‘We don’t reckon they’l come after us. That’s why we’re coming back here,’ Baird said. ‘If you do your job right, there’l be a heavy smoke screen that’l blanket out everyone in sight. I reckon al the convicts will make a break. I’m relying on it. They’re certain to stampede. There are only three routes out of the swamp if you haven’t got a boat. These guys won’t have boats. They’l make for the three routes in small parties. The guards and the dogs will know they must be going by the paths and not by the river. We’l come here to give the guards time to take to the paths, then we go down to the boat and get clear.’
Rico looked a little less uneasy.
‘But if Hater resists? He’l upset the boat.’
Baird looked at him steadily, his pale eyes gleaming.
‘He won’t be given the chance to resist. I’l handle him.’
Noddy said, ‘He won’t be hard to handle. He ain’t got the strength of a mouse. When I’ve got him where do I find you?’
‘About seventy yards from where you’re working there’s a big oak. I’ll be up in that where I can get a clear view of the guards,’ Baird said. ‘As soon as the smoke gets going I’l come down. Meet me there.
We’l take Hater along the path, then through the thickets to here. I’l pay you off. Rico and me wil take over Hater, and you’l get back the way you came. If you’re spotted, you were going after one of the convicts, but he got away. Stall them so we can get clear. Okay?’
‘Sure,’ Noddy said, and rubbed his sweating hands on his knees. ‘I guess that takes care of it. At twelve tomorrow?’
‘Yeah,’ Baird said. ‘Hater will be where you can get to him?’