“Of course, of course, Tom. There, I’ll run off at once.”

“Hold hard a moment, Master Aleck. Mebbe you’ll see them two beauties.”

“I shouldn’t wonder, Tom.”

“Looking as innercent as a pair o’ babbies, sir,” said Tom, with a knowing wink. “Then what you’ve got to do, sir, is look innercent too. You arn’t going to suspeck them for a minute, cause they wouldn’t do such a thing. We’re a-going to wait till the right time comes.”

“And we’re quite sure, Tom?”

“That’s it, Master Aleck; and then—physic.”

Aleck laughed, in spite of the trouble he was in, for Tom’s face was a study of mysterious humour and conspiracy of the most solemn nature. The next minute the lad was going an easy dog-trot along the pier towards the town.


Chapter Fifteen.