"You will see that it is done, Dobbs, and done properly to-night?"
sounded the brisk tones of "Black Whiskers'" companion. And then the
reply: "Yes, it'll be done all right. We're sending 'em off at one
o'clock sharp. Loadin' at twelve. No need to worry about that, sir."
"And these two newcomers? You can vouch for their reliability to keep
their mouths shut, Dobbs? We wouldn't have chanced taking them on if we
hadn't been so short-handed, but ... you're sure of them, eh?"
They could hear "Dirty Jim's" ugly little chuckle. It seemed laden with
sinister purpose.
"They're sound enough, master, I promise yer!" he made reply.
"Ugliest-lookin' pair er cut-throats yer ever laid yer peepers on. Seen
dirtier business than this, I dare swear. And Piggott's on to the right
kind, all right. Good man, Piggott."
The two came opposite them, and stopped a moment, as though they might
be wishing to investigate the contents of the sacks that stood nearby,
hidden by the enveloping darkness. The tension under which Cleek and the
youthful Dollops laboured was tremendous.
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