Page:Lindigo.djvu/163

Rh like implements, and whenever they attempted to approach her, her brave guardian, Bran (from whom the growling proceeded) made a spring at them, which sent them back in affright.

Captain McLean and his wife's dreams recurred to her at the moment, and she now guessed that her faithful dog was her preserver, when near death by drowning; and now the faithful brute stood by her in another, and perhaps more trying time, protecting her against the savages.

On seeing the terror the noble dog kept the natives in, and gaining courage by the hopes that he might be the means of protecting that life which had been so wonderfully preserved, she considered it her bounden duty to exert herself in fulfilling her share of the responsibility.

Raising herself from the wet sand, which had almost benumbed her, her first act was to look round for her companions; but, alas, no sign or vestige of them could be seen, and the admired Bella McKay, the idol of the Western Highlands, was now a solitary exile and wanderer in a wild and unknown land, with not a creature save her faithful dog, to protect her, or administer to her wants.

How vain now all the attention and homage which had been paid her by the noblest gallants in the British Kingdom. Alas! the condition of the poorest and simplest mendicant in her fatherland would now be hailed by her as an inestimable blessing in her present forlorn state, her very existence being threatened to become a sacrifice to those most terrible-looking savages.

These thoughts were soon interrupted by the approach of a tall and powerful-looking savage, who, by his manner and looks, appeared to be their chief.

With a significant gesture and word of command, he sent the whole party up the beach, but they returned in a short time unarmed, each holding up a green branch. This she understood to mean peace, having heard and read of similar practices among savage nations, which greatly alleviated her fears, and which, with the