Norman Vallery Part 31

Descending by a steep road, which compelled the laird and Captain Vallery to put on their drags to prevent the carriages going down faster than would have been pleasant, they found themselves by the side of a narrow loch enclosed by mountains. They soon after, rounding a lofty cliff, arrived at the entrance of the glen which they had come to visit.

On the sh.o.r.e of the loch was a small cottage where they found the cart with the servants and provisions. They descended from the carriages, and were joined by several of the laird's friends, who had arrived before them. f.a.n.n.y was pleased to find, as had been promised, some companions of her own age, and several boys rather older than her brother.

"I can get on very well with them," thought Norman, as he eyed them.

"They will be more fit companions than that stupid little Robby."

The party proceeded up the glen by the margin of a narrow deep stream.

So close were the two sides of the glen that the branches of the trees which grew on them appeared almost to join overhead, and formed a thick shade.

After proceeding some way, the glen again opened out, and they found that they had reached the end of another loch, which extended as far as the eye could reach, while their ears were saluted by the rushing and roaring sound of a cataract which came from the heights above them, and fell dashing and splashing over the rocks, now concealed by the thick foliage now appearing full in view.

Stopping to admire the romantic scene--the calm loch, the murmuring stream, the roaring waterfall, the wild rocks with trees growing amidst them, and the lofty hills rising in many varied shapes on every side, still higher peaks towering to the sky, the party began to ascend a path which led to the spot where the picnic was to be held. It was a green knoll on the mountain side, close to which an off-shoot of the great waterfall bubbled and sparkled by, while the trees which grew on one side afforded a sufficient shade from the sun's rays. The number of rocks which had fallen from the mountains above supplied seats of every shape, to suit the taste of those who chose to occupy them.

From the knoll a still better view than below, of the waterfall and the surrounding scenery, was obtained, and everybody agreed that it was the most perfect place for a picnic imaginable. f.a.n.n.y and her young friends were delighted, and while the servants brought up the hampers, and some of the party were spreading the cloth, they employed themselves in conveying jugs of water from the bright stream which flowed by.

As many of the party had come from a considerable distance, it was settled that dinner should be the first thing attended to, though some of the young ladies directly after their arrival had got out their sketch-books, and would have preferred finishing their sketches first.

f.a.n.n.y, who had observed the rapid way in which they conveyed the scenery to their paper, wished that she could sketch also. Her granny promised that she should have lessons as soon as she returned home.

"Oh, how much I shall like it, and I think I shall remember this scene so well that I shall be able to put it down on paper as soon as I have learned to draw," she exclaimed.

One of the young ladies lent her a book. To her surprise, by following the guidance of her instructress, she found that she could already make a sketch which would remind her of the scene.

The picnic dinner was exactly as f.a.n.n.y had expected it to be. There was the facetious old gentleman--a neighbouring laird noted for his jokes,-- and he did not fail to keep the company in fits of laughter, and there were young ladies and young gentlemen and middle-aged gentlemen, who told stories and sang songs.

The laird of Glen Tulloch had in the meantime despatched Alec Morrison to bring down a boat which was kept further up the loch, that those of the party who wished it might enjoy a row.

Norman and his young friends after eating as many of the good things as they wanted, not caring for the jokes or the conversation, strolled away to enjoy a scramble among the rocks. They were not observed, or they would have been warned of the danger they were running.

Little Robby had been waiting patiently to obtain his share of the feast with the servants. When he saw them go, he followed, for he had been told by his grandfather to take care and not get among the slippery rocks. Young as he was, it occurred to him that if it would be dangerous for him, it would be equally so for the young gentlemen.

"What are you coming after us for, you little brat?" exclaimed Norman, as turning round he caught sight of Robby. "Go back and stay with the servants."

"Please, grandfather said any one going climbing among those rocks, would run the chance of slipping and being carried into the loch,"

answered Robby, not feeling angry at the rude way Norman had spoken to him.

"What is it to me what your grandfather says?" answered Norman, who wished to show his independence before his older companions. "Don't you be coming after us, we don't want your company."

"We had better take care where we go, though," observed one of the boys, who was wiser than the rest.

"It would be an ugly thing to tumble into that boiling stream, and be carried off to the loch."

"Oh, nonsense," exclaimed Norman, "I am not afraid, I am going to shoot tigers when I go back to India. I shall have to go into wild places to get at them. I have a fancy for climbing up those rocks to see how high I can get. Who will follow?"

"Oh, do not go, do not go, young gentleman," cried Robby, who saw the danger they were running. "You may slip and break your legs, or be drowned if you fall into the water."

The boys disregarded his warnings, and Norman eager to show his bravery began to climb the rocks. They made one ascent, and perhaps influenced by Robby's warning, took sufficient care to escape an accident, and all descended again in safety very nearly to the edge of the loch.

"He did not do any great thing after all," observed one of the boys. "I thought, Vallery, you were going up to the top."

"So I will, if you will follow me," answered Norman.

"You will be frightened, before you are half way up," cried another.

