At one and the same moment Margot and the Editor ducked their heads, and scrambled backwards for a distance of two or three yards. There was a moment's silence, then instinctively their eyes met. Margot pressed her lips tightly together, George Elgood frowned, but it was all in vain; no power on earth could prevent the mischievous dimples from dipping in her cheeks; no effort could hide the twinkle in his eyes--they buried their heads in their hands, and shook with laughter! When at last composure was regained, George Elgood pulled his watch from his pocket, glanced at the time, and cried eagerly-- "There is still an hour before we need be back for dinner. As well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb. Let us go back to the river, and try our luck once more!" CHAPTER NINETEEN. A TELEGRAM. It was a very shamefaced Margot who made her appearance at the dinner- table that evening; but, to her unspeakable relief, she found that there was no cause for embarrassment. Instead of the meaning glances and joking remarks which she had dreaded, she was greeted with the ordinary kindly prosaic welcome, and not even Mrs Macalister herself ventured an innuendo. The Chieftain was the only one who alluded to the non- appearance of the searchers, and the manner in which he did so was a triumph of the commonplace. "Muddled up that hide-and-seek finely, didn't we?" he cried cheerily. "Afraid you had all your trouble for nothing. I happened to catch a glimpse of you heading off in the wrong direction, so turned into `It' myself, and rooted them all out of their lairs. Then we played some sensible, middle-aged, sitting-down games, and strolled home in time for a siesta before dinner. Very good picnic, I call it. Great success! We'll have another, one of these fine days." "'Deed yes, and we will!" assented Mrs Macalister genially. "It stirs a body up to have an outing now and then. I was thinking, why shouldn't we drive over to B-- and see the old castle and all the sights? I've been hankering to go ever since we arrived; but it mounts up when you drive about by yourselves. If we shared two carriages between us, it would make all the difference, and it seems foolish-like to be in a neighbourhood and not see what there is to be seen. You can get carriages from Rew, they tell me, if you order them a day or two before." To the amazement of the company, it was George Elgood of all others who hastened to second the proposal. "A capital idea!" he cried. "B-- is one of the finest old ruins in Scotland. Of course we must go; it would be worse than foolish to go home without seeing it. I have been before, so I could act as guide, and those who possess cameras had better take them also, as the place is rich in subjects."