After this arrangements were perfected--made sure--for the conveying to our hero of intelligence of Tryon’s reappearance at the Cove; and then they separated, Donald and his nephew returning to the landing, while Maitland took his way toward the village, and the inn. Martin Vanyard, fifty years of age, fat, rosy and robust, loved the handsome son of Hugh Maitland almost as though he had been of his own flesh and blood; and he declared he’d heard nothing for years that had pleased him so much as had Percy’s proposal to take up his quarters beneath his roof. “Bless yer dear heart! I’ll make ye as comfortable as a prince! Ye’ll come to-day?” “Yes. We’ll begin with this morning’s breakfast.” Toward the middle of the forenoon Margery Maitland was considerably surprised by the appearance of a cart, drawn by a single horse, before her door; and a few moments later Percy entered the room where she stood. “Percy! What does this mean?” She was trembling at every joint, and her face had turned pale. “It means, mother,” the son promptly answered, “that I have at length carried into execution a plan which I have for several weeks contemplated.” “You’re going to leave me?” “Yes. I have engaged quarters with Vanyard at the village inn. I got my breakfast there.” “Percy! You needn’t tell me! This is thought of suddenly. You didn’t dream of it when you came home last evening.” “Never mind, mother. I dreamed of it during the night and this morning resolved to act.” “Percy! You--” He advanced and laid a hand on her shoulder, and looked straight into her shrinking, cowering eyes. “Margery Maitland! if you will leave the cause between us exactly where it is, I will do the same. If you force me to speak further, I shall speak that which you will not care to hear. Be wise and let it rest as it is. Be sure of one thing, if ever you suffer harm in life, if calamity of any kind shall befall you, it shall not be from me. I can not forget you are my mother. Mother! Mother! My last word to you shall be, from the very depths of my heart, God bless and keep you now and evermore!” Half an hour later the cart had gone, bearing away Percy and all his personal possessions; and Margery Maitland, having gazed after it until it had gone from sight, for the first time since her husband died sat down and wept bitter tears. ------- CHAPTER XV. CONSTERNATION AT THE CASTLE--FRIGHT AT THE LANDING. Two days passed after our hero’s removal to the inn, and not a sign from old Donald. Percy had visited the castle and reported progress to the earl. He told how the pirate chief had been arrested, and how he had made his escape with two bullets in his arm. “He must have had help,” said the old nobleman, “or the officers who took him did not wish to keep him. The story sounds to me like a fable of his own invention. You say he is trying to make his men your enemies?”