For out of the twilight came a tall man walking at his leisure, and even before he spoke Rob knew him for Captain Strange. "Well," he said quietly, "so this is the end, Rob, and what a braw place to be sure. It was almost tempting providence with that clinking cratur to warn ye." He motioned to the men to leave them, and sitting down began to talk in an affable pleasant manner as though he were discussing the weather or the price of stocks. "Hark ye, Rob," he said, "I ken fine who ye're waiting for. It's Muckle John no less, and what I have in my mind I must say quickly. Now we want this little business carried through expeditiously and with discretion. We do not want any pranks, mind ye, and ye ken Muckle John as a man as full of tricks as a monkey. I want ye to sit here, Rob, until he comes, and promise me no to say a word to set him thinking. If ye carry this out I will say what I can for you when the time comes." "I will shout a warning while I have breath in my body," cried Rob. "Very good," replied Strange, "very good; in that case I will gag you surely enough, and here goes." With that he stuffed a pad of cloth into his mouth and fastened a bandage round his cheeks. Then springing to his feet he listened intently. Very faintly the sound of whistling drifted up from the sands. Up above the gibbet chains creaked to and fro, and in the tragic silence of the twilight the man came trudging to his doom. Strange darted into the dunes for his men: It was like to go hard with Muckle John. It was all over as the newcomer stooped over Rob. With a muffled shout he fell and rose again, and writhing spasmodically was stunned to silence. From the size of him Rob knew it could be none other than Muckle John. "A light!" cried Strange, in high glee over it all. They swung a lantern nearer and turned their prisoner over upon his back. And there, glaring up at them with apoplectic rage lay James Fraser of Castleleathers. It was a moment full of gall for Strange. As for Castleleathers, worthy man, being much bruised and scratched and with a bump like an egg on his head, it was a mercy that he had no breath to express his feelings on the matter. But when he did he only added to Strange's mortification. For on hearing of the plan to capture Muckle John which (being a professed Hanoverian) he could not criticize adversely, he expressed a deep regret that he had not beguiled the rebel with his conversation, having met him upon the road a mile back. "A mile back," cried Strange, "then he will come here yet." "No," said Castleleathers in his methodical tone, "no, I think not, for he has boarded a ship for France." Strange uttered an exclamation of disgust. "I told you he would throw you over, Rob, when the time came," said he with a sour look. Certainly it appeared like it. But Castleleathers had more to say. "Will you give me a hearin'," he broke in peevishly. "Muckle John would have come, but I counselled him not."