"Then how did he get across the canal?"
"How much have you on it?" asked Red Jim. He was afraid his own interests might suffer if he gave all the information he possessed before making terms.
"Confound you! what is that to you?" cried Crawford angrily.
"Well, then, I'll tell you how he went across," said Red Jim, looking up straight over his head at the sky.
"How did he get over?" cried the other impatiently, as Jim showed no sign of speaking.
"He flew," said Jim, suddenly dropping his full prominent blue eyes on Crawford. "He flew, that's the way he got across the canal." And, thrusting his hands deep into his wide-opened trousers pockets, he began moving slowly away.
For a moment Crawford looked as if he could kill Ford. Then, with a sudden quick laugh, he said:
"Oh, I understand; I will make it worth a tanner for you."
Red Jim was back by his side in a moment. He stretched out his arm, and, pointing towards the tail of the island, said:
"Do you see that floating stage?"