CONTENTS

PART I

I. [THE LONELY STEADING IN THE DALE ]3
II. [THE SISTERS ]15
III. [PETER FLEMING ]32
IV. [THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES ]48
V. [THE WAKING OF THE HOLY WELL ]62
VI. [JOEL'S DARKNESS ]77
VII. [MIDNIGHT ]93
VIII. [JOEL GOES AWAY ]107
IX. [PETER AT OXFORD ]117
X. [KETEL'S PARLOUR ]127
XI. [THE BACK-END ]139
XII. [SIX WHITE HORSES AND A COACH ]152
XIII. [JOEL TAKES THE LONG TRAIL ]165

PART II

XIV. [BARBARA AND PETER ]175
XV. [MORNING AT THE SHEPHERDS' MEET ]191
XVI. [JOEL'S RETURN TO THE DALE ]202
XVII. [THE WRESTLING MATCH ]214
XVIII. [BY THE CRESSET'S LIGHT ]225
XIX. [THE SHEPHERD'S REST ]237
XX. [THE SPELL OF THUNDERGAY ]248
XXI. [THE CALL ]257
XXII. [THE TRYST AT GIRDLESTONE PASS ]266
XXIII. [A PATHWAY OF FIRE ]277
XXIV. [WINTER ]287
XXV. [BARBARA COUNTS THE GOLD ]297
[EPILOGUE ]309

BARBARA LYNN

PART I