For there were several possibilities. The trackers might mark down the locality where the prisoner was hidden. Cathcart might, before this, come with the list of manses and their occupants. Adams or Montgomery might get wind of the _Seagull_; for Montgomery had already orders to go to Petershead and Fraserburgh, where the smacks for the summer fishing were gathered. Don Bernardino remained with me at Crom. CHAPTER XLV DANGER The time of waiting was inconceivably long and dreary. When Marjory and I had been waiting for death in the water-cave, we thought that nothing could be so protracted; but now I knew better. Then, we had been together, and whatever came, even death itself, would be shared by us. But now I was alone; and Marjory away, and in danger. In what danger I knew not, I could only imagine; and at every new thought of fear and horror I ground my teeth afresh and longed for action. Fortunately there was something to do. The detectives wanted to know all I could tell them. At the first, the chief had asked that Mrs. Jack would get all the servants of the house together so that he might see them. She had so arranged matters that they would be together in the servants' hall, and he went down to inspect. He did not stay long; but came back to me at once with an important look on his face. He closed the door and coming close to me said: "I knew there was something wrong below stairs! That footman has skipped!" For a few seconds I did not realise what he meant, and asked him to explain. "That footman that went out gallavantin' at nights. He's in it, sure. Why isn't he in the hall where the others are? Just you ask the old lady about him. It'll be less suspicious than me doing it." Then it dawned on me what he meant. "There is no footman in the house!" I said. "That's so, Mister. That's just what I'm tellin'! Where is he?" "There is none; they don't have any male servants in the house. The only men are in the stables in the village." "Then that makes it worse still. There is a man who I've seen myself steal out of the house after dark, or in the dusk; and sneak back again out of the wood in the grey of the dawn. Why, I've reported it to Mr. Adams. Didn't he warn you about it; he said he would." "He did that." "And didn't you take his tip?" "No!" here from the annoyed expression of his face I took warning. It would never do to chagrin the man and set him against me by any suspicion of ridicule. So I went on: "The fact is, my friend, that this was a disguise. It was Mar--Miss Drake who used it!" He was veritably surprised; his amazement was manifest in his words: "Miss Drake! And did she put on the John Thomas livery? In the name of thunder, why?" "To escape you!" "To escape me! Wall, I'm damned! That elegant young lady to put on livery; and to escape me!"