This, however, was hardly news.

The Gabriel hounds always ran before calamity.
At about eleven o'clock, there being still no news of them, Jael Dence came to Mr.Raby wringing her hands.

"Why do all the men go east for them ?" "Because they are on the east side." "How can ye tell that?
They have lost their way." "I am afraid so," groaned Raby.
"Then why do you send all the men as if they hadn't lost their way?
East side of Cairnhope! why that is where they ought to be, but it is not where they are, man." "You are a good girl, and I'm a fool," cried Raby.

"Whoever comes in after this, I'll send them up by the old church." "Give me a torch, and I'll run myself." "Ay, do, and I'll put on my boots, and after you." Then Jael got a torch, and kilted her gown to her knees, and went striding through the snow with desperate vigor, crying as she went, for her fear was great and her hope was small, from the moment she heard the Gabriel hounds.
Owing to the torch, Grace saw her first, and uttered a little scream; a loud scream of rapture replied: the torch went anywhere, and gentle and simple were locked in each other's arms, Jael sobbing for very joy after terror, and Grace for sympathy, and also because she wanted to cry, on more accounts than one.
Another torch came on, and Jael cried triumphantly, "This way, Squire.
She is here!" and kissed her violently again.
Mr.Raby came up, and took her in his arms, without a word, being broken with emotion: and, after he had shaken Coventry by both hands, they all turned homeward, and went so fast that Coventry gave in with a groan.
Then Grace told Jael what had befallen him, and just then another torch came in, held by George the blacksmith, who, at sight of the party, uttered a stentorian cheer, and danced upon the snow.
"Behave, now," said Jael, "and here's the gentleman sore hurt in the river; Geordie, come and make a chair with me." George obeyed and put out his hands, with the fingers upward, Jael did the same, with the fingers downward: they took hands, and, putting their stalwart arms under Coventry, told him to fling an arm round each of their necks: he did so, and up he went; he was no more than a feather to this pair, the strongest man and woman in Cairnhope.
As they went along, he told them his adventure in the stream, and, when they heard it, they ejaculated to each other, and condoled with him kindly, and assured him he was alive by a miracle.
They reached Raby, and, in the great hall, the Squire collected his people and gave his orders.

"Stop the bell.