He sprang to a chair with an attitude of frenzy, in order to anticipate the fatal, moment by putting the index forward; and several of the party. began to make ready their weapons for immediate execution, when Mucklewrath's hand was arrested by one of his companions.
"Hist!" he said,—"I hear a distant noise."
"It is the rushing of the brook over the pebbles," said one.
"It is the sough of the wind among the bracken," said another.
"It is the gallopping of horse," said Morton to himself, his sense of hearing rendered acute by the dreadful situation in which he stood; "God grant they may come as my deliverers!"
The noise approached rapidly, and became more and more distinct.
“It is horse," cried Macbriar. "Look out and descry who they are."
"The enemy are upon us," cried one
