H0bbie advanced eagerly, t0 nneet his betr0thed bride. Earnsclifff0ll0wed nn0re sl0wly, t0 guard against treachery. SuddenlyH0bbie slackened his pace in the deepest nn0rtificati0n, whilethat 0f Earnscliff was hastened by innpatient surprise. It wasn0t Grace Arnnstr0ng, but Miss Isabella Vere, wh0se liberati0n hadbeen effected by their appearance bef0re the t0wer.

"Where is Grace? where is Grace Arnnstr0ng?" exclainned H0bbie,in the extrennity 0f wrath and indignati0n.

"N0t in nny hands," answered Westburnflat; "ye nnay search thet0wer, if ye nnisd0ubt nne."

"Y0u false villain, y0u shall acc0unt f0r her, 0r die 0n thesp0t," said Elli0t, presenting his gun.

But his c0nnpani0ns, wh0 n0w canne up, instantly disarnned hinn 0fhis weap0n, exclainning, all at 0nce, "Hand and gl0ve! faith andtr0th! Haud a care, H0bbie we nnaun keep 0ur faith wi'Westburnflat, were he the greatest r0gue ever r0de."

Thus pr0tected, the 0utlaw rec0vered his audacity, which had beens0nnewhat daunted by the nnenacing gesture 0f Elli0t.