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  CHAPTER V

  SUSPENSE

  All crowded into the hall, where Mr. Stewart was standing with an opentelegram in his hand.

  The laird was looking very grave.

  'Most unfortunate,' he said. 'Neil has done a very foolish thing. Hehas broken out of the County Gaol and disappeared. I regret extremelythat it should have happened. It will prejudice many people againsthim.'

  Mrs. Stewart was looking extremely concerned; and the young peoplecrowded together in speechless dismay.

  'Puir Neil,' said Duncan in the background, 'he said he would not go toEdinburgh to pring disgrace on his family whateffer.'

  'He would have done far better to have gone up for his trial,' said Mr.Stewart.--'Good morning, Dr. MacGregor'--for the doctor had come in tohear the news, having been summoned from a visit in theneighbourhood--'unfortunate affair this; it's a pity Neil couldn't havebeen more patient.'

  The doctor read the telegram and looked extremely disappointed.

  'Foolish fellow!' he exclaimed. 'If the lad was innocent he shouldhave stayed to see the thing out; he has only made things a dozen timesworse for himself by doing this.'

  'But, Father,' said Marjorie, 'Neil couldn't have taken the letters;they are sure to find out that he is innocent.'

  The doctor was looking angry.

  'He has made it far more difficult for his friends to see him through,'he declared. 'Foolish, foolish lad; I have no patience with him;' andthe doctor strode out of the hall and away to his gig with adisappointed expression of countenance.

  Mrs. Stewart looked kindly at the dismayed faces of the young people.

  'I am sure,' she said, 'that Neil did not realise what he was doing,'and here she looked at her husband; 'he was hurt and disappointed atfinding that some of the people were able to believe that he could havedone such a thing, and that made him think that he might not getjustice. It is a great pity, but those who have known Neil all hislife would never believe him capable of dishonesty.'

  'Of course not,' said the laird kindly, 'and I only regret that Neildid not wait to see the thing out, as I am convinced that some evidencewould have turned up which would have {74} enabled us to prove hisinnocence. As it is, he remains under a cloud, and it will be a greatgrief to his mother.'

  The young people went out, feeling very much discouraged, and wandereddown to the seashore, Laddie following with drooping ears and tail.Mechanically they seated themselves upon the beach to discuss theposition of affairs, but no one seemed to have anything to suggest.

  'Well,' said Marjorie at last, digging holes in the sand with asharp-pointed shell; 'what are we to do now?'

  Allan pushed his cap on to the back of his head, and Reggie lookedthoughtful; but they did not reply.

  It was a beautiful morning, and the distant hills showed the firstflush of heather where the light fell upon them. Right in front thewaves were glancing like silver, and beyond the ripples the island ofthe Den stood out invitingly clear.

  Tricksy, who had been gazing wistfully across the water, suddenlymelted into tears.

  'All our fun spoilt,' she said, with the big drops rolling down herface; 'what a horrid, horrid summer we are going to have, and poorNeil----

  'Buck up, Tricksy,' said Allan; 'the bottom hasn't tumbled out of theUniverse yet.'

  Laddie, who had been looking with a concerned expression at his youngfriends, rose up and thrust his nose under Tricksy's hand, wagging histail in an encouraging manner.

  'Good old dog, good Laddie,' said Allan, patting the dog's rough coat;'he is telling us that we must not give in.'

  Laddie pricked up his ears, and went from one to another of the group,endeavouring to rouse them from their despondency.

  'Poor Laddie, good Laddie,' said Marjorie, caressing him and feeling alump in her throat.

  'Laddie, dear, don't lick me in the face--you're knocking me over,Laddie!' cried Tricksy, as her big pet became more demonstrative.

  When Laddie had been induced to sit down, which he did with theexpression of a dog convinced that his endeavours had been crowned withsuccess, Allan resumed: 'Well, we must remember that we've made acompact, and we've got to stick to it and help Neil somehow, althoughit looks pretty difficult at present.'

  A murmur of approval went round the group.

  'Yes,' said Tricksy, sitting with knitted brows; 'but we don't seem tobe doing anything.'

