Such a grieved silence fell upon the island young people that the Grahams looked at them inquiringly.
'They said that she would fall ill,' said Marjorie in a low voice, 'if—if she continued to fret so about——'
Allan pushed his cap to the back of his head, and Reggie looked hard in the direction of the cottage, where the black dot was still standing by the gate.
'Nothing else found in the ruins?' said Allan in an undertone.
'Nothing yet,' replied Hamish; 'the police are still trying to follow up the clue——'
Marjorie's eyes encountered those of the guests, and she looked at Allan and Reggie.
'Are you going to let them know about it?' she asked. 'Might as well, you know; for they are sure to hear of it before long.'
Allan put his hands in his pockets and reflected; then he consulted Reggie with a look, after which he turned to Hamish. 'Perhaps we might as well tell them,' he said, and the others consented.
'Well, Graham major and Graham minor,' he began, to the boys who were waiting expectantly; 'we are very much bothered about a friend of ours;' and he told them about the robbery of the post-office and Neil's flight, while the boys listened with wide-open mouths, throwing themselves about and uttering exclamations of interest.
'You say that you are quite sure he couldn't have taken the letters?' asked Harry, drawing himself into an upright position on the heather.