the moon was setting, for the room was pitchy dark.

"The three o' them is approachin' the kitchen door," whispered
the Chieftain. "I seen them from a spy-hole I made out o' a ventilator."

"Is it barricaded?" asked Heritage, who had apparently not been asleep.

"Aye, but I've thought o' a far better plan. Why should we
keep them out? They'll be safer inside. Listen! We might manage
to get them in one at a time. If they can't get in at the kitchen
door, they'll send one o' them round to get in by another door and
open to them. That gives us a chance to get them separated, and
lock them up. There's walth o' closets and hidy-holes all over the
place, each with good doors and good keys to them. Supposin' we get
the three o' them shut up--the others, when they come, will have
nobody to guide them. Of course some time or other the three will
break out, but it may be ower late for them. At present we're
besieged and they're roamin' the country. Would it no' be far
better if they were the ones lockit up and we were goin' loose?"

"Supposing they don't come in one at a time?" Dickson objected.

"We'll make them," said Dougal firmly. "There's no time to waste.
Are ye for it?"

"Yes," said Heritage. "Who's at the kitchen door?"

"Peter Paterson. I told him no' to whistle, but to wait on me..
..Keep your boots off. Ye're better in your stockin' feet. Wait you
in the hall and see ye're well hidden, for likely whoever comes in