"You dare not do it," said a third.

"Big as you all are, I will dare anything you can do," exclaimed Norman proudly, and he began to reascend the rocks.

"Oh, pray do not," cried Robby, who notwithstanding the order he had received to be off, still kept near. "You will be tumbling down, I know you will."

The other boys followed Norman, most of them keeping in a safer direction away from the waterfall.

Robby was running off to call some of the servants, who might he thought stop the young gentlemen better than he could, when at that instant he saw his grandfather pulling down the loch and close to the mouth of the stream formed by the waterfall. Just as he was beckoning to him to make haste that he might land and stop the boys, he heard a cry, and saw Norman slipping down the side of a smooth rock wet with the spray of the waterfall. In vain he shouted to him to hold on to any thing he could grasp. Norman shrieked out with terror, but the sound of the cascade prevented any one but his boyish companions from hearing his words.

Horror-struck, they could do nothing to help him. Robby ran up along the stream, but was stopped by the roughness of the ground.

Norman though clinging to a few tufts of gra.s.s or small shrubs was unable to regain a footing. He slipped down lower and lower, till he fell with a plunge into the stream. The water was sufficiently deep to prevent him from being hurt by the fall, but the current was strong, and though his head was above the surface, he was unable to resist it, and carried off his legs was borne down the stream.

Robby had a handkerchief tied in a sailor's knot round his neck, and as Norman pa.s.sed close to the bank, he threw the end to him. Norman grasped it, and held on tightly while Robby kept a firm hold of the other end. But Robby was small, and the stream bore Norman onward. As long as he could, Robby scrambled along the bank, thus keeping Norman above water.

The other boys hurried down the rocks to a.s.sist him, but just before the foremost got up to where he was, Robby lost his balance, and falling into the water he and Norman were carried down the stream together.

Old Alec had seen the boys and heard their cries, and guessing that something was wrong, happily at that moment shoved his boat up the mouth of the stream as far as she could go. To throw his grapnel to the sh.o.r.e and to spring overboard was the work of an instant, directly he saw the two young boys floating down towards him. He had them safe in his arms before either of them had lost consciousness, and placing them in the boat he rowed as fast, as he could to the landing-place below the spot where the picnic party were still seated. They, alarmed by the cries of the other boys, one of whom shouted out in his terror that little Vallery was being drowned, started to their feet.

Alec's loud voice which reached them, as he hailed in sailor fashion, "They are here all safe," somewhat rea.s.sured them.

Captain Vallery and Mrs Maclean, were the first to get to the boat.

They were followed by f.a.n.n.y and her mamma.

Norman was quickly lifted out of the boat by his papa, who was not till then satisfied that he was really alive. He was at once carried up to the knoll, where a fire had just been lighted. The laird came up directly afterwards with little Robby in his arms, having gleaned from Alec and the other boys exactly what had happened.

"I find, Vallery, that your son owes his life to this little fellow, for had it not been for his judgment and courage, he would have been carried into the loch, before Alec Morrison could have come up to save him," he exclaimed. Captain and Mrs Vallery expressed their grat.i.tude, and as may be supposed, everybody praised little Robby's bravery.

Meantime the boys' wet clothes were stripped off, and they were wrapped up in warm shawls supplied by the ladies. f.a.n.n.y knelt by her brother's side, almost overcome with her agitation; indeed he was evidently suffering as much from alarm, perhaps, as from the sudden plunge into the cold water.

As none of the Glen Tulloch party could longer enjoy the picnic, a servant was sent on to get their carriages ready, while Captain Vallery carrying Norman, and old Alec his little grandson, they proceeded down the glen that they might get home as soon as possible. The other boys, as may be supposed, wisely amused themselves on safe ground, and it is to be hoped they were properly thankful that they had been preserved from an accident by which their young friend had so nearly lost his life.

Mrs Vallery took her seat in the hinder part of the carriage, and kept Norman in her arms, anxiously watching his face, now flushed, now pale, while the two elder ladies insisted on taking care of little Robby. He, however, appeared to be not all the worse for his wetting. He could not help now and then expressing his thankfulness that the young gentleman had caught hold of his handkerchief in time to avoid being carried into the loch before his grandfather had reached him. He said nothing about himself, nor did he seem to think that he was deserving of any praise.

The laird and Captain Vallery drove towards home as fast as they could, but their anxiety to arrive at the end of their journey made the road appear much longer than it had on coming.

Mrs Maclean wished to carry Robby on with her. To this, however, Alec would not agree.

"No, Mrs Maclean," he answered, "he will do very well with me. I could not rest without him under my roof, and a sailor's son will be none the worse for a ducking." Robby was then lifted out of the carriage, and by his own request placed on the ground.

"Please, Mrs Maclean, may I come over to-morrow to ask how the young gentleman is?" he said looking up. "I will ask G.o.d, when I say my prayers to-night, that he may be made well."

"If your grandfather can spare you, we shall be glad to see you," said Mrs Maclean.

"I must thank you for the interest you feel in my little grandson," said Mrs Leslie.