"You did?" screamed Strange. "But this is open treason, Major Fraser." "No," said Castleleathers stoutly, "oh no, I assure you there is no more loyal servant of the King than I. But I saw no service that he could render Rob, except to endanger him as an associate of a notorious Jacobite." "Indeed," said Strange, "but Rob is none so far removed from that himsel'. He is like enough to take the place of the hanged one above ye, Major Fraser." "Pardon me, no," replied Castleleathers blandly, "here I have a pardon for Rob signed by the Duke himsel'." "It's a forgery," cried Strange hotly, "let me see it." "In my hands, Captain Strange--no, stand back a wee--hold the light higher, now can ye see? Will you dispute that, my man? There is his royal signature, bless him!" Strange eyed it gloomily. "There is something queer about this," he said. "I will see the Duke." Castleleathers smiled. "All the way to London?" he asked. "The Duke will not thank ye." Over their heads the haunted chains jingled merrily. It must have been a rare joke to send them clinking like that. Suddenly from the ends of nowhere there was a sound like a smothered laugh. "What was that?" whispered Strange, looking furtively about. "I heard nothing," replied Castleleathers, then starting to his feet, "but surely there is the noise of a horse." "A horse," said Strange, "who knows it may be Muckle John himself." "No," corrected Castleleathers composedly, "no, I think not. I think--in fact I am sure--it is my wife." "Your wife!" cried Rob, who had worked the gag out at last, and who had been apparently overlooked in the discussion. Castleleathers switched about. "Bless us," he said, "I had clean forgotten ye, Rob, you were so quiet. What's amiss with you?" "I am bound hand and foot." "Mercy me," said Castleleathers, "but you have a queer way with you, Captain Strange. There ye are, Rob," and he set him free, "and now what's there so wonderful in my having a wife? She's your ain aunt Macpherson. It's my nephew ye are, Rob, and if I ever hear of this Jacobite business again I'll skelp ye mair than she ever did, poor woman." It was indeed Miss Macpherson (or rather Mrs. James Fraser of Castleleathers), and at the sight of her Strange bowed very coldly, remembering the escape from Fort Augustus, and calling his men disappeared towards Edinburgh. "Sit ye doon a moment," said Castleleathers, "though it's a dreary enough place for family reunions." But Rob only stared out to sea where the moon was pouring a broad pathway of silver upon the quivering water. "Did Muckle John not give ye a message for me?" he asked. "It will be long ere we see him again." Castleleathers took a keek over his shoulder. "To be honest, Rob," he said, "I never saw him at all. Maybe he's coming or maybe he is no sae far off as ye think."