"Simply because, as they lay, two sixes were uppermost."
The two captains stared at him.
"I give you my word," he said quietly.
"My dear Jack—"
"That settles it, Jemmy."
They took each other's hand.
"But excuse me," said Dr. Beckerleg, "this is not what I came to tell you. Just now I have given Tristram leave to stroll out into the garden for an hour and he is waiting for you to dress him."
But here the doctor made a mistake, for when they went upstairs there was no sign of Tristram. He and his clothes had disappeared.
They ran down to the front-door and looked around. There was no sign of him.
Finally Dr. Beckerleg advanced to the little blue door in the hedge, opened it, and poked his head into Captain Runacles' garden. Then he turned softly and, putting a finger to his lip, beckoned to the others. They advanced on tip-toe and peeped through.