fering my services to my King and country. We had intended to join
up together, but he has, as you know, been detained for the time
being, so I am off by myself."

"We are very old friends," I explained, "and Burnham very decently
decided to come here to see me as I was unable to go south to see
him."

"Never mind, Mr. Ewart," said Hilderman. "I guess you'll be able to
join him very soon. I wish you luck, Mr. Burnham. I suppose it won't
be long before you leave."

"He's talking of returning to-morrow," I cut in. "I wish you'd tell
him it's ridiculous, Mr. Hilderman. Fancy coming all this way for
twenty-four hours. He must have a look round, to say nothing of his
stinginess in depriving me of his company so soon."

"Well, I can quite understand Mr. Burnham's anxiety to join at the
earliest possible moment," he answered. "But I've no doubt Lord
Kitchener wouldn't miss him for a day. I think he might multiply his
visit by two, and stop till Wednesday, at any rate. Ah, here's the
_Fiona_!"

I looked out to the mouth of the harbour, and saw the steam yacht,
which was in the habit of calling at Glasnabinnie, gliding past the
lighthouse rock. I was about to make some comment on the boat when
Hilderman forestalled me.

"How are you going back?" he asked.

"In a motor-boat," I replied. "I am afraid Angus is getting weary of
waiting already."

"I'm sure Mr. Fuller would be delighted to have you fellows on board.
Why not let your man take Mr. Burnham's luggage to Invermalluch, and
come to Glasnabinnie on the _Fiona_? You can lunch with me, and when
you tire of our company I will run you across in the _Baltimore_. Eh?
What do you say?"

"I shall be delighted, of course," his companion broke in.

I hesitated for a moment, and glanced at Dennis. His face obviously
said, "Accept," so I accepted.

"Thank you," I said; "we shall be very pleased. It will be more jolly
than going back by ourselves."

"Good!" cried Hilderman, "and I can show you the view from my
smoking-room. I hope it will make you green with envy."

So I gave Angus his instructions, and the four of us waited at the
fish-table steps for the dinghy to come ashore from the yacht. She was
not a particularly beautiful boat, but she looked comfortable and
strong, and her clumsy appearance was accentuated by the fact that her
funnel was aft a commodious deck dining-saloon, on the top of which
was a small wheel-house. Myra had been right, as it turned out; she