behoved to pass these points swiftly
and unobtrusively, and his company was neither swift nor unobtrusive.
McGuffog had a genius for tripping over obstacles, and Sir Archie was
for ever proffering his aid to Saskia, who was in a position to give
rather than to receive, being far the most active of the party. Once
Dougal had to take the gamekeeper's head and force it down, a
performance which would have led to an immediate assault but for Sir
Archie's presence. Nor did the latter escape. "Will ye stop heedin'
the lassie, and attend to your own job," the Chieftain growled. "Ye're
makin' as much noise as a roadroller."

Arrived at the foot of the verandah wall there remained the problem of
the escalade. Dougal clambered up like a squirrel by the help of
cracks in the stones, and he could be heard trying the handle of the
door into the House. He was absent for about five minutes, and then
his head peeped over the edge accompanied by the hooks of an iron
ladder. "From the boiler-house," he informed them as they stood clear
for the thing to drop. It proved to be little more than half the
height of the wall.

Saskia ascended first, and had no difficulty in pulling herself over
the parapet. Then came the guns and ammunition, and then the one-armed
Sime, who turned out to be an athlete. But it was no easy matter
getting up the last three. Sir Archie anathematized his frailties.
"Nice old crock to go tiger--shootin' with," he told the Princess. "But
set me to something where my confounded leg don't get in the way, and
I'm still pretty useful!" Dougal, mopping his brow with the rag he
called his handkerchief, observed sourly that he objected to going
scouting with a herd of elephants.

Once indoors his spirits rose. The party from the Mains had brought
several electric torches, and the one lamp was presently found and lit.
"We can't count on the polis," Dougal announced, "and when the
foreigners is finished wi' the Tower they'll come on here. If no', we
must make them. What is it the sodgers call it? Forcin' a battle? Now
see here! There's the two roads into this place, the back door and the
verandy, leavin' out the front door which is chained and lockit.
They'll try those two roads first, and we must get them well barricaded
in time. But mind, if there's a good few o' them, it'll be an easy job
to batter in the front door or the windies, so we maun be ready for
that."

He told off a fatigue party--the Princess