The bullet which had gashed his arm had happily not lodged there; but it had lost him so much blood that, although we bound it up and stanched the flow, it was yet a long while before he recovered life enough to open his eyes.

Then he said: "Whither are we going ?" "Seaward," said I.
"Leaving her amid wolves," said he, bitterly.
"'Twould do her no good if we returned," said I, "to be slain before her eyes.

So long as she knows we are safe, there will be hope for her; and she is brave enough to defend herself till we come again." Ludar smiled bitterly.

He knew, as I did, there was nothing in the words.
"My men," said he presently to the Scots, "wherever Sorley Boy, my father, is, take me." "Sorley Boy is a fox that leaves no tracks," said one of the men, "but we last heard of him at Bonandonnye." "Sail thither," said Ludar, and fell into silence.
'Twas a strange return voyage that, down that broad river, on the ebb of the self-same tide which had carried us up.

Neither of us spoke a word, but as we watched the banks and one another, we wondered if this could be the same world and the same men as a few hours ago.