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 assurance of ultimate success. Providence had directly interfered
on his behalf by the hand of Wee Jaikie, and that surely meant
that it would see him through. But his chief emotion was an
ardour of impatience to get to the scene of action. He must be at