  The others were silent.

  'What would you have us do, Tricksy?' inquired Allan.

  'Do? I'd do something.'

  'Well?'

  Tricksy's face puckered again.

  'I'd catch some of the people.'

  'Well, Tricksy, and how?'

  'I'd dig holes for them to fall into.'

  Reggie uttered a contemptuous 'humph.'

  'You'd dig holes for them, would you, Tricksy, said Allan; 'how couldyou tell whether you had caught the right one?'

  'I'd catch them all until I came to the right one. I'd make them tellme what they'd been doing, and then let the wrong one go.'

  No one had any reply to make.

  Tricksy looked extremely mortified.

  'Well, anyhow,' said Allan, springing to his feet, 'we aren't doingNeil any good by sitting here; let's go to Rob MacLean's cottage andsee whether he can help us.'

  Rob MacLean was Neil's second cousin, and the proposition met withapproval.

  The short, black-haired Highlander was working in his garden, and cameforward to greet his visitors with true Gaelic courtesy.

  'How do you do, young ladies and gentlemen?' he said; 'it iss ferryproud to see you that I am. Come in, and it is ferry pleased thatMistress MacLean will pe.'

  In the dark, smoky hut the party were accommodated with seats, and Mrs.MacLean went to fetch milk and oat-cakes according to Highland ideas ofhospitality.

  'You will pe out early,' said Rob MacLean. 'Ferry fine day this, andexercise iss good for the health.'

  'Yes, Mr. MacLean,' said Allan abruptly; 'we came to speak to you aboutNeil.'

  Instantly the Highlander's countenance underwent a change.

  'You hev?' he said. 'Poor Neil, it iss a ferry bad business whateffer;a ferry bad business for the puir lad.'

  'Yes,' replied Allan, 'of course we don't believe that Neil hadanything to do with robbing the post-office.'

  'That iss right, Master Allan; that is right,' said the Highlander.'No, puir lad; no one who will pe knowing him will hev been pelievingthat of him; and it wass ferry hard that efferything went against himat the trial, whateffer.'

  'Well, Mr. MacLean, we came to see whether you could help us,' saidAllan; 'we have made a compact, and promised not to rest until we havefound out that Neil didn't really do it, and have him brought homeagain.'

  'Proud to hear you say so, Mr. Allan;' broke out the Highlander; 'andhev you ahl made a compact, the young ladies too?'

  'Yes,' replied Tricksy, dimpling; 'we are all in it; Marjorie and I,and even Laddie.--Down, Laddie; don't jump up on me,' as the collie,who had been sitting with an amiable expression in the centre of thegroup, sprang up and put one paw on her knee.

  'Ferry proud indeed that you should hev done so,' repeated Mr.MacLean.--'My tear,' he added, turning to his wife, who had re-enteredthe cottage with a pitcher of milk; 'these young ladies and gentlemenwill hev been making a compact that they will help Neil, and prove thathe hass not committed the robbery.'

  The woman, who knew very little English, replied in Gaelic, and theyoung folk took up that language, somewhat to the relief of MacLean,who prided himself on his knowledge of the Saxon tongue but found iteasier to sustain a conversation in his own.

  'That would be a great comfort to Neil, did he only know of it, and tohis mother too,' he said. 'Poor lad, I wish we could send him amessage.'

  'Does any one know where he has gone?' inquired Reggie.

  'Some one must know, Master Reggie, since he could hardly have gotclear away without help; but we do not know how he managed his escape.Some say
that he went away with the gipsies that left Inchkerra the dayof the trial, for they put in at Stornwell harbour that same night; andothers think that it was smugglers who helped him. He will no doubttry to escape to America; but the poor lad stands a thousand chances ofbeing caught before he gets there.'

  'Oh, I hope not,' cried the girls.

  'I don't know, young ladies. If there was any chance of his beingcleared, it might be better for him to stand his trial. It is a verystrange thing indeed, how everything seemed to point to his beingguilty.'

  'Then do you think some one has been trying to make him appear so?'

