When he came to the cave he pushed aside the masking growth and entered.

Dark and barren here, with the ashes of an old fire! For one moment, as it were distinctly, he saw Ian.

He stood so clear in the mind's eye that it seemed that one intense effort might have set him bodily in the cavern.

But the central strength let the image go.

Alexander moved the ashes of the fire with his foot, shuddered in the place of cold and shadow, and, stooping, went out of the cave and on upon his search for Elspeth Barrow.
He sought the glen through, and at last, at the head, he came to Mother Binning's cot.