'Why, bustle about until we find out who stole the letters. Here we are, and we find little bits of paper which ought to tell us something if we had any sense, but we don't get further. Seven of us and we can't help poor Neil when he is in trouble.' Nobody seemed to have anything to say, and Tricksy burst out again-- 'You say you know who was the real thief?' 'We think we do, Tricksy,' interposed Hamish; 'but we don't know for certain.' 'Then why don't we make sure?' 'How would you do it, Tricksy?' asked Allan, while the others trudged steadily onwards. 'Why, watch him wherever he goes; and we'd soon find out where he kept the papers if he had taken them.' There was no answer for a moment. Then Allan said gravely, 'That wouldn't be honourable, Tricksy. We must play fair, you know.' 'Honourable! Honourable to a thief!--But yes, of course we must. Well, I don't know what's to be done then,' and Tricksy concluded by a big sigh. When the coastguard station came in view a man was standing at the gate, scanning the road with a telescope. Upon catching sight of the young people he lowered the glass and came forward. 'Euan Macdonnell,' said Reggie, quickening his pace; 'let's hear whether he has any news.' 'I was on the lookout for you, young ladies and gentlemen,' said Euan. 'We've just got a telephone message from the Corrachin lighthouse sent by Rob MacLean. We were to tell you that Neil has reached the caves and is safe for the meanwhile, and he supposes that you, young ladies and gentlemen, have remembered the message to his mother.' 'If only Andrew hasn't seen him,' said Marjorie after the first exclamations of thankfulness. Euan looked grave as he heard how Andrew had witnessed the landing. 'I don't trust that fellow for an instant,' he said. 'He would think nothing of putting the police on the alert if he had a mind to. We can only hope that he hasn't recognised Neil, or that Rob will find a way of getting the poor lad out of the island before any harm comes.' When the young people had reached Ardnavoir, weary and discouraged, Mr. Stewart was in the hall. 'I know who was with you this morning,' he said abruptly. 'Was it by accident that you met?' 'Yes,' said Allan. 'Your boat was stranded on the Reachin Skerry,' went on Mr. Stewart, 'and the men have brought her home. You may have the use of her again.' 'Thank you, Father,' said Allan. They all scanned Mr. Stewart's face to read, if possible, his intentions regarding Neil; but nothing was to be gathered. 'Isn't Father a dear?' said Tricksy, when they had wandered out to the cricket-ground. 'He knows we couldn't betray our friend, not even for him.' 'Yes,' said Reggie; 'but the question is whether he will have to do something himself, since he's a J.P.' The question was not answered that day, and during the next they were still in ignorance.