18 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
in with and accompanied us. Harrassed and toil- 
worn as we were, it was impossible to rest while 
uncertain of his fate; we in a measure restored our 
strength by a hasty hut plentiful refreshment; and 
then, despite our lacerated feet and stiffened limbs, we 
again sallied forth. 
We despatched two fishermen round by the beach, 
and, provided with a guide, we followed the path which 
we had taken in the morning : we soon came to the 
place where we had separated, and thence pursued as 
nearly as possible that which our absent friend had 
chosen ; sounding every now and then a blast from a 
horn in order to signify our advance, and if possible 
to direct the wanderer to his friends : but we listened 
in vain for his reply to our challenge. The only 
answer was the echo, mocking our alarm, as the faint 
and solemn tones reverberated from cliff to cliff, and 
the ill-omened screech of the disturbed sea-birds, with 
the feeble moaning of the wind and sea. Again we 
blew a louder and still louder blast — a strange forebod- 
ing thrilled through me — all was dark and drear, hut 
I fancied that the faint and piteous howl of a dog was 
borne upon the breeze which repeated the notes of 
the horn. Yes, it was Ranger’s voice, now more 
loudly and clearly heard. Onward we pressed in the 
direction from which the sound had come ; but as we 
advanced the cry of the dog was lost, for the gathering 
winds rising swept down from the hills in hollow gusts 
and then more loudly whistled in our ears, while the 
