The girls uttered a cry of welcome, and the chief answered, but Mercy did not lift her head. "Mercy," said Alister softly, and kneeling laid his hand on her. She turned to him such a face of blank misery as filled him with consternation. "What has happened?" he asked. She tried to speak, but could not. "Where is Christina?" he went on. She succeeded in bringing out the one word "ruin." "Is anybody with her?" "Ian." "Oh!" he returned cheerily, as if then all would be right. But a pang shot through his heart, and it was as much for himself as for Mercy that he went on: "But God is with them, Mercy. If he were not, it would be bad indeed! Where he is, all is well!" She sat up, and putting out her hand, laid it in his great palm. "I wish I could believe that!" she said; "but you know people ARE drowned sometimes!" "Yes, surely! but if God be with them what does it matter! It is no worse than when a mother puts her baby into a big bath." "It is cruel to talk like that to me when my sister is drowning!" She gave a stifled shriek, and threw herself again on her face. "Mercy," said the chief--and his voice trembled a little, "you do not love your sister more than I love my brother, and if he be drowned I shall weep; but I shall not be miserable as if a mocking devil were at the root of it, and not one who loves them better than we ever shall. But come; I think we shall find them somehow alive yet! Ian knows what to do in an emergency; and though you might not think it, he is a very strong man." She rose immediately, and taking like a child the hand he offered her, went up the hill with him. The girls ran before them, and presently gave a scream of joy. "I see Chrissy! I see Chrissy!" cried one. "Yes! there she is! I see her too!" cried the other. Alister hurried up with Mercy. There was Christina! She seemed standing on the water! Mercy burst into tears. "But where's Ian?" she said, when she had recovered herself a little; "I don't see him!" "He is there though, all right!" answered Alister. "Don't you see his hands holding her out of the water?" And with that he gave a great shout:-- "Ian! Ian! hold on, old boy! I'm coming!" Ian heard him, and was filled with terror, but had neither breath nor strength to answer. Along the hillside went Alister bounding like a deer, then turning sharp, shot headlong down, dashed into the torrent--and was swept away like a cork. Mercy gave a scream, and ran down the hill. He was not carried very far, however. In a moment or two he had recovered himself, and crept out gasping and laughing, just below Mercy. Ian did not move. He was so benumbed that to change his position an inch would, he well knew, be to fall.