crying out
distressfully. "If I thoct the sin o' that wad added to the sair
conscience o' me." Then with a sudden intaking of the breath, as if
drowning, and a sudden paleness that made her face seem ivory
white, she cowered away, with hands close shut, and eyes wide with
fright as she looked up and saw the gentlemen descending.

"It winna matter--it winna matter: I can come again, my leddy!" she
said in a frightened sort of whisper which rose suddenly to a sort
of wailing cry as she faced round and ran like a thing pursued.

Cleek glanced round quietly and looked at Captain MacTavish. He was
still his old handsome, debonnaire, smiling self; but there was a
look in his eyes which did not make them a very pleasant sight at
present.

"Upon my word, Seton, I cannot make out what has come over that silly
girl," said Lady Mary as her liege lord appeared. "She came here
begging to be allowed to go up and see Farrow and to be assured that
he would live, and then the moment you all put in an appearance she
simply dashed away, as you saw. I really cannot understand what can
be the matter with her."

"Don't bother about that just now, Mary; don't bother about anything,
my dear, but what this amazing man has promised," exclaimed the
major excitedly. "Do you know, he has declared that if we give him
until half-past seven to-night----"

Here Cleek interrupted.

"Your pardon, Major--I amend that," he said. "I know all about the
horse and it will not now take so long as I thought to know all about
the 'dog' as well. Give me one hour, Major--just one, gentlemen,
all--and I will give you the answer to the riddle--every part of it:
dog's part as well as horse's--here on this spot, so surely as I
am a living man. Major, all I ask of you is one thing. Let me have
a couple of your grooms out there on the moor inside of the next
fifteen minutes, please. May I have them?"

"Certainly, Mr. Cleek--as many as you want."

"Two will do, thanks. Two are enough for fair play in any little bout
and--not going to stop and see the finish, Captain? It will all be
over in an hour."

"Sorry, but I've got my packing to attend to, my man."

"Ah, to be sure. Oh, well, it doesn't matter. You know the proverb:
'If the mountain will not come to Mahomet, why, Mahomet must go to
the mountain,' of course," said Cleek. "I'll just slip round to the
dairy and have a glass of milk to brace me up for the business and
then--in one hour--in just one by the