The glowing light of a fire shone right into his eyes, dazzling them, so that for some few moments he could make out nothing but the fact that he was in a stone-built hut, before a fierce fire, and that two fierce-looking bearded men were glaring at him.
Before he could collect himself to speak, some one shouted from outside, and one of his captors replied, but the Gaelic words were quite unintelligible to the prisoner, as was also the conversation which ensued between the two men before him, though it was apparent that one was urging the other to do something from which he shrank.
“Hwhat will she want?” said the latter at last, in a harsh voice.
“I’ve lost my way in the mountains,” said Max. “I’m tired and cold and hungry. Please undo this rope; it hurts.”
The man who had not spoken said something now to Max’s questioner, and it seemed that the words which had passed were translated, with the result that he burst into a torrent of harsh-sounding speech, apparently full of dissent.
This seemed to be the case, for the one who tried to speak English exclaimed sharply,—
“She shall tell her a lee.”
“I—I don’t understand you,” said Max.
“She came along wi’ ta exciseman.”
“No,” said Max. “I came quite alone.”