The rest of the party stumbled and groped their way slowly down the hill, Peter and Mary endeavouring to follow the voices of those in front, and shouting to them from time to time. By and by, when they came to more level ground, another shout reached them through the gloom. 'Ah! there is your mother!' said Mary, and shouted her loudest. 'But we cannot go to them, or we will miss the guide.' The sound of hoofs was now heard, and the crack of a gun fired as a signal, and presently a mounted figure loomed up in the mist. 'Captain Drysdale!' said Peter. 'Mr. Sangster! and a lady! Miss Brown, you had better get on my pony. He will save you a good many stumbles.' So saying, he dismounted and lifted her on the saddle. When people meet in the mist, and are hastening after an invisible guide, there is no time for ceremonious speeches. Mary was mounted and Kenneth leading the pony, before she had made up her mind whether she should accept his proffer or not. 'You may trust Dandy, Miss Mary; he never stumbles, and he will overtake the rest of your party sooner than you could.' But here their path ended in rock and precipice. 'We are at the bottom, climb straight down,' came up out of the abyss. 'It is not difficult, and we will wait for you.' Peter began to descend. 'I know where we are,' said Captain Drysdale. 'If Miss Brown will trust herself to my guidance, I will bring her round these cliffs without her needing to dismount, and we, with the pony's help, will reach the inn before you, so do not be uneasy, Mr. Sangster;' and before Mary or Peter could express an opinion, the pony had turned, and they were swallowed up in the mist. The pony broke into a jog trot, and Kenneth ran by his side. Shortly they came upon a path which zigzagged easily down hill, but tended more and more to the left. Kenneth fired again, and shortly an answering report came up from the depths below. The pony mended his pace at the answering signal, and it was not very long before they came on General Drysdale with a gillie or two and a couple of ponies. It was the spot where he had agreed with his friends to meet for luncheon, if the mist had not put an end to their sport. 'So, Kenneth, you have found the people you heard shouting. What! a lady, and alone?' The old gentleman advanced to welcome the new arrival. 'Miss Mary Brown! To meet you here!' 'She has been to the top of the hill with Mr. Sangster, and got caught in the mist. I came on them just as they were on the point of scrambling down a precipice, and I have promised to take her round by the road to rejoin them at the inn.'