“Dear Mr. Buckham,” the leader of the hikers went on reading, “I have first of all to express my very sincere regret for my outrageous behaviour on the 12th ult., when I assaulted and imprisoned in my dungeons sixteen members of the National Union of Hikers, including Mr Sydney Prew the Secretary. I must also express my sincere regret for wantonly firing into the portable radiocabinet known as the Little Songster which belongs to Mr Thomas Camidge and I hope Mr Camidge will be good enough to overlook my loss of self-control and accept a new Little Songster to replace the one I destroyed.

“In expressing my regret I desire at the same time to offer my humble apologies to the National Union of Hikers, and in particular to the President the Earl of Buntingdon, the Secretary Mr Sydney Prew, the Honorary Treasurer Mr Fortescue Wilson and your good self. In order that the extent of my regret and the sincerity of my apologies may be appreciated I have decided to take down all the objectionable notices prohibiting camping on my land and I desire here and now to extend a hearty invitation to all members of the N.U.H. to camp whenever and wherever they like on my land. I have instructed my tenants and employees to afford them every facility they require in the matter of obtaining water and to supply them with milk, eggs, fruit and vegetables at a reasonable price.

“In the hope that you will persuade the National Union of Hikers to accept my apologies and collaborate in future with me in promoting true democratic feeling,

I remain,

Yours very truly,

“I think you’ll agree with me, Mr MacDonald, that considering your behaviour on August 12th you are being let off very lightly. I have a fountain-pen here. If you will sign this letter I will set you and your party free and you can avoid the unpleasantness of having Glenbogle Castle seized and occupied by my forces.”

Turner himself would have been baffled to depict the changing hues upon the Chieftain’s countenance while Percy Buckham was reading out this letter.

“Give me that piece of paper,” he choked.

They unbound his arms and taking the letter he tore it into fragments. Then his mouth opened to breathe in the inspiration that would provide him with the epithet to annihilate the hikers’ leader. None of sufficient explosive force was granted to him.

“So that is your reply to my generous offer, Mr MacDonald. Perhaps after a night in this cave you will be feeling in a more reasonable state of mind. And that brings me to another matter. I will leave your arms free if you will give me your parole that you will not attempt to escape. In any case I will have your legs untied, for the approaches to the cave are well guarded.”