ty-four men--they were gey ill to count--has landed
at Garplefit and is makin' their way to the auld Tower. The tinklers
warned Dobson and soon it'll be a' bye wi' Heritage."

"The Princess is not there?" was Dickson's anxious inquiry.

"Na, na. Heritage is there his lone. They were for joinin' him, but I
wouldn't let them. She came wi' a man they call Sir Erchibald and
three gamekeepers wi' guns. I stoppit their cawr up the road and
tell't them the lie o' the land. Yon Sir Erchibald has poor notions o'
strawtegy. He was for bangin' into the auld Tower straight away and
shootin' Dobson if he tried to stop them. 'Havers,' say I, 'let them
break their teeth on the Tower, thinkin' the leddy's inside, and
that'll give us time, for Heritage is no' the lad to surrender in a
hurry.'"

"Where are they now?"

"In the Hoose o' Dalquharter, and a sore job I had gettin' them in.
We've shifted our base again, without the enemy suspectin'."

"Any word of the police?"

"The polis!" and Dougal spat cynically. "It seems they're a dour crop
to shift. Sir Erchibald was sayin' that him and the lassie had been to
the Chief Constable, but the man was terrible auld and slow. They
persuadit him, but he threepit that it would take a long time to
collect his men and that there was no danger o' the brig landin' before
night. He's wrong there onyway, for they're landit."

"Dougal," said Dickson, "you've heard the Princess speak of a friend
she was expecting here called Alexis. This is him. You can address him
as Mr. Nicholson. Just arrived in the nick of time. You must get him
into the House, for he's the best right to be beside the lady... Jaikie
would tell you that I've been sore mishandled the day, and am no' very
fit for a battle. But Mr. Nicholson's a business man and he'll do as
well. You're keeping the Die-Hards outside, I hope?"

"Ay. Thomas Yownie's in charge, and Jaikie will be in and out with
orders. They've instructions to watch for the polis, and keep an eye on
the Garplefit. It's a mortal long front to hold, but there's no other
way. I must be in the hoose mysel'. Thomas Yownie's headquarters is
the auld wife's hen-hoose."

At that moment in a pause of the gale came the far-borne echo of a shot.

"Pistol," said Alexis.

"Heritage," said Dougal. "Trade will be gettin' brisk with him. Start
your machine and I'll hang on ahint. We'll try the road by the West
Lodge."

Presently the pair disappeared in th