glass panel slowly and silently resumed its old position.

CHAPTER XXV,

ON THE THRESHOLD. Hew Monteith was not permitted to rest long on that wonderfully comfortable couch bj’ Harold M’Iver’s unsuspected fire. A man of luxurious habits, he was not likely to take kindly to an improvised bed. Notwithstanding his great grief—the painful memory of the shipwreck from which he was rescued by Donald MTver —the more serious adventure on the ice, and the episode near the rocks when the mysterious shot was fired—he was still able to sleep pretty well. And yet he had not been half an hour beside the fire—asleep—of Harold MTver’s private room, before he began to act like a man who believed in everything. Turning his head slightly to the left, he saw in the opaque shadows surrounding the door by which he himself had entered, no less a personage than Donald MTver, and for the first time in h s life the old fellow was silent. Donald was only half-dressed. Brown woollen stockings on his feet, blue homespun serge trousers, a sleeved waistcoat of the same material, and a white shirt were all the garments he wore. Out of the shadows, and well defined above the | sombre garments just described, ap- | peared his truly fine head. Skin, i sunburned and wrinkled, but the eye | bi’ight and fearless sparkling beneath | the black bushy eyebrows, which dis- | dained to change colour when con--1 fronted with the enemy—Time.

He then came over, still silent and preoccupied, to examine Hew Monlei th’s feet.

Satisfied with his examination he retired ami quickly returned with two suits of waterproof garments, including felt-lined over-boots and Temp-lar-fashioned caps. One “set” of these garments he threw over the ot'oman, the other over the back of llew’s sola, and then ho retired as silently as he came, which appeared the more extraordinary as Monteith pointed to the square black flask more than once in an inviting man-

ner. A student of human nature, Hew Monteith had been studying old Donald M’lver ever since he had piloted the Goldwing away, from death in the northern sea. Until now he could account in no way for his actions. These now reminded him that he was in a luxurious chamber, the existence of which he did not believe any one but himself even suspected. This thought led to another; “These MTvers are imposters. Why should they know more of my affairs than I do myself?” The mental inquiry like most questions of the same nature, remained unanswered, and Hew Monteith was about to dismiss his suspicions for the night, when a cold current of air on his left caused him to turn once more in that direction. He was just in time to see the groat plate glass mirror turn outward. In the black-and-gold frame he saw standing a figure that brought an exclamation to his lips, but it died there before reaching other ears. The figure was the figure of,himself He changed his mind, however, when tlie figure came out of the shadows into the centre of the room. Then he saw that , he was in the presence of Harold M'Jver, and fhaf Harold was attired in a naval uniform so closely resembling that of his own royal service as to lie easily mistaken for it. Blue trousers and blue frock coal were identical with our own uniform There were three rings of gold lace round each cuff of the coat signifying

the rank - of command •*r, but no “curl ” io explain that the Loyal Navy was intended. On lb' collar two stars were to be seen, and these convinced Hew that he was looking upon an officer of lh> American navy, I Once more he resolved to be caul ions j Harold advanced in an easy and I graceful manner until he came to th> j coni re of the room. Then he said: “Ah! I see I have disturbed you soon! I thought you would like mo to ask you to Join me in a nocturnal ramble.’’ “You thought rightly. I' am stifling here." “I am sorry for that'." “Don’t apologise. You have detained me here.” “I ?" “Yes, you: but I do not blame you. Once in the House of Mystery, I am resolved to penetrate the remotest corner of it.” Harold smiled. “Ah, you may smile, but I am not the loss suspicious because you smile so innocently. What you have just told me of my uncle’s death, and the wealth he has left behind confirms mo in the idea that lam in the hands of an unscrupulous adventurer, and since I do not fear you, I tell you so.” “You do me wrong.” “I don’t think so.” “You are at liberty to go home.” “The door is secured.” “It is open for you,” said Harold, sadly; and he advanced in a stately mannor, and opened the door loading to the humbler part of the cottage. “After all I am , afraid I have wronged you,”- exclaimed Hew, “You think so.” “Are you coming with me?’’ “I was about to ask you to come with me,” said Harold; “but now, before I repeat the invitation, I must ask you to give me your word of honour that you will not disclose anything regarding what you may see while under my guidance and care.” Hew hesitated. “I am certain that you will thank me for the satisfaction I am about to give you, and that is the principal reason for my asking you to come with me. I have no time to argue or explain. Do I look like a man who would injure one of his fellows?” “No—a thousand times, no!” cried Hew enthusiastically, recalling the speaker’s nobly, patriotic speeches of a few hours before, “Lead on. Where you go I will follow with the greatest confidence;” and he held out his hand to Harold, who grasped it with as great fervour as Hew now demonstrated. “Wo must dress for our journey,” said Harold; and he began to pull on the boots placed on the ottoman. “All right,” returned Hew, using those placed at the foot of the sofa. After the boots there were wide, kilt-like trousers, long coats, and caps with flaps that joined and over- | lapped the collar of the coat. S “You will find long gauntlets in ! the pockets of the coat,” said Harold drawing a pair from his own pockets. “I have them,” responded Hew, drawing them on. “Before we start, kindly let me know if we are about to swim.” “Not quite. You will seo In a few minutes.” “All right. Lead on.” Harold stepped through the space left open by the plate glass mirror. I Hew followed into the darkness of ! the blue-hammock room, and had just placed his hand upon that luxurious naval place of repose, when he found himself dazzled with a sudden influx of light, and then he J heard the most refreshing sound of falling waters. He had been in a heated room and so for a moment the cool air he now experienced with the unexpected sound of falling water, had the effect of stunning him for a brief period. When he recovered himself, he perceived that one wall of Harold’s « sleeping apartment had disappeared, | and that beyond it lay a long rocky j vault, that would have been gloomy, but for the myriods of many-colored gems which spatkled in the roof, the sides, and the marble-like floor. The sight was one, once seen, never to be forgotten.!Within the entrance to this magnificent work of Nature stood six men clad in oilskin slothes, sou’-westers, and bearing torches overhead.

