"Of course it wouldn't, and old Noakes wouldn't have been jolly well paid out for sneaking. What's he want nosing about at a time when he thought every one was out? Trenchard must be told."
"I don't know about that, but I do know we'd better clear up this mess before Mrs. Trenchard gets back."
"Or she'll think precious little of your invention. It's a great success, anyway; you've got more soot than you expected. And old Noakes carried away a lot."
III
In Mrs. Trenchard's absence there was to be no midday dinner. After clearing up the mess with the assistance of one of the dairy-maids (who called it "a rare messopotamia as anybody ever did see"), the two lads went to join the farmer at lunch in the fields.
"That there invention, now," said Mr. Trenchard. "Hev it worked?"
"Splendid!" said Eves, emphatically. "We've got two good sacks of soot and scared a slug."
"It don't take a mighty deal to do that, sir," said the farmer with a smile. "I'll find that soot useful, and I'm much obleeged to 'ee, to be sure."
"Oh, but, Mr. Trenchard, could you spare me some?" said Templeton.
"For another invention," Eves added. "He's got a jolly good idea for protecting our ships from the U-boats, and soot's in it."