‘No one will find them there,’ I told Terry.

‘Will any one find the cave? Is that what you mean?’ she asked breathlessly.

‘There’s a chance of that,’ I returned. ‘No more chances—’

‘Would you like me to stay—in the cave—guarding it?’ she whispered.

‘No,’ I said.

We went out, she carrying Duncan’s rifle and I the.303, in the direction of Meall nan Eacan. We killed a stag before midday. We had a piece of boiled venison with us and we sat down on a ridge overlooking the gorge of our cave to eat it. The damp gusty day showed signs of blowing clear. We sheltered behind a stone with our stag beside us. When we had eaten I commenced to cut up the stag. Its head was off when Terry cried:

‘Hugh! listen!’

I started up to hear the unmistakable clamour of rifles echoing amongst the rocks above Loch Coulter. I took the telescope. Before it was focused the noise came again, louder and nearer. I caught sight of dark figures running along the shore of the loch.

‘Do you see anything?’ Terry demanded. ‘What do you see?’

I pushed the glass back into its case.

‘See!’ I said, pointing out the hurrying specks.

‘Men running! Hugh—we can’t stay here! they’ll be on us!’

‘Where’ll we go that’s safer than the place where we are?’ I asked. ‘Home to our cave, Terry?’

‘We can’t stay here,’ she went on wildly.

‘As well here as anywhere,’ I returned. ‘How do we know what’s happening behind us, by the Sluie, or on the Farrow?’

While we spoke the figures sped on until they were inside the ravine of our cave. Bursts of rifle-fire accompanied them. Soon we could distinguish a dozen men in a scattered company retreating up the gorge while behind them a larger band followed as if in pursuit. I felt my heart begin to race; my hands were shaking with excitement.

‘They’re fighting!’ Terry said in a low voice.

‘Yes,’ I agreed; ‘they’re fighting.’

The pursued began to spread out up both sides of the gully. We saw them ensconce themselves behind stones, and their rifles, which they had not paused to use until now, answered the rifles of their pursuers.

‘Oh, it’s horrible! horrible! men killing each other like beasts!’ Terry whispered, covering her face with her hands.

The pursuers halted before the fire of their opponents. One fell, another stumbled like a man struck. They began to run aimlessly, half-retreating. But a voice rang out calling single words of command. In a moment the imminent rout was stayed, and the large company extended itself to face the entrenched enemy, but in a wider arc; the wings raced up the hill-sides.