'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 could you tell whether you had caught the right one?' 'I'd catch them all until I came to the right one. I'd make them tell me 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 doing Neil any good by sitting here; let's go to Rob MacLean's cottage and see whether he can help us.' Rob MacLean was Neil's second cousin, and the proposition met with approval. The short, black-haired Highlander was working in his garden, and came forward to greet his visitors with true Gaelic courtesy. 'How do you do, young ladies and gentlemen?' he said; 'it iss ferry proud to see you that I am. Come in, and it is ferry pleased that Mistress 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 of hospitality. 'You will pe out early,' said Rob MacLean. 'Ferry fine day this, and exercise iss good for the health.' 'Yes, Mr. MacLean,' said Allan abruptly; 'we came to speak to you about Neil.' 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 had anything 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 pelieving that of him; and it wass ferry hard that efferything went against him at the trial, whateffer.' 'Well, Mr. MacLean, we came to see whether you could help us,' said Allan; 'we have made a compact, and promised not to rest until we have found out that Neil didn't really do it, and have him brought home again.' 'Proud to hear you say so, Mr. Allan;' broke out the Highlander; 'and hev 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 the group, 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-entered the cottage with a pitcher of milk; 'these young ladies and gentlemen will hev been making a compact that they will help Neil, and prove that he hass not committed the robbery.'