The man seemed to be hit, for he spun round and clapped a hand to
his left arm. Then he fled through the door, which he left open.

Dickson was after him like a hound. At the door he saw him running
and raised his pistol for another shot. Then he dropped it, for he
saw something in the crouching, dodging figure which was familiar.

"A mistake," he explained to Jaikie when he returned. "But the shot
wasn't wasted. I've just had a good try at killing the factor!"



CHAPTER X


DEALS WITH AN ESCAPE AND A JOURNEY


Five scouts' lanterns burned smokily in the ground room of the
keep when Dickson ushered his charges through its cavernous door.
The lights flickered in the gusts that swept after them and whistled
through the slits of the windows, so that the place was full
of monstrous shadows, and its accustomed odour of mould and disuse
was changed to a salty freshness. Upstairs on the first floor
Thomas Yownie had deposited the ladies' baggage, and was busy
making beds out of derelict iron bedsteads and the wraps brought
from their room. On the ground floor on a heap of litter covered
by an old scout's blanket lay Heritage, with Dougal in attendance.

The Chieftain had washed the blood from the Poet's brow, and the