He shook hands with both lads, and then went back to his work smiling; and as they walked on they could hear him say confidentially to all around him:
“We’re mates, we are, lads; we’re mates.”
The engineer was coming towards them; and as they met, Dick unfolded his plan, but before he had half-finished his words trailed off, and he stopped short. For the severe countenance before him checked his utterance.
“No,” said Mr Marston, shortly. “I am too busy. Good day!”
He went on to speak to his men, and Dick looked at Tom with a dismal expression of countenance which spoke volumes.
“Come along back!” he said.
Tom obeyed without a word, and glancing neither to the right nor left, the two boys walked heavily back over the dry surface of the quaking bog, so as to reach their boat.
Before they had travelled half-way they met Thorpeley, who leered at them in a sinister way, and, as they passed on, turned and followed at a distance.
“Look here, Dick,” whispered Tom, “let’s give him something to think about. Come along!”
Tom started running as if in a great state of excitement, and Dick followed involuntarily, while after a momentary hesitation the constable also began to run.