addies could have stuck to them and followed them up till
help came. It can't be such an easy job to carry a young lady against
her will along Scotch roads. But the sea's a different matter. If
they've got a fast boat they could be out of the Firth and away beyond
the law before we could wake up a single policeman. Ay, and even if
the Government took it up and warned all the ports and ships at sea,
what's to hinder them to find a hidy-hole about Ireland--or Norway? I
tell you, it's a far more desperate business than I thought, and it'll
no' do to wait on and trust that the Chief Constable will turn up afore
the mischief's done."

"The moral," said Heritage, "is that there can be no surrender. We've
got to stick it out in this old place at all costs."

"No," said Dickson emphatically. "The moral is that we must shift the
ladies. We've got the chance while Dobson and his friends are locked
up. Let's get them as far away as we can from the sea. They're far
safer tramping the moors, and it's no' likely the new folk will dare to
follow us."

"But I cannot go." Saskia, who had been listening intently, shook her
head. "I promised to wait here till my friend came. If I leave I shall
never find him."

"If you stay you certainly never will, for you'll be away with the
ruffians. Take a sensible view, Mem. You'll be no good to your friend
or your friend to you if before night you're rocking in a ship."

The girl shook her head again, gently but decisively. "It was our
arrangement. I cannot break it. Besides, I am sure that he will come
in time, for he has never failed---"

There was a desperate finality about the quiet tones and the weary face
with the shadow of a smile on it.

Then Heritage spoke. "I don't think your plan will quite do, Dogson.
Supposing we all break for the hinterland and the Danish brig finds the
birds flown, that won't end the trouble. They will get on the
Princess's trail, and the whole persecution will start again. I want to
see things brought to a head here and now. If we can stick it out here
long enough, we may trap the whole push and rid the world of a pretty
gang of miscreants. Let them show their hand, and then, if the police
are here by that time, we can jug the lot for piracy or something
worse."

"That's all right," said Dougal, "but we'd put up a better fight if we
had the women off our mind. I've aye read that when a castle was going
to be besieged the first thing was