Merton and Logan followed in the tandem, Logan driving; they had handed to Gianesi a sheaf of telegrams for the millionaire.  As to the objects of interest on the now familiar road, Merton enlightened Logan, who seemed as absent-minded as Merton had been, when instructed by Dr. MacTavish.  As they approached the Castle, Merton observed, from a height, the Flora Macdonald steaming into the sea loch.

‘Let us drive straight down to the cove and meet them,’ he said.

They arrived at the cove just as the boat from the yacht touched the shore.  The Budes were astonished and delighted to see their old friend, Logan, and his dog, Bouncer, a tawny black muzzled, bow-legged hero, was admired by Lady Bude.

Merton rapidly explained.  ‘Now, what tidings?’ he asked.

The party walked aside on the shore, and Bude swiftly narrated what he had discovered.

‘They have been there,’ he said.  ’We drew six of the islets blank, including the islet of the lighthouse.  The men there had seen a large yacht, two ladies and a gentleman from it had visited them.  They knew no more.  Desert places, the other isles are, full of birds.  On the seventh isle we found some Highland fishermen from the Lewis in a great state of excitement.  They had only landed an hour before to pick up some fish they had left to dry on the rocks.  They had no English, but one of our crew had the Gaelic, and interpreted in Scots.  Regular Gaels, they did not want to speak, but I offered money, gold, let them see it.  Then they took us to a cave.  Do you know Mackinnon’s cave in Mull, opposite Iona?’

‘Yes, drive on!’ said Merton, much interested.

’Well, inside it was pitched an empty corrugated iron house, quite new, and another, on the further side, outside the cave.’

‘I picked up this in the interior of the cave,’ said Lady Bude.

‘This’ was a golden hair-pin of peculiar make.

‘That’s the kind of hair-pin she wears,’ said Lady Bude.

‘By Jove!’ said Merton and Logan in one voice.

‘But that was all,’ said Bude.  ’There was no other trace, except that plainly people had been coming and going, and living there.  They had left some empty bottles, and two intact champagne bottles.  We tasted it, it was excellent!  The Lewis men, who had not heard of the affair, could tell nothing more, except, what is absurd, that they had lately seen a dragon flying far off over the sea.  A dragon volant, did you ever hear such nonsense?  The interpreter pronounced it “draigon.”  He had not too much English himself.’

‘The Highlanders are so delightfully superstitious,’ said Lady Bude.

Logan opened his lips to speak, but said nothing.

‘I don’t think we should keep Mr. Macrae waiting,’ said Lady Bude.

‘If Bude will take the reins,’ said Merton, ’you and he can be at the Castle in no time.  We shall walk.’