Huntingtower

fter them and whistled through the slits of window, so that the place was full of monstrous shadows, and its accustomed odour of mould and disuse was changed to a salty freshn

r covered by an old scout's blanket la

. Saskia with a cry flew to him, and waved off Dickson who had fetched one of the bottles of liqueur brandy. She

s no fracture. When I nursed in the Alexander Hospital I learnt mu

d "free sulphurous acid" came from his lips. He implored some one to tell him if "th

ad. "But I fear he has

on, who recognised the jar

d with swift, capable hands she made a bandage and rubbed the wound with ointment before tying it up. Then her fingers seemed to play about his temp

e, found himself lying with his head in her lap. She spoke first, in an imper

"Where am I? Oh, I remember, I caught a lic

on the others, replied through a mouthful of biscuit: "We're in the old Tower

o his feet with an effort and held out a hand to the girl. "I'm all right now, I think. On

"You say that when you hav

ntless Dougal broke in. "Comin' over

ickson. "I was shoo

ye hi

him he was running too quick for a sore hurt man. When I fire

ng very much, certainly not the laws of his country. If he fell in with the Unknown, he was entirely resolved, if his Maker permitted him, to do murde

ties. We've got a far better position to hold, for there's too many ways into yon Hoose, and here there's just one. Besides, we've fickled the enemy. They'll take some time to find out where we've gone. But, mind you, we can't count on the

the lassie. How do I ken, says you? Because Thomas Yownie heard Dobson say to Lean at the scullery door, 'Have y

xclaimed

e unless the men they expectit were due to arrive any moment. As I see it, we've to face a siege not by the t

to the others w

the new folk are co

chenlochan, I suppose? Or p

confidences to him in the darkness. "They are c

tage repeated i

ung lady against her will along Scotch roads. But the sea's a different matter. If they've got a fast boat they could be out of the Firth and away beyond the law before we could wake up a single policeman. Ay, and even if the Government took it up and warned al

re can be no surrender. We've got to sti

ce while Dobson and his friends are locked up. Let's get them as far away as we can from the sea

tently, shook her head. "I promised to wait here til

ruffians. Take a sensible view, Mem. You'll be no good to your frie

t was our arrangement. I cannot break it. Besides, I am

t the quiet tones and the weary fac

ill get on the Princess's trail, and the whole persecution will start again. I want to see things brought to a head here and now. If we can stick it out here long enough, we may trap the w

we had the women off our mind. I've aye read that when a castle was

hat's just what I'm saying. I'm strong for a fight, but put

my enemies, I would consent to be abse

t for defence we want more than stone walls-we want a garrison. I tell you we must get help somewhere. Ay, but how, says you? Well, coming here I noticed a gentleman's house away up ayont the railway and close to the hills. The laird's maybe not at home, but there will be men there of some kind-gamekeepers and woodmen and such like. My plan is to go there at once and ask for help. Now, it's useless me going alo

ry man jack you can raise, and if it's humanly possible get a gun or two. I bel

r an ill deed. There's no kirk hereaways, and everybody in the parish will be sitting indoors by the fire." He

the time being, and the surge of the tides below the rocks rose like the clamo

to be in good spirits. He began to

we are, and class

on the neck o'

re you singing?"

and they telled him he was to jine a thing called an International, and Jaikie thought it was a fitba' club. But when he fund o

the last

thought it was some

thing anyway.... W

of his knowledge it fell betwee

careful and prayerful watch. You had better get the Die-Hards out of the Tower and all round the place afore Dobson and Co. get loose, or you'll no'

k. Thomas ye ken already; ye'll no fickle Thomas Yownie. But don't be mistook about Wee Jaikie. He's terrible fond of greetin', but it's no fri

pedition. Cousin Eugènie trailed heavy furs, Saskia's only wrap was a bright-coloured shawl about her shoulders, and both wore thin foreign shoes. Dickson insisted on stripping off his trusty waterproof and forcing it on the Princess, on whose slim body it hung very loose and very short. The elder woman stumbled a

rose like a dark cloud, but Dickson had lost his terror of it. There were three angry men inside it, he remembered: long let them stay there. He marvelled at his mood, and also rejoiced, for his worst fear had always been that he might prove a cowar

