rd the hour from
a neighbouring church; and I recalled the detective's words, "I have
telegraphed for your friend, Roderick." If his anticipations were
correct, I should see the one man I had the greatest love for within an
hour. Yet, on recollection, I would have had it otherwise. If once I
looked on Mary's face again, I knew that the task would be almost
beyond my strength; and as it happened, it was well I had not this
burden to bear in the last hours of the great struggle. For four
o'clock struck, and five, and no one came; and it was half-past six
when at last a man unlocked the door of my room and entered. He was one
of Black's negroes.

"Sar will come quick," said he, "and leave his luggage. The master
waits."

He gave me no time for any explanations, but took me by the arm, and,
passing from the house by a back door, he went some way down a narrow
street, and turned into Piccadilly. There a cab waited for us, and we
drove away, but not before one, who stood on the pavement, had made a
slight signal to me, and called another cab.

In him I recognised Detective-Inspector King, and I knew that we were
followed.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE SHADOW ON THE SEA.

We drove rapidly, passing the Criterion, so into the Strand, and along
the Thames Embankment. Thence, we went through Queen Victoria Street,
past the Mansion House, and to Fenchurch Street Station, where we took
a train for Tilbury.

The journey was accomplished in something under an hour; and when we
alighted and got upon the bank of the river, I saw a steam-launch with
the man John in the bows of her. I thought it strange that there was no
sign of any watchers at this place; but I entered the launch without a
word, and we started immediately, going at a great pace towards
Sheerness; and reached the Nore after some buffet with the seas in the
open. At this point we sighted the tender, and went aboard her, while
they hauled up the launch, when we made full speed towards the North
Foreland.

It was then quite dark, with a stiff breeze blowing right abaft. The
night, a moonless and very black one, favoured us altogether for the
run which, I did not doubt, we had to make against some Government
vessel that would follow us. But I found to my surprise that the men on
the ship knew nothing of the dangerous position in which they were, and
worked with a calm disregard to the blackness of the night, and to the
hazard of the moment. Black I did not meet, for