ey are sending
news to the traitor.'

'But, by Jove,' said Logan, 'they have heard from _him_, whoever he is,
since Bude came back, for they know about the finding of the hair-pin.
You,' he said to the wretched captive, 'have you been at this machine?'

The man, being gagged, only gasped.

'There's this, too,' said Merton, 'the senders of the last message
clearly think that Gianesi is against them. If Gianesi removes the
machine, they say--'

Merton did not finish his sentence, he rushed out of the room. Presently
he hurried back. 'Mr. Macrae,' he said, 'Blake's door is locked. I
can't waken him, and, if he were in his room, the noise we have made must
have wakened him already. Logan, ungag that creature!'

Logan removed the gag.

'Who are _you_?' he asked.

The captive was silent.

'Mr. Macrae,' said Merton, 'may I run and bring Donald and the other
servants here? Donald must work the machine at once, and we must break
in Blake's door, and, if he is off, we must rouse the country after him.'

Mr. Macrae seemed almost dazed, the rapid sequence of unusual
circumstances being remote from his experience. In spite of the blaze of
electric light, the morning was beginning to steal into the room; the
refreshments on the table looked oddly dissipated, there was a heavy
stale smell of tobacco, and of whisky from a bottle that had been upset
in the struggle. Mr. Macrae opened a window and inhaled the fresh air
from the Atlantic.

This revived him. 'I'll ring the alarm bell,' he said, and, putting a
small key to an unnoticed keyhole in a panel, he opened a tiny door,
thrust in his hand, and pressed a knob. Instantly from the Castle tower
came the thunderous knell of the alarm. 'I had it put in in case of fire
or burglars,' explained the millionaire, adding automatically, 'every
modern improvement.'

In a few minutes the servants and gillies had gathered, hastily clad;
they were met by Logan, who briefly bade some bring hammers, and the
caber, or pine-tree trunk that is tossed in Highland sports. It would
make a good battering-ram. Donald Macdonald he sent at once to Mr.
Macrae. He met Bude and Lady Bude, and rapidly explained that there was
no danger of fire. The Countess went back to her rooms, Bude returned
with Logan into the observatory. Here they found Donald telegraphing to
the conspirators, by the wireless engine, a message dictated by Merton:

'Don't be alarmed about communications. I have