The Mystery of the Green Ray Part 20

"And the other part?" put in Dennis quietly.

"Well, it's a difficult thing to say, and it's all conjecture. But I have a feeling that Hilderman is not what he says he is. He has a knack of doing things, a way of going about here, that gives me the impression he is employing his intelligence, and a very fine intelligence it probably is, all the time. I don't think he is retired at all. There's a restless energy about the fellow that would turn into a sour discontent if his mind were not fully occupied with work which it is accustomed to, and probably enjoys doing."

"Have you anything to suggest?" I asked.

"I have an idea," he replied; "but I haven't mentioned it because it doesn't satisfy me at all. I have an idea that the man is some sort of detective hard at work all the time. But I can't imagine what sort of detective would take a house up here and keep himself as busy as Hilderman appears to be over some case in the neighbourhood. I can't imagine what sort of case it can be."

"What about a secret German naval base in the Hebrides?" I suggested.

"It's not by any means impossible or even unlikely that the Germans have utilised the lonely lochs and creeks to some sinister purpose.

Many of the lochs are entirely hidden by surrounding mountains, which come right down to the edge of a narrow opening, and make the place almost unnoticeable unless you happen to be looking for it."

"There's something in that, certainly," Garnesk agreed; "but we must remember he's been here since May. Surely our precious Government would have managed to find what they wanted, and clear it out by this time. Then again, did they suspect the base, or did they have a general idea that war was coming so far back as May?"

"As to the war," Dennis put in, "we don't really know when the authorities had their first suspicions."

"No," said I; "but I fancy it was not a very definite suspicion until after the Archduke was a.s.sa.s.sinated. But look here, Garnesk, just let us suppose Hilderman really is a Government detective in the guise of an American visitor. Wouldn't he be just about the man we want, or do you think it would make too much stir to take him into our confidence?"

"Far too much," Garnesk replied emphatically. "It's not that he would talk; but if he has been here all this time his opponents have got wind of him long before this, and his arrival on the scene in connection with our case would give any suspicious character the tip to bolt. I should advise keeping in touch with Hilderman, learn as much as you can about him, and be ready to run to him for help if you come to the conclusion that he is the man to give it."

We sat down among the heather at the foot of the Mallaig Vec road, and looked out over the harbour.

"Don't turn your heads," said Dennis quietly, "but glance down at the pier."

"Yes," said Garnesk in a moment, "he seems to be as interested in us as we are in him."

Hilderman and his friend were standing on the end of the pier watching us through their field-gla.s.ses.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE RED-HAIRED MAN.

"I'll send the gla.s.ses at once," said Garnesk, as the train steamed out of the station. Dennis and I stood on the platform and watched him out of sight.

"He seems a good fellow," said Dennis.

"Splendid!" I agreed readily. "He's exceeding clever and wide-awake, and very charming. What we should have done without him heaven only knows. I fancy his visit saved the entire household from a nervous collapse."

"We've no time for collapses, nervous or otherwise," Dennis replied.

"We shall want our wits about us, and we shall need all the vitality we can muster. But at the same time I don't think there is any cause for nerves. You're not the sort of man, Ron, to let your nerves get the better of you in an emergency, especially if we can prove that our enemy is a tangible quant.i.ty, and not a conglomeration of waves and vibrations."

"Hilderman and his friend appear to be waiting for us," I interrupted.

"You may as well introduce me," said Dennis. "I'd like to meet the man. Who is his friend, do you know?"

"Haven't the remotest idea," I replied. "I have seen him once before, but that is all. I don't know who he is."

"Is he staying with Hilderman, or does he live in the neighbourhood?"

"That I couldn't tell you either," I said. "I'm sure he doesn't live anywhere near Invermalluch."

As we strolled out of the station Hilderman and his companion were standing chatting by the gate which leads on to the pier. As we approached, Hilderman turned to me with a smile.

"Ah, Mr. Ewart," he exclaimed, "your friend has left you, then. I hope you won't let his inability to help Miss McLeod depress you unduly.

While there's life there's hope."

"I shall not give up hope yet awhile, anyway," I answered heartily.

"May I introduce my friend Mr. Fuller?" he asked presently, and I found myself shaking hands with the round-faced little man, who blinked at me pleasantly through his gla.s.ses. I returned the compliment by introducing Dennis.

"On holiday, Mr. Burnham?" asked the American. Dennis was so prompt with his reply that I was convinced he had been thinking it out in the meanwhile.

"Well, I hardly know that I should call it a holiday," he replied immediately. "I have just run up to say good-bye to Ewart before offering my services to my King and country. We had intended to join up together, but he has, as you know, been detained for the time being, so I am off by myself."

"We are very old friends," I explained, "and Burnham very decently decided to come here to see me as I was unable to go south to see him."

"Never mind, Mr. Ewart," said Hilderman. "I guess you'll be able to join him very soon. I wish you luck, Mr. Burnham. I suppose it won't be long before you leave."

"He's talking of returning to-morrow," I cut in. "I wish you'd tell him it's ridiculous, Mr. Hilderman. Fancy coming all this way for twenty-four hours. He must have a look round, to say nothing of his stinginess in depriving me of his company so soon."

"Well, I can quite understand Mr. Burnham's anxiety to join at the earliest possible moment," he answered. "But I've no doubt Lord Kitchener wouldn't miss him for a day. I think he might multiply his visit by two, and stop till Wednesday, at any rate. Ah, here's the _Fiona_!"

I looked out to the mouth of the harbour, and saw the steam yacht, which was in the habit of calling at Glasnabinnie, gliding past the lighthouse rock. I was about to make some comment on the boat when Hilderman forestalled me.

"How are you going back?" he asked.

"In a motor-boat," I replied. "I am afraid Angus is getting weary of waiting already."

"I'm sure Mr. Fuller would be delighted to have you fellows on board.

Why not let your man take Mr. Burnham's luggage to Invermalluch, and come to Glasnabinnie on the _Fiona_? You can lunch with me, and when you tire of our company I will run you across in the _Baltimore_. Eh?

What do you say?"

"I shall be delighted, of course," his companion broke in.

I hesitated for a moment, and glanced at Dennis. His face obviously said, "Accept," so I accepted.

"Thank you," I said; "we shall be very pleased. It will be more jolly than going back by ourselves."

"Good!" cried Hilderman, "and I can show you the view from my smoking-room. I hope it will make you green with envy."

So I gave Angus his instructions, and the four of us waited at the fish-table steps for the dinghy to come ash.o.r.e from the yacht. She was not a particularly beautiful boat, but she looked comfortable and strong, and her clumsy appearance was accentuated by the fact that her funnel was aft a commodious deck dining-saloon, on the top of which was a small wheel-house. Myra had been right, as it turned out; she was a converted drifter. The two men who came in to pick us up wore the usual blue guernsey, with _S.Y. Fiona_ worked in an arc of red wool across the chest. They were obviously good servants and useful hands, but there was none of that ridiculous imitation of naval custom and etiquette which delights the heart of the Cotton Exchange yacht-owner. We boarded the _Fiona_ with the feeling that we were going to have a pleasant and comfortable time, and not with the fear that our setting of a leather-soled shoe upon the hallowed decks was in itself an act of sacrilege. We were no sooner aboard than Fuller set himself to play the host with a charm which was exceedingly attentive and neither fussy nor patronising.

"The trivial but necessary question of edible stores will detain us for a few moments," he said. "But we shall be more comfortable here than wandering about among the herrings." So we made ourselves comfortable in deck-chairs in the stern, while the steward went ash.o.r.e and made the all-important purchases.

"You cruise a good deal, I suppose?" was my first question.