“Only that we should have been miles away by now.”
“Do you think either of the other boats have picked him up?”
“Go and ask ’em,” said another of the men sulkily.
“No, sir,” said one of the coastguard, “they haven’t picked him up.”
“Back!” said the detective shortly; and, as soon as they were in the boat, he gave orders for them to row towards the faint light they could see right away east. They were not long in coming abreast, for the boat was returning.
“Got him?” was shouted.
“No.”
“Then why did you make the signal?”
The detective officer was a clever man, but it had not occurred to him that the blue light he had obtained from the coastguard station and burned would act as a recall. But so it was, and before long the second boat was reached, and that which contained Duncan Leslie came up, the latter littering an angry expostulation at being brought back from his search.
“It’s no good, Mr Leslie, sir,” said the fisherman who had made the bargain with Vine.