A soft laugh of pleasure broke from her lips as he tried to accelerate his pace.
"Oh, we're getting quite strong and bold now, aren't we!" she exclaimed, gaily--"But take care not to go too fast! There's a rough bit of bog and boulder coming." This was true.

They had arrived at the upper edge of a bank overlooking a hill stream which was pouring noisily down in a flood made turgid by the rain, and the "rough bit of bog and boulder" was a sort of natural bridge across the torrent, formed by heaps of earth and rock, out of which masses of wet fern and plumy meadow-sweet sprang in tall tufts and garlands, which though beautiful to the eyes in day-time, were apt to entangle the feet in walking, especially when there was only the uncertain glimmer of the stars by which to grope one's way.

Helmsley's age and over-wrought condition made his movements nervous and faltering at this point, and nothing could exceed the firm care and delicate solicitude with which his guide helped him over this last difficulty of the road.

She was indeed strong, as she had said,--she seemed capable of lifting him bodily, if need were--yet she was not a woman of large or robust frame.

On the contrary, she appeared slightly built, and carried herself with that careless grace which betokens perfect form.