never mind me."

"We go together," said the other quietly. "You can sit behind me and
hang on to my waist. Before you turned up I had pretty well got the
thing in order."

Dickson in a fever of impatience sat by while the Russian put the
finishing touches to the machine, and as well as his anxiety allowed
put him in possession of the main facts of the story. He told of how he
and Heritage had come to Dalquharter, of the first meeting with Saskia,
of the trip to Glasgow with the jewels, of the exposure of Loudon the
factor, of last night's doings in the House, and of the journey that
morning to the Mains of Garple. He sketched the figures on the
scene--Heritage and Sir Archie, Dobson and his gang, the Gorbals
Die-Hards. He told of the enemy's plans so far as he knew them.

"Looked at from a business point of view," he said, "the situation's
like this. There's Heritage in the Tower, with Dobson, Leon, and
Spidel sitting round him. Somewhere about the place there's the
Princess and Sir Archibald and three men with guns from the Mains.
Dougal and his five laddies are running loose in the policies. And
there's four tinklers and God knows how many foreign ruffians pushing
up from the Garplefoot, and a brig lying waiting to carry off the
ladies. Likewise there's the police, somewhere on the road, though the
dear kens when they'll turn up. It's awful the incompetence of our
Government, and the rates and taxes that high!... And there's you and
me by this roadside, and me no more use than a tattie-bogle.... That's
the situation, and the question is what's our plan to be? We must keep
the blagyirds in play till the police come, and at the same time we
must keep the Princess out of danger. That's why I'm wanting back, for
they've sore need of a business head. Yon Sir Archibald's a fine
fellow, but I doubt he'll be a bit rash, and the Princess is no' to
hold or bind. Our first job is to find Dougal and get a grip of the
facts."

"I am going to the Princess," said the Russian.

"Ay, that'll be best. You'll be maybe able to manage her, for you'll
be well acquaint."

"She is my kinswoman. She is also my affianced wife."

"Keep us!" Dickson exclaimed, with a doleful thought of Heritage. "What
ailed you then no' to look after her better?"

"We have been long separated, because it was her will. She had work to
do and disappeared from me, though I searched all Europe for her. Then
she sent me word, when the danger