nificant commentary on his state of mind.
He regarded the book with intense disfavour, tore it in two, and used a
handful of its fine deckle-edged leaves to get the fire going. They
burned well, and presently the rest followed. Well for Dickson's peace
of soul that he was not a witness of such vandalism.

A little warmer but in no way more cheerful, he resumed his watch near
the window. The day was getting darker, and promised an early dusk.
His watch told him that it was after four, and still nothing had
happened. Where on earth were Dickson and the Princess? Where in the
name of all that was holy were the police? Any minute now the brig
might arrive and land its men, and he would be left there as a
burnt-offering to their wrath. There must have been an infernal muddle
somewhere.... Anyhow the Princess was out of the trouble, but where the
Lord alone knew.... Perhaps the reinforcements were lying in wait for
the boats at the Garplefoot. That struck him as a likely explanation,
and comforted him. Very soon he might hear the sound of an engagement
to the south, and the next thing would be Dobson and his crew in
flight. He was determined to be in the show somehow and would be very
close on their heels. He felt a peculiar dislike to all three, but
especially to Leon. The Belgian's small baby features had for four
days set him clenching his fists when he thought of them.

The next thing he saw was one of the tinklers running hard towards the
Tower. He cried something to Dobson, which woke the latter to
activity. The innkeeper shouted to Leon and Spidel, and the tinkler was
excitedly questioned. Dobson laughed and slapped his thigh. He gave
orders to the others, and himself joined the tinkler and hurried off in
the direction of the Garplefoot. Something was happening there,
something of ill omen, for the man's face and manner had been
triumphant. Were the boats landing?

As Heritage puzzled over this event, another figure appeared on the
scene. It was a big man in knickerbockers and mackintosh, who came
round the end of the House from the direction of the South Lodge. At
first he thought it was the advance-guard from his own side, the help
which Dickson had gone to find, and he only restrained himself in time
from shouting a welcome. But surely their supports would not advance so
confidently in enemy country. The man strode over the slopes as if
looking for somebody; then he caught sight of Leon and waved t