Finally, Tom allowed the old man to continue his way a few yards and shouted after him, "Well, anyhow, you'll tell no more;" and as he said these words he raised a gun to his shoulder and fired. The girl saw Lothian stagger and fall. Then Tom went and knelt down at the side of his victim as though he would complete his work with the knife he took from his belt. But, looking nervously round in the direction of the cottage, as though fearing that the report of the gun might bring some one out, he hurried away in the direction of the cliffs, carrying with him a rope which was coiled over his shoulder. Already Thora had left the cottage, but Tom had not observed her. She ran through the snow towards the wounded man. The dog was yelping and running frantically about. The old man raised himself to a sitting posture as she stooped and supported his head. He did not recognize her until she spoke. "Where are you hurt, Colin?" she asked. "Do you not know me? I'm Thora." He tried to place his hand on his side, and fell back helpless. "Can ye walk with me as far as Mary Firth's?" she said. "Nay, Thora, lassie," he murmured. "I'll not walk any more. My travelling is ower. The life flies out o' me." Thora wrung her hands, not knowing what to do. The darkness of night was coming on. They were far away from any dwelling, save the little cottage, and the snow wreaths on the desolate moor were becoming every moment more impassable. "I will run to Stromness for Dr. Linklater," she said. "No, lassie, no; there's no use o' doing that," said Colin. "The doctor can do nothing. Go away home and let me die." "No, I canna leave you, Colin," she said woefully. "And how can I go home when my own brother has done this thing?" "Tom Kinlay is no brother o' yours, Thora!" gasped Colin. "Nor Carver your father!" "What do you mean, Colin? Oh, what do you mean?" cried she. "Carver not my father! Who is my father, then?" "Listen!" said Colin. But he had not strength to say more. He dropped his head back and groaned. And then she saw that he was dead. She took the plaid from under him and spread it over his body to protect it from the snow. Then leaving the dog in charge of its dead master, she hurried first to the cottage to see if Mary Firth had returned. She wiped her hands of the blood that was on them, and made her way through the snow to Stromness. It was almost midnight when she arrived in the town, for her journey had been a long and a difficult one. All the houses were in darkness, and there was not a person to be seen in the deserted streets. She made her way to the schoolhouse, and after much trouble succeeded in arousing Andrew Drever.