Carl laughed as he said: "Your brother Bill was lucky not to be hanged," and walked away.
Brack scowled after him and muttered: "And you'll be lucky not to be drowned if yer not careful."
When Brack arrived home he told Hector Woodridge what happened.
"By gad, he gave me a shock when he came to the door this morning," said Brack. "You must wait for to-night; I'll come and fetch you if the coast is clear. You'll have to trust me, leave it all to me."
"I will," said Hector. "I can do nothing for myself."
"You can do a lot. If there's danger keep cool and don't betray any alarm—face it out."
"I place myself entirely in your hands," said Hector.
There was no chance that night. Brack stayed about the harbor until ten o'clock. Just as he thought the opportunity favorable Carl Hackler turned up, and Brack made for home, thinking he had not been seen. He was mistaken.
"Something mysterious about the old fellow lately," thought Carl. "He can't know anything; it's absurd, of course; but I'll swear he put me off the scent about that tramp. Confound him, he's a shrewd 'un, he is. It's my belief No. 832 is in Torquay somewhere. There'll be a shindy if he gets away, because he's got a lot of rich relations I believe; somebody's sure to say it's a put up job. There wasn't any put up business about strangling that dog; I can't help admiring the fellow for that. He bore a good name in the prison too."
"No go to-night," said Brack as he came in, "but I've got a bit of news."