it, and ran, followed by Bude and four gillies, to the
little pier where the boat was moored. He must be doing something for
her, or go mad. The six men crowded into the boat, and pulled swiftly
away, Merton taking the stroke oar. Meanwhile Blake was carried by four
gillies towards the Castle, the men talking low to each other in Gaelic.
Mr. Macrae walked silently in front.

Such was the mournful procession that Lady Bude ran out to meet. She
passed Mr. Macrae, whose face was set with an expression of deadly rage,
and looked for Bude. He was not there, a gillie told her what they knew,
and, with a convulsive sob, she followed Mr. Macrae into the Castle.

'Mr. Blake must be taken to his room,' said Mr. Macrae. 'Benson, bring
something to eat and drink. Lady Bude, I deeply regret that this thing
should have troubled your stay with me. She has been carried off, Mr.
Blake has been rendered unconscious; your husband and Mr. Merton are
trying nobly to find the track of the miscreants. You will excuse me, I
must see to Mr. Blake.'

Mr. Macrae rose, bowed, and went out. He saw Blake carried to a bathroom
in the observatory; they undressed him and put him in the hot water. Then
they put him to bed, and brought him wine and food. He drank the wine
eagerly.

'We were set on suddenly from behind by fellows from a boat,' he said.
'We saw them land and go up from the cove; they took us in the rear: they
felled me and pegged me out. Have you my poems?'

'Mr. Merton has the poems,' said Mr. Macrae. 'What became of my
daughter?'

'I don't know, I was unconscious.'

'What kind of boat was it?'

'An ordinary coble, a country boat.'

'What kind of looking men were they?'

'Rough fellows with beards. I only saw them when they first passed us at
some distance. Oh, my head! Oh damn, how these bites do sting! Get me
some ammonia; you'll find it in a bottle on the dressing-table.'

Mr. Macrae brought him the bottle and a handkerchief. 'That is all you
know?' he asked.

But Blake was babbling some confusion of verse and prose: his wits were
wandering.

Mr. Macrae turned from him, and bade one of the men watch him. He
himself passed downstairs and into the hall, where Lady Bude was standing
at the window, gazing to the north.

'Indeed you must not watch, Lady Bude,' said the millionaire. 'Let me
persuade you to take something and go to bed. I forget myself; I do not
believe that you have dined.' He himsel