their claws was heard clearly in the still air. Dickson had almost
fallen asleep when a smothered exclamation from Heritage woke him to
attention. A girl had appeared in the verandah.

Above the parapet he saw only her body from the waist up.
She seemed to be clad in bright colours, for something red was
round her shoulders and her hair was bound with an orange scarf.
She was tall--that he could tell, tall and slim and very young.
Her face was turned seaward, and she stood for a little scanning the
broad channel, shading her eyes as if to search for something on the
extreme horizon. The air was very quiet and he thought that he
could hear her sigh. Then she turned and re-entered the House,
while Heritage by his side began to curse under his breathe with a
shocking fervour.


One of Dickson's troubles had been that he did not believe Dougal's
story, and the sight of the girl removed one doubt. That bright
exotic thing did not belong to the Cruives or to Scotland at all,
and that she should be in the House removed the place from the
conventional dwelling to which the laws against burglary applied.

There was a rustle among the rhododendrons and the fiery face of
Dougal appeared. He lay between the other two, his chin on his
hands, and grunted out his report.

"After they had their dinner Dobson and Lean yokit a horse and went
off to Auchenlochan. I seen them pass the Garple brig, so that's
two accounted for. Has Spittal been round here?"