AND THE EAGLE. 77 



away into straggling shrubs, and the party stood on a 

 little eminence above the stream, and forming part of 

 the strath. There had been trouble and agitation, 

 much sobbing and many tears among the multitude, 

 while the mother was scaling the cliffs, sublime was 

 the shout that echoed afar the moment she reached the 

 eyrie, and now that her salvation was sure, the great 

 crowd rustled like a wind-swept wood. 



" And for whose sake was all this alternation of 

 agony ? A poor humble creature, unknown to many 

 even by name one who had had but few friends, nor 

 wished for more contented to work all day, here 

 there anywhere that she might be able to support 

 her aged mother and her little child and who on sab- 

 bath took her seat in an obscure pew, set apart for 

 paupers, in the kirk ! 



" ' Fall back, and give her fresh air,' said the old 

 minister of the parish ; and the circle of close faces 

 widened round her, lying as in death. ' Gie me the 

 bonny bit bairn into my arms,' cried first one mother, 

 and then another, and it was tenderly handed round 

 the circle of kisses, many of the snooded maidens bath- 

 ing its face in tears. ' There's no a single scratch about 

 the puir innocent, for the eagle, you see, maun hae 

 stuck its talons into the long claes and the shawl. 

 Blin ! blin ! maun they be who see not the finger o' God 

 in this thing ! ' 



" Hannah started up from her swoon, looking wildly 



round, and cried, * O ! the bird, the bird ! the eagle, 



the eagle ! The eagle has carried off my bonny wee 



Walter is there nane to pursue ?' A neighbour put 



H 3 



