Major Stewart was too much annoyed at having failed to capture the burglars to take any notice of her.  He relocked the door, and assuring his mother that it was only robbers, and that they had been beaten off, retired to his room, washed and dressed his wounds, and went to bed.

Meanwhile Big Swankie and the Badger, laden with silver, made for the shore, where they hid their treasure in a hole.

“I’ll tell ’ee a dodge,” said the Badger.

“What may that be?” enquired Swankie.

“You said ye saw Ruby Brand slinking down the market-gate, and that’s he’s off to sea?”

“Ay, and twa or three more folk saw him as weel as me.”

“Weel, let’s tak’ up a siller spoon, or somethin’, an’ put it in the auld wife’s garden, an’ they’ll think it was him that did it.”

“No’ that bad!” said Swankie, with a chuckle.

A silver fork and a pair of sugar-tongs bearing old Mrs. Stewart’s initials were accordingly selected for this purpose, and placed in the little garden in the front of Widow Brand’s cottage.

Here they were found in the morning by Captain Ogilvy, who examined them for at least half-an-hour in a state of the utmost perplexity.  While he was thus engaged one of the detectives of the town happened to pass, apparently in some haste.

“Hallo! shipmate,” shouted the captain.

“Well?” responded the detective.

“Did ye ever see silver forks an’ sugar-tongs growin’ in a garden before?”

“Eh?” exclaimed the other, entering the garden hastily; “let me see.  Oho! this may throw some light on the matter.  Did you find them here?”

“Ay, on this very spot.”

“Hum.  Ruby went away last night, I believe?”

“He did.”

“Some time after midnight?” enquired the detective.

“Likely enough,” said the captain, “but my chronometer ain’t quite so reg’lar since we left the sea; it might ha’ bin more,—­mayhap less.”

“Just so.  You saw him off?”

“Ay; but you seem more than or’nar inquisitive today——­”

“Did he carry a bundle?” interrupted the detective.

“Ay, no doubt.”

“A large one?”

“Ay, a goodish big ’un.”

“Do you know what was in it?” enquired the detective, with a knowing look.

“I do, for I packed it,” replied the captain; “his kit was in it.”

“Nothing more?”

“Nothin’ as I knows of.”

“Well, I’ll take these with me just now,” said the officer, placing the fork and sugar-tongs in his pocket.  “I’m afraid, old man, that your nephew has been up to mischief before he went away.  A burglary was committed in the town last night, and this is some of the plate.  You’ll hear more about it before long, I dare say.  Good day to ye.”

So saying, the detective walked quickly away, and left the captain in the centre of the garden staring vacantly before him, in speechless amazement.