t. What would whaups be doin' on the shore at this time of
year?"

"A' the same, I could swear it's whaups, Sir Erchibald."

Then Dougal broke in and his voice was excited. It's no' whaups.
That's our patrol signal. Man, there's hope for us yet. I believe
it's the polis.' His words were unheeded, for the figures below drew
apart and a young man came through them. His beautifully-shaped dark
head was bare, and as he moved he unbuttoned his oilskins and showed
the trim dark-blue garb of the yachtsman. He walked confidently up the
stairs, an odd elegant figure among his heavy companions.

"Good afternoon, Alexis," he said in English. "I think we may now
regard this interesting episode as closed. I take it that you
surrender. Saskia, dear, you are coming with me on a little journey.
Will you tell my men where to find your baggage?"

The reply was in Russian. Alexis' voice was as cool as the other's,
and it seemed to wake him to anger. He replied in a rapid torrent of
words, and appealed to the men below, who shouted back. The flare was
dying down, and shadows again hid most of the hall.

Dougal crept up behind Sir Archie. "Here, I think it's the polis.
They're whistlin' outbye, and I hear folk cryin' to each other--no' the
foreigners."

Again Alexis spoke, and then Saskia joined in. What she said rang
sharp with contempt, and her fingers played with her little pistol.

Suddenly before the young man could answer Dobson bustled toward him.
The innkeeper was labouring under some strong emotion, for he seemed to
be pleading and pointing urgently towards the door.

"I tell ye it's the polis," whispered Dougal. "They're nickit."

There was a swaying in the crowd and anxious faces. Men surged in,
whispered, and went out, and a clamour arose which the leader stilled
with a fierce gesture.

"You there," he cried, looking up, "you English. We mean you no ill,
but I require you to hand over to me the lady and the Russian who is
with her. I give you a minute by my watch to decide. If you refuse,
my men are behind you and around you, and you go with me to be punished
at my leisure."

"I warn you," cried Sir Archie. "We are armed, and will shoot down any
one who dares to lay a hand on us."

"You fool," came the answer. "I can send you all to eternity before
you touch a trigger."

Leon was by his side now--Leon and Spidel, imploring him to do
something which he angrily refused. Outside there was a new