ous experiences on the night before the disappearance of Miss Macrae,
and ending with the dismissal of the detectives. He also confided to
Logan the importance of the matter to himself, and entreated him to be
serious.

Logan listened very attentively.

When Merton had ended, Logan said, 'Old boy, you were the making of me:
you may trust me. Serious it is. A great deal of capital must have been
put into this business.'

'A sprat to catch a whale,' said Merton. 'You mean about nobbling the
electric machine? How could _that_ be done?'

'That--and other things. I don't know _how_ the machine was nobbled, but
it could not be done cheap. Would you mind telling me your dreams
again?'

Merton repeated the story.

Logan was silent.

'Do you see your way?' asked Merton.

'I must have time to think it out,' said Logan. 'It is rather mixed.
When was Bude to return from his cruise to "The Seven Hunters"?'

'Perhaps to-night,' said Merton. 'We cannot be sure. She is a very
swift yacht, the _Flora Macdonald_.'

'I'll think it all over, Bude may give us a tip.'

No more would Logan say, beyond asking questions, which Merton could not
answer, about the transatlantic past of the vanished heiress.

They loitered back towards the hotel and lunched. The room was almost
empty, all the guests of the place were out fishing. Presently the motor
returned from Lairg, bringing Mr. Gianesi and a large box of his
electrical appliances. Merton rapidly told him all that he did not
already know through Mr. Macrae's telegrams. He was a reserved man,
rather young, and beyond thanking Merton, said little, but pushed on
towards Castle Skrae in the motor. 'Some other motors,' he said, 'had
arrived, and were being detained at Lairg.' They came later.

Merton and Logan followed in the tandem, Logan driving; they had handed
to Gianesi a sheaf of telegrams for the millionaire. As to the objects
of interest on the now familiar road, Merton enlightened Logan, who
seemed as absent-minded as Merton had been, when instructed by Dr.
MacTavish. As they approached the Castle, Merton observed, from a
height, the _Flora Macdonald_ steaming into the sea loch.

'Let us drive straight down to the cove and meet them,' he said.

They arrived at the cove just as the boat from the yacht touched the
shore. The Budes were astonished and delighted to see their old friend,
Logan, and his dog, Bouncer, a tawny black muzzled, bow-legged hero, was