“No, no, I don’t think so. Every time I’ve been up to see her she’s been awake,” said her father. This was not to be wondered at. A visit from Ben Nevis in his present martial mood was only a little quieter than a visit by a squadron of heavy dragoons.

While the garrison of Glenbogle was waiting for zero hour early on that Tuesday morning, the seventh Earl of Buntingdon was turning over restlessly in an L.N.E.R. sleeper, bound for Fort William, and wondering whether he had been wise to respond to Percy Buckham’s impassioned appeal to preside at the surrender of Glenbogle Castle to the N.U.H. He switched on the light above his bed, sat up, and took out the telegram which had reached him at Ouse Hall just after lunch on Monday:

After a brilliant little operation in which every unit greatly distinguished itself have honour to inform you MacDonald Macdonald’s son American guest headkeeper and two underkeepers were captured on Saturday morning and are now held prisoners stop on Saturday evening Macdonald’s two daughters also captured stop am satisfied of ability to seize and occupy Glenbogle Castle on Tuesday and consider it vital to dignity of proceedings you should be present in person to receive Macdonald’s apology and accept Magna Charta for N.U.H. from his hands stop have demanded removal of all no camping notices freedom camp anywhere on MacDonald’s land and recognized market price for all produce purchased from his tenants stop confident MacDonald will accept terms and give apology demanded stop our casualties so far extremely light only damage being to small quantity of camping equipment and one leg bitten by dog stop secretary and self earnestly hope you will endeavour join us Tuesday for successful accomplishment of expedition’s objective as your presence will lend dignity to lesson administered and rouse enthusiasm among members of union who have fought so gallantly in this campaign stop felt your presence at great democratic triumph will serve as notable rebuke to fascist influence everywhere lamentably on increase stop personally realize I am asking great deal but have complete confidence in your generous response stop suggest your wearing of hiking uniform would be intensely appreciated and will send two of our boys to meet train Fort William Tuesday morning with car and bring you to Glenbogle stop unable to receive answer as we are surrounding castle to-night with view to entry to-morrow when you arrive stop salute from every loyal hiker in the field

Buckham.

“A very long and expensive and rather repetitive telegram,” Lord Buntingdon murmured to himself. “I wonder if I am wise in falling in with it. Buckham has always been prone to excessive optimism.”