"Hoigh! Diaoul! what’s a’ this?" cried Dugald Mhor Cameron, plunging headlong among them, with a long dirk gleaming in his right hand and a _skene-dhu_ in his left. One wolf fled, another was pierced thrice to the vitals by Dugald’s dirk, and rolled away for several yards, tearing up the earth in rage and agony, until it was finally destroyed by the sharp black knife being drawn across its thick throat by Dugald, who handled it well, being an adroit deer-stalker. The other savage, which had been so gallantly grasped by Ronald, he dispatched by repeated stabs of the dirk, which he drove home to the hilt, sending eighteen inches of cold iron into the body at every stroke. While this passed, poor Stuart, exhausted and overcome, sank backward on the turf, just as Fassifern rode up with his claymore drawn. "I trust we have not been too late," he cried earnestly, as he leapt from his horse, which had been snorting and shying aside from the scene of the fray. "I am sure, Dugald, we answered to his first cry. He is one of ours; an officer too,—Stuart, by heavens!" "But for Dugald’s prompt and gallant succour, all would have been over with me by this time, colonel," said Ronald, as with difficulty he staggered up from the turf, which was plentifully besprinkled with the blood of his enemies. "Are you hurt in any way?" was the eager inquiry of both. "My hands are torn a little; but my sash and coat are all rent to fritters." "How opportunely Dugald came to save you!" "Opportune, indeed! I will never be able to repay him for this night’s work." "Ochone! Mr. Stuart," replied the old man, who was cleaning his weapons in his plaid, "dinna say a word about thanks; keep a’ them for the kernel there." "I was coming over the mountains from Candeleria," said Fassifern, "where I have been president of a court-martial. Your cries alarmed us within a few yards of this old cross, and my horse began to snort and rear, refusing to advance a step; but trusty Dugald went headlong on, and with his short weapons, I see, has done you right good service. ’Tis well the matter is no worse, and had the wolves not given you so severe a mauling, Stuart," added the colonel with a smile, as he put his foot in his stirrup, "I should have sent Claude for your sword again. You know you should never be without your arms, or forget the order against strolling more than two miles from camp or quarters. By my word, these were no ordinary foes to contend with, these wolves; they are larger than Highland shelties, and their skins will be a prize for the _paisanos_ in the morning, for Dugald is, of course, too proud to take fee or reward from the alcaldes." "I have escaped their maws by a miracle," said Stuart, yet gasping with the excitement of the fierce struggle.