He would send a scout on ahead, and if anything made him
suspicious lie snug for another week."
"But you might have stuck to Mordecai Smith, and so been led to
their hiding-place," said I.
"In that case I should have wasted my day. I think that it is a
hundred to one against Smith knowing where they live. As long as
he has liquor and good pay, why should he ask questions? They
send him messages what to do. No, I thought over every possible
course, and this is the best."
While this conversation had been proceeding, we had been shooting
the long series of bridges which span the Thames. As we passed
the City the last rays of the sun were gilding the cross upon the
summit of St. Paul's. It was twilight before we reached the
Tower.
"That is Jacobson's Yard," said Holmes, pointing to a bristle of
masts and rigging on the Surrey side. "Cruise gently up and down
here under cover of this string of lighters." He took a pair of
night-glasses from his pocket and gazed some time at the shore.
"I see my sentry at his post," he remarked, "but no sign of a
handkerchief."
"Suppose we go down-stream a short way and lie in wait for them,"
said Jones, eagerly. We were all eager by this time, even the
policemen and stokers, who had a very vague idea of what was
going forward.
Pages:
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147