A pool of clear water was seen under!oot, and surrounding it were stones that must have been ferns or lichen before they wore petrified by the crystalline and never-ceasing water. The walls were formed of light-coloured stones, and were ridged and furrowed like cunningly-dis-played drapery. Meteor-like, v snowy icicles hung overhead, and on every hand peculiar stones shone out like diamonds of colossal form, and every conceivable tint and hue, from the delicate rose down to the sweetest, ethereal blue.

The six torches held by the men were just sufficient to show that a fine drizzle of water filled all this vaulted space. This Scottish mist under ordinary circumstances would no doubt have looked like silver rain The deep-coloured torches, however, gave it a golden tint and this no doubt lent the scene a charm which Hew Monteith never forgot, and never ceased describing, while he hoped for the time to come when he could satisfy the most sceptical of his friends of the existence of this most marvellous subterranean retreat.

“Forward!” said Harold, to the t orchbearers.

“Avoid the water,” he added to Hew; and then he gave him a caution—by no means unnecessary—to follow' him closely and as nearly as possible in his footsteps. At some future period it may be our privilege to elaborate the d iscription given by Mr. Monteith of this midnight excursion of his. At present we can only say—depending upon his authority—that for n >arly a mile the underground passage kept continually changing its aspect until at last a great op n space was reachid, the door of which was a crystalline lake, while its domed roof was lost in a silvery mist similar to that through which the men had guided Harold and his friend. “Halt!” cried Harold, “and listen”

CHAPTER XXVI

THE METEOR. “Liston!” The word was followed by a thousand echoes, and then those dimes seemed to have gained a weird foundation of harmony. The six men stood like six bronze statues of heroic form and size. Haro’d held up his right, hand, as if enjoining silence. “Wonderful!” murmured -Hew, to whom the scene, was like an unearthly revelation. “Full!” echoed a hundred times overhead; and when these died away Monteith could hear a distant and what he always called afterwards, a poetical rendering of “Lochaber no more ” by the bagpipes, “Where does that come from?” he asked in a whisper. “Heaven!” replied Harold, sonorously. “Heaven!” reverberated a hundred times within the fluted and vaulted roof. “Left!” was Harold’s next com-, mand; and the men with torches went forward in that direction. The speaker and Hew followed.

“They wore walking upon a kind of bank bordering a subterranean lake or loch, and on every side basaltic columns which only added to the charm of the already entrancinggeneral scene. “I thought you would like this,” said Harold to Hew, in a strangely sympathetic voice. “You have amazed me.” “And pleased you?” “Oh, yea.” “I am glad of that.”“Who are you?”- Hew asked suddenly. “Hector M’lver.'-' “The grandson of the fisherman ?” “The grandson of a gentleman.” “AVhalf do you mean?” “W'hat do I mean?” laughed Harold. ‘‘Why this—that when worth comes to be weighed in front of the Great Tribunal, old Donald MMver’s scale will never kiok the beam with king or queen, peer or prolate.” “Ah, I sec!” murmured Hew. “And hero he comes to speak for himself,” continued Harold. Forward Donald advanced in his oilskins, carrying a torch high in his left hand.

“Ho wass not haf proken his neck yet,’’ he commenced encouragingly. “Well, I wull tell what I haf thocht, inteet and inteot, although I dinna want the poy to come to no harm whatefer. My thocht wnss this—ho might tumble into one o’ the waterfalls and never recover himself at all, anyway. “You don’t mean that, granddad!’’ said Harold, softly. Donald answered in Gaelic.

Harold replied in the same language, and then tho old white-haired fisherman came over to Hew and shook his hand earnestly and honest-ly-finishing up by placing it first against his heart and then against his forehead. “No cloud shall henceforth come between my grandfather and you,’’ said Harold, quietly. “But time passes, and we must progress " The six torchboarcrs once more advanced, and Hew, Harold, and Donald followed in their track, carefully avoiding contact with the dripping walks. The thin mist or drizzle had now ceased, and a strong odour of saline matter saluted tho nostrils. “Do you perceive anything?’’ Harold asked of Hew. He paused, and then replied: “I think T see a star.’’ “Nothing else?” “Ha ! a dozen stars—pardon me, myriads; and that only in a si ip oi blue sky no wider than my necktie.’ 1 “Prepare for another surprise.” “I am prepared." "You once said you appreciated all kinds of beautiful vessels. What do you think of this craft?" And as Harold spoke he caught Hew under the arm, end rap'dly swung him round a sharp projection of the perpendicular rocky wall. Hew uttered an exclamation of surprise—ami well ho might, for lyVug moored in an arm of the commonly called a “ghoe " in '.he north, was a largo doublc-fumielod. ratingmas led screw steamer which he pronounced upon the spot to Ir; a yacht fit for an emperor.

After a prolonged look of admlr* lion, he asked:

“What is she?” “The fast-sailing steamship, Mcteot and I am her commander,’’ returnee Harold, proudly. As he spoke he drew a silver whistle from his breast and put it to his lips. Three sharp bars were sounded .and in a moment the deck rails, bulwarks and tops of the beautiful craft were illuminated, and swarming with seamen, who looked like the best men to be found in (he Royal Navy. Another whistle, and the men gave a sharp short shout, and disappeared as quickly as they came- in view. To be Continued.