Allan put his hands in his pockets and reflected; then he consulted Reggie with a look, after which he turned to Hamish. 'Perhaps we might as well tell them,' he said, and the others consented. 'Well, Graham major and Graham minor,' he began, to the boys who were waiting expectantly; 'we are very much bothered about a friend of ours;' and he told them about the robbery of the post-office and Neil's flight, while the boys listened with wide-open mouths, throwing themselves about and uttering exclamations of interest. 'You say that you are quite sure he couldn't have taken the letters?' asked Harry, drawing himself into an upright position on the heather. 'Perfectly certain,' replied Allan. 'He would no more have done it than you or I. No one who knows him would believe such a thing of Neil.' 'Oh!' interposed Tricksy, in a shocked tone, 'I think Dr. MacGregor believed it.' Hamish became very red and Marjorie's lips tightened. 'And he's so awfully, awfully jolly,' pursued Harry. 'One of the very jolliest people we know,' answered Marjorie. 'Father doesn't really believe it of him. He did everything for us, and was up to all kinds of inventions. We don't seem to have any fun at all without him.' 'It's a most extraordinary story,' said Harry, jerking himself into a fresh attitude; and both the new boys sat and pondered. 'What do you say to letting them both join the Compact?' suggested Reggie. Marjorie's eyes said yes; and Hamish, whom Allan consulted with a look, gave a nod. 'What's that; a Compact?' inquired Harry eagerly. 'It's an agreement that we've all made,' said Allan, 'that we'll back Neil up, and show that he didn't commit the robbery.' 'Hooray, what fun,' said Harry; 'I'm game.' 'You might let Gerald join too,' cried Tricksy from where she sat beside her new friend; 'he's quite the right sort, and he only wants to learn a thing or two to be equal to any of us.' Gerald wriggled, and blushed to the roots of his golden hair. 'Well, then, you must do all you can to help us,' said Allan, 'and see whether you can find out who really did it.' 'All right,' said Harry; 'I'll help you to catch the thief.' 'And you must sign an agreement like the rest of us, and you can each have a copy to carry about with you always, as we do. See, this is the principal copy, that I have to take care of.' 'You can write it out now, with Allan's new fountain pen,' cried Tricksy; 'this flat stone will do for a desk, and I've got some pieces of paper that I've been carrying in my pocket in case we might find any new people to join our Compact;' and she produced with great gravity some crumpled sheets of note-paper, much soiled at the edges. 'All right,' said Allan, 'this is the agreement; "We hereby promise never to rest until we show that Neil is innocent and have him brought home again."'