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Page 22
"That fellow Ben Oates seems to be the only one with
ideas."
"He don't keep sober long enough to give us any trouble," Dumble
declared. "He began asking me questions a few days ago, and I know
he put Grice's lad on to find out which way we went last Saturday
week, but that don't amount to anything. He was dead drunk for
three days afterwards."
Sir Henry nodded.
"I'm not very frightened of Ben Oates, Jimmy," he confided, as he
threw open the door of a large cabinet which stood against the
further wall. "No strangers about, eh?"
"Not a sign of one, sir."
Sir Henry glanced towards the door and listened.
"Shall I just give the key a turn, sir?" his visitor asked.
"I don't think it is necessary," Sir Henry replied. "They've all
gone up to change. Now listen to me, Jimmy."
He leaned forward and touched a spring. The false back of the
cabinet, with its little array of flies, spinners, fishing hooks
and tackle, slowly rolled back. Before them stood a huge chart,
wonderfully executed in red, white and yellow.
"That's a marvellous piece of work, sir," the fisherman observed
admiringly.
"Best thing I ever did in my life," Sir Henry agreed. "Now see
here, Jimmy. We'll sail out tomorrow, or take the motor boat,
according to the wind. We'll enter Langley Shallows there and pass
Dead Man's Rock on the left side of the waterway, and keep straight
on until we get Budden Wood on the church tower. You follow me?"
"Aye, aye, sir!"
"We make for the headland from there. You see, we shall be outside
the Gidney Shallows, and number twelve will pick us up. Put all
the fishing tackle in the boat, and don't forget the bait. We must
never lose sight of the fact, Jimmy, that the main object of our
lives is to catch fish."
"That's right, sir," was the hearty assent.
"We'll be off at seven o'clock sharp, then," Sir Henry decided.
"The tide'll be on the flow by that time," Jimmy observed, "and
we'll get off from the staith breakwater. That do be a fine piece
of work and no mistake," he added, as the false back of the cabinet
glided slowly to its place.
Sir Henry chuckled.
"It's nothing to the one I've got on number twelve, Jimmy," he said.
"I've got the seaweed on that, pretty well. You'll take a drop of
whisky on your way out?" he added. "Mills will look after you."
"I thank you kindly, sir."
Mills answered the bell with some concern in his face.
"The inspector is here to see you, sir," he announced. "He did
mention something about the lights. I'm sure we've all been most
careful. Even her ladyship has only used a candle in her bedroom."
"Show the inspector in," Sir Henry directed, "and I'll hear what
he has to say. And give Dumble some whisky as he goes out, and a
cigar."
"Wishing you good night, sir," the latter said, as he followed
Mills. "I'll be punctual in the morning. Looks to me as though
we might have good sport."
"We'll hope for it, anyway, Jimmy," his employer replied cheerfully.
"Come in, Inspector."
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