THE FIRST DEATH IN THE CLEARING. 151 



I was so interested in the scene that I did not hear 

 the step of a barefooted child behind me until a little 

 figure, wrapped in a faded tartan shawl, laid her hand 

 upon my arm and in a strong Scotch accent said : 



" Mistress, ye maun come awa' the noo wi' me to see 

 the wee ane. The mither is aye greeting and sent me 

 ower to bid ye come to see till't." 



" And who is it that sent you ? " I asked. 



" The mither o' the sick wean, Mrs. P , at the 



Falls." 



" But," I said, " my little maid, what can I do for the 

 sick child ? " 



" I dinna ken, but ye maun come." 



Though from Maggie's further description of the 

 state of the babe I feared I could do little for the 

 sufferer, I thought I might do somewhat to comfort the 

 poor young mother, so I put on my plaid and hood and 

 followed my little guide. 



" She stayed not for brake and stopped not for stone," 

 but led the way fearlessly over the most impracticable- 

 looking places, sometimes climbing over log heaps, dash- 

 ing through puddles of melting snow, creeping along 

 fallen, half -rotted logs beside pools where even the little 

 will-o'-the-wisp was not sure of a safe passage, and 

 often stretching out a strong red fist to aid me when I 

 faltered on the way. 



At last the house was reached without accident, and I 

 found the young mother sorrowfully regarding the sick 



