it was obvious that its occupant had left it hastily in order to fly
to her friend's assistance.

At the sound of hasty footsteps Maud Lindesay turned about, and was
instantly stricken pale and astonished by the sight of the young man
with his sword bare. She cried aloud with a stern and defiant
countenance, "Sholto MacKim, what do you here?"

And before he had time to answer, the little girl looked at him out of
her friend's arms and called out: "O Sholto, Sholto, I am so glad you
are come. I woke to find such a terrible thing looking at me out of
the night. It was shaped like a great wolf, but it was rough of hide,
and had upon it a head like a man's. I was so terrified that at first
I could not cry out. But when it came nearer, and gazed at me, then I
cried. Do not go away, Sholto. I am so glad, so glad that you are
here."

Maud Lindesay had again turned towards Margaret.

"Hush," she said soothingly, "it was a dream. You were frighted by a
vision, by a nightmare, by a succubus of the night. There is no beast
within the castle."

"But I saw it plainly," the maid cried. "It opened the door as if it
had hands--I saw it stand there by the bed and look at me--oh, so
terribly! I saw its teeth glisten and heard them snap together!"

"Little one, be still, it was but a dream," said Sholto, untruthfully;
"nevertheless I will go and search the rest of the castle."