At Branksome, at
least, I should receive sympathy, and, above all, directions as to what
I should do, for my mind is in such a whirl that I cannot trust my own
judgment. My mother was content to be alone, my sister asleep, and no
prospect of being able to do anything until daybreak. Under those
circumstances what more natural than that I should fly to you as fast as
my feet would carry me? You have a clear head, Jack; speak out, man,
and tell me what I should do. Esther, what should I do?"
He turned from one to the other of us with outstretched hands and eager,
questioning eyes.
"You can do nothing while the darkness lasts," I answered. "We must
report the matter to the Wigtown police, but we need not send our
message to them until we are actually starting upon the search, so as to
comply with the law and yet have a private investigation, as your mother
wishes. John Fullarton, over the hill, has a lurcher dog which is as
good as a bloodhound. If we set him on the general's trail he will run
him down if he had to follow him to John o' Groat's."
"It is terrible to wait calmly here while he may need our assistance."
"I fear our assistance could under any circumstances do him little good.
There are forces at work here which are beyond human intervention.
Besides, there is no alternative. We have, apparently, no possible clue
as to the direction which they have taken, and for us to wander
aimlessly over the moor in the darkness would be to waste the strength
which may be more profitably used in the morning.
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