up to the Hoose and tell Dobson, and
me and Sim and Hob will meet the boats at the Garplefit."

The other cast a glance towards Dickson.

"What about him?" he asked.

The two scrutinized their prisoner from a distance of a few paces.
Dickson, well aware of his peril, held himself as stiff as if every
bond had been in place. The thought flashed on him that if he were too
immobile they might think he was dying or dead, and come close to
examine him. If they only kept their distance, the dusk of the wood
would prevent them detecting Jaikie's handiwork.

"What'll you take to let me go?" he asked plaintively.

"Naething that you could offer, my mannie," said Ecky.

"I'll give you a five-pound note apiece."

"Produce the siller," said the other.

"It's in my pocket."

"It's no' that. We riped your pooches lang syne."

"I'll take you to Glasgow with me and pay you there. Honour bright."

Ecky spat. "D'ye think we're gowks? Man, there's no siller ye could
pay wad mak' it worth our while to lowse ye. Bide quiet there and
ye'll see some queer things ere nicht. C'way, Davie."

The two set off at a good pace down the stream, while Dickson's pulsing
heart returned to its normal rhythm. As the sound of their feet died
away Wee Jaikie crawled out from cover, dry-eyed now and very
business-like. He slit the last thongs, and Dickson fell limply on his
face.

"Losh, laddie, I'm awful stiff," he groaned. "Now, listen. Away all
your pith to Dougal, and tell him that the brig's in and the men will
be landing inside the hour. Tell him I'm coming as fast as my legs
will let me. The Princess will likely be there already and Sir
Archibald and his men, but if they're no', tell Dougal they're coming.
Haste you, Jaikie. And see here, I'll never forget what you've done
for me the day. You're a fine wee laddie!"

The obedient Die-Hard disappeared, and Dickson painfully and
laboriously set himself to climb the slope. He decided that his
quickest and safest route lay by the highroad, and he had also some
hopes of recovering his bicycle. On examining his body he seemed to
have sustained no very great damage, except a painful cramping of legs
and arms and a certain dizziness in the head. His pockets had been
thoroughly rifled, and he reflected with amusement that he, the
well-to-do Mr. McCunn, did not possess at the moment a single copper.

But his spirits were soaring, for somehow his escape had given him an
assuran