And what was a man doing
out there at night, with a revolver? What business was he up to? And he
had said there were two others on the look-out, as well.
Cleek pulled out a little blackened clay pipe, which was part of his
make-up as Bill Jones, and, plugging it with tobacco, began to smoke
steadily. Dollops, casting a sideways glance at his master, knew what
this sign meant, and spoke never a word, until they had left the Fens
far behind them and were well on their way toward the docks, and the
"appointment" with Black Whiskers at twelve o'clock. Then:
"Notice anything, Dollops?" Cleek asked, slewing round and looking at the
boy quizzically.
"How do you mean, sir?"
"Why, when you got to the top of those little steps and came out into the
Fens."
"Only the Frozen Flames, sir. Why?"
"Oh, nothing. It'll keep. Just a little thing I saw that led me a long
way upon the road I'm trying to travel. You'll hear about it later.
Time's getting on, Dollops, my lad. You're due with your friend Black
Whiskers in another ten minutes--and we're about that from the dockyard.
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