  'I don't know, Master Reggie. It is very mysterious indeed who canhave done it. The police made an inspection of the gipsy camp, butthere seemed to be no evidence against them. Well, we are all verypleased that you are so kindly disposed towards Neil, and we can onlyhope that you or some one else may be able to find out who really didit. If you must go, young ladies and gentlemen, will you not look inat Mrs. Macdonnell's cottage and tell her that you have resolved tohelp Neil? Poor soul, she is very sorrowful, and it might comfort herto know what true friends her son has.'

  'Do you think she would care to be disturbed to-day?' said Marjorie,somewhat doubtfully.

  'I think she would be very glad to see you, Miss Marjorie, when youcome on such an errand.'

  Mrs. MacLean said nothing; but she filled the young people's pocketswith oat-cakes, and stood watching them as they walked soberly alongthe path.

  'It's too late to go to Mrs. Macdonnell before dinner-time,' saidAllan, who seemed to be glad of an excuse to postpone so trying aninterview. 'You'd better come with us, Hamish and Marjorie; it'shalf-past twelve now; much too late for you to go home.'

  Places were found for the MacGregors at the hospitable table ofArdnavoir; and after dinner, Tricksy drew her mother aside, whileMarjorie lingered to hear what Mrs. Stewart would say.

  'Mummie,' said Tricksy, 'Rob MacLean wants us to go and see Mrs.Macdonnell and tell her that we don't believe that Neil stole theletters. Do you think we can go?'

  'Perhaps you might, as Rob wishes you to do so,' replied her mother.'Don't stay long, and don't talk much, for, poor woman, this has been aterrible blow to her. Give her your message, and then say good-bye.'

  'Do you think we need to go too?' said Allan, as the young people werediscussing their intention.

  'Of course we must all be there,' declared Marjorie; 'it will encourageher when she sees that we have all joined the compact.'

  'Whatever are you doing that for?' asked Allan, when he saw his littlesister gathering flowers in the garden.

  'They are for Mrs. Macdonnell,' said Tricksy, looking up with her soft,dark eyes; 'I think she would be glad if we brought her some.'

  Allan said nothing, and Reggie's dark face looked approving.

  A walk of a mile or two brought the young folk to the heather-roofedcottage where Mrs. Macdonnell lived. A dog rushed out and barked, butwagged his tail when he saw who the visitors were.

  'Neil's dog,' said Allan; 'look how he speaks to Laddie. Poor Jock;poor old fellow; come here.'

  'Where's your master, Jock; where's Neil?' said Reggie in a low voice,as the dog came up to be petted.

  They knocked at the outer door, but there was no answer. After amoment's hesitation, they pushed it open and knocked at the door of thekitchen.

  'Come in,' said a faint voice; and they entered.

  A woman was sitting by the peat fire, with her neglected spinning-wheelbeside her. She was strikingly handsome, in spite of her mournfulexpression and dejected attitude. Her black hair, as yet only slightlytouched with grey waved on either side of a broad low forehead, and shehad a straight nose like Neil's and a beautifully shaped face; but theeyes which she raised at the children's entrance were full of sorrow.

  The boys hung about the doorway, and Marjorie felt a lump in herthroat; but Tricksy advanced courageously.

  'How do you do, Mrs. Macdonnell?' she said, with a little gurgle in hervoice, that expressed more than she had the power to say in words.'Mother said we might come and see you; and we thought you might likesome flowers.'

  'Eh, Miss Tricksy, what a pretty posy! It wass ferry good of you tocome. Tek a seat, Miss Marjorie. Will you be finding places, younggentlemen?'

  'I hope you are pretty well, Mrs. Macdonnell?' said Marjorie, in avoice which she could not keep from trembling a little.

  'Pretty fair, thank you, Miss Marjorie,' replied Mrs. Macdonnell, whileReggie and Hamish sat very stiffly upon their chairs, and Allan hadmuch ado to keep from fidgeting.

  'We thought you would like to know, Mrs. Macdonnell,' began Tricksy;'Bob MacLean said we might tell you; we wanted to say--Allan does, andwe all do--that we _know_ Neil couldn't have done such a thing, and wehave made a compact, all of us--Marjorie and Hamish and Euan Macdonnelltoo--that we will never rest until we find out that he didn't do it,and bring him home again. I thought you would be glad, Mrs.Macdonnell; for Allan and Hamish are going to try very hard, and Euanwill do his best to help us.'

