"You know what is fair and right as well as we do, sir; and I put it to you—were we doing a bad thing in trying to recover our friend's property in a quiet way? He might have sued Mr. Adiesen in the law courts, and made no end of a row."
"Always supposing, my lad," Mr. Neeven interrupted, "that the seal could be proved to be his."
"I can prove it easily," Harry answered confidently. "She answered to the old call Fred used; and besides that, Isabel made a sketch of her. Every mark on her skin is in the picture."
"And more," said Tom; "the sealkie was caught on Fred's property, where no person had business to be without his leave."
"That, too, is a point open to question. But what I have to do with is this disgraceful burglary. I believe it is admitted that you had less business in Trullyabister than Mr. Adiesen had in Havnholme."
There was no denying that truth, and the boys hung their heads.
"Follow me," said the ogre. "First you shall show me if the animal recognises your call, and after that I'll tell you what I mean to do with you."
The whole party returned to the ruins; but when they got there they were just in time to see Trullya and her baby flopping over some crags near the back of the house, which was situated only a little way from the sea on both sides.
The boys were about to start in pursuit, but Mr. Neeven stopped them.
"Let her go to her own," he said almost gently. And in a few minutes the seal reached the ocean and was free once more.