e had he sought municipal honours, the elder in the Guthrie Memorial Kirk, the instructor of literary young men? In the past three days he had levanted with jewels which had once been an Emperor's and certainly were not his; he had burglariously entered and made free of a strange house; he had played hide-and-seek at the risk of his neck and had wre

again by the cart track, and passed the deserted West Lodge and inn to the v

wo ladies, Auntie P

n of cheek and chin and disreputable in garb: the shrouded figure of Cousin Eugènie, who had sunk into the arm-chair and closed her eyes; the sli

d then did a thing which she had not

e loft, and dinna you stir till I give ye a cry. The leddies will change by the fire. And you, Mem"-this to Cousin Eugènie-"the place for you's your bed. I'll kinnle a fire

up the village street. From below rose the sounds of hospitable bustle, and when after some twenty minutes' vigil he de

to get, and that this very morning. D'you mind the big white house away up near the hills ayont the station

larger feet than hers. A pair of the coarse low-heeled shoes, which country folk wear in the farmyard, stood warming by the hearth. She still had her russet jumper, but round her neck hung a grey wool scarf, of the kind known as a "comforter." Amazingly pr

keep her dry and warm.... I ken the hoose ye mean. They ca' it the Mains of Garple. And I ken the man that bides in it. He's yin Sir Erchibald Roylance. English, but his mither was a Dalziel. I'm no weel acquaint wi' his forbears, but I'm weel eneuch acquaint wi' Sir Erch

he Mains just no

-end for the shootin' and in Aprile for birds. He's clean daft about birds. He'll be out a'

help, t

best chance, and better a wee bush than n

shamelessly, being both hungry and hurried, and he spoke of the still unconquered enemy with ease and disrespect, so that Mrs. Morran was moved to observe that there was "naething sae bauld as a blind mear." But when in a

my mother, honest woman, used to say." Dickson's waterproof was restored to him, and for Saskia an old raincoat belonging to the son in South Africa was discovered, which fitted her better. "

awn the wind had risen again, but it had shifted towards the north-west and was many degrees colder. The mist was furling on the hills like sails, the rain had ceased, and out at sea the eye covered a mile or two of wild water. The moor was drenching wet, and the peat bogs were brimming with inky pools, so that soon the travellers were soaked to

Saskia amazed him. She moved over the rough heather like a deer, and it was her hand that helped him across the deeper hags. Before such youth and vigour he felt clumsy and old. She stood looking down at him as h

le pack on him in that old Tower, and him with such a sore clout

sm

he's a

I did not know. H

of very hi

ke many of our young men in Russia, the students-his mind is in

son's loyal soul bu

in love with me

e and candid as a boy's. Here was one who had gone through waters so deep that she had lost the foibles of sex. Love to her was only a word of ill omen, a threat on the lips of bru

she said. "I have kn

at me for being romantic. He's one that's looking for truth and realit

" (she pronounced the name in two staccato syllables ever

u see-a middle-ag

understand, but you and those little boys-no. I am sure of one thing-you are not a romantic. You

a preposterous rapture in his soul, followed by a sinking, a

he said hastily, and the two p

of smoke beyond the trees proclaimed that the house was not untenanted. As they entered the drive the Scots firs were tossing in the gale, whi

hibald was at home, he was told, and had just finished breakfast. The two were led into a large bare chamber which had all the chill and mustiness of a bachelor's drawing-r

of a gigantic salmon and several bookcases adorned the wall, and books and maps were mixed with decanters and cigar-boxes on the long sideboard. After the wild out of doors the place seemed the very shrine of comfort. A young man sat in an ar

you're a household name in these parts. I get all my supplies from you, and I've

ve not come on business. I've come with the queerest story

ry is just what I wan

alone. I've a

s my soul

ss. She's in

dly at him and waved the

. But you know, it isn't done. Princesses don't as a rule come here after breakfa

and you'll believe her quick enough. But to prepare your mind

clear away this mess and lay the table again. Order more breakfast, all the breakfast you can get. Open the win

, with his arm in Dickson's

' at the factor. I've seen a few things in my da