disappointed hopes.

Then every one who could be of any possible use was pressed into the
service. The people flocked out of their homes from all that district,
and hand in hand they started in a long line stretching across a wide
tract of country, and moving slowly on until every inch of ground in
their way had been thoroughly explored.

It was after three nights and three days had passed that they came upon
the weak little body, lying stark and still under an overhanging rock,
and half buried in the heather. Moss was clutched in her clenched
hand, and shreds of moss were on her cold lips; the poor little bairn
had hungered for food, and had seized that which first came to hand to
satisfy her craving. She was quite dead.

The bereaved mother mourned her darling with a grief that none but a
mother can know. But the child had been her father's special pet of
all his little flock.

"His heart," said Bell, the rising tears witnessing to the sadness of
the memories called back by her story, "was well-nigh broke. He burst
into tears at the sight of her wee white face, and sobbed like a bairn
wi' the rest of us."

And poor little Peggy! How touching the story! She never ceased to
reproach herself for what she considered her carelessness in losing
sight of Jessie on that fatal day. No single creature attached a
shadow of blame to her; on the contrary, it was the dearest wish of all
to try to console her and assure her of her innocence in that respect.
But it was of no avail. Her unceasing grief fretted away her strength,