"I'm sure he won't do that," I asserted confidently. "And he may have some medical knowledge that will just shake the puzzle into place, and explain the whole mystery to us. It seems to me a most remarkable thing that these two strange affairs should have happened in exactly the same place. That it is some strange freak of nature I have no doubt, but I am absolutely at a loss to think what it can be." It can hardly be wondered at that, as I have said before, sleep and I were strangers that night, and I was glad enough when the time came for me to get up. Myra came down after breakfast, wonderfully brave and bright, but there was no sign whatever of her sight returning to her. The leave-taking was a wretched business, and I cannot dwell on it. Sandy started early to sail to Mallaig with the luggage, and we followed in the motor-boat, Angus at the engine, old Mary McNiven in the bows, while I took the tiller, and Myra lay on a pile of cushions at my feet, her head resting on my knee, her arm round Sholto's neck; for she had wanted the dog to see her off at the station. The old General managed to keep up a cheery manner as he said good-bye at the landing-stage, but he was looking so care-worn and haggard that I was glad that he had been persuaded not to come up to London with us. He was certainly not in a fit state for the fatigues of a long journey. As we passed Glasnabinnie the _Baltimore_ slid out from the side of the shed that stood on the edge of the miniature harbour which Nature had thoughtfully bestowed on the place. "I can hear a motor-boat," said Myra, suddenly sitting up. "Yes," I replied. "It's Hilderman's." "Is she ahead of us?" she asked. I looked round, and saw that the _Baltimore_ was putting out to round the point. "No, she's about level," I answered. "She's evidently making for Mallaig. We are, if anything, a little ahead, but they will soon pass us, I should think." "Oh, Ron," cried Myra, with childish excitement, "don't let them beat us. Angus, put some life into her. We _must_ make the harbour first." Angus did his best, and I set her course as near in shore as I dared on that treacherous coast. The _Baltimore_ glided out to sea with the easy grace of a powerful and beautiful animal, and as we passed the jagged promontory she was coming up about thirty yards behind us. "Challenge him, Ron," Myra exclaimed; "you've met him." I turned, and saw Hilderman and two other men in the boat, one a friend apparently, and the other the mechanic. I stood up and waved to him. "We'll race you to Mallaig," I shouted. "It's a bet," he agreed readily, at the top of his voice, waving back.