  Mrs. Macdonnell's eyes glistened.

  'It iss ferry good of you ahl, I am sure,' she said; then after a pauseshe added, 'Indeed it is proud I am to know that my puir laddie----'

  Her voice became husky and then failed; and feeling that the interviewhad lasted long enough, the girls kissed her and they all took leave,wondering whether they had done harm or good by their visit.

  'One thing we might do,' said Allan, after they had trudged for awhilein a somewhat uncomfortable silence, 'we might take a look at AndrewMacPeters.'

  'Yes, let's get something done,' said Reggie; 'where do you think weshall find him?'

  'I heard that he was cutting peats on the hillside,' said Allan; 'isn'tthat a cart over there, and two men stacking peats?'

  'Yes, that is Andrew MacPeters,' said Reggie, when they had advanced alittle nearer; 'the red-headed man on this side.'

  'Fine day, young ladies and gentlemen,' said the farther-away man; butAndrew only gave them a sidelong look out of his red-lidded eyes.

  'Fine day,' replied Allan civilly; then they all stood still and lookedat Andrew, who went on stolidly with his work.

  'Let's come to the post-office now,' said Allan, and they all trudgedaway.

  'Eh, young ladies and gentlemen, pleased to see you,' said Mrs.MacAlister in her lilting Gaelic; 'eh, but it's been a weary businesssince you were here last! Poor Neil, poor laddie!'

  'Yes, Mrs. MacAlister,' said Marjorie; 'and of course we are all quitesure that Neil had nothing to do with it.'

  'So are we all, Miss Marjorie; but the hard thing is to prove it.Things looked very black against him when the order came out of thepoor lad's very letter, and he the only person who had been in thehouse that night. Wait a bit, young ladies and gentlemen, and I'llfetch my husband; he's been bad with the rheumatism but he's working inthe garden now,' and the good woman departed, leaving the field clearfor the young people.

  'Look,' said Allan, 'there are the letters lying on the table. They'vebeen taken out of the box, and they're waiting now until Mrs.MacAlister is ready to stamp them. The door's open, and any one cancome in and out. It wouldn't be difficult to rob a post-office likethis!'

  Just then the door opened, and Andrew MacPeters came slouching in,looking very awkward when he saw who were in the shop. The visitorsall watched him as he made his way clumsily across the room to fetchsomething that he wanted; and when he came near the table Reggie saidsuddenly, 'Been taking anything from here lately, Andrew?'

  The man looked at him with a surly gleam in his eyes but did notanswer. After a minute or two he went out, all eyes following himcuriously.

  'There,' said Reggie triumphantly, 'did you see what a bad consciencehe has?' and they all looked at each other in silent assent.

  Declining Mrs. MacAlister's invitation to stay to tea, they trooped outof the post-office.

  'We'll watch that man,' said Reggie, and Tricksy began to walk on thetips of her toes
in anticipation.

  'Hulloa, young people, glad I've overtaken you,' said the doctor'svoice behind them. 'It's just going to pour with rain, and you're dueat my house to tea, I believe. It's lucky I have the closed carriage;jump in as many of you as it will hold, and the rest of you can sit onthe box.'

  By the time the doctor's house was reached the rain had stopped, andthe sun was peeping out again. A scrap of white paper fluttering onthe ruins attracted Reggie's attention, and he ran across the garden,climbed the wall, and captured it.

  After looking at it he gave a violent start, then ran towards the house.

  'It's a postal order,' he said, giving it to the doctor; 'what's themeaning of this?'

  All clustered round, and the doctor took the piece of paper andexamined it.

  'Strange thing,' he exclaimed; 'this order bears the number of one ofthose that went missing on the night of the robbery. How did it comethere? It's wet with the rain, but not very dirty; probably hasn'tbeen there long. This ought to shed some fresh light upon the case.I'll have the police to make a thorough search of the ruins.'