over the railings, rejoined his waiting
companion, both being lost next second in the darkness.

I longed to follow them, but Ray's instructions had been explicit--I was
to wait until he arrived.

Half an hour later, hearing his low whistle, I emerged from my
hiding-place to meet him and tell him what I had seen.

"Yes," he said, "I know. We have now no time to lose."

And together we hurried back over the road towards North Queensferry.

At the same spot where Vera had met us, we found her still in hiding. My
friend whispered some words, whereupon she hurried on before us to the
sharp bend in the road where stood the telegraph-pole which had
attracted Ray on the night of our first arrival.

We drew back in the shadow, and as we did so I saw her halt and pull the
bell beside a small gate in a high wall. Behind stood a white-washed
cottage, with a good-sized garden at the rear. One end of the house
abutted upon the pathway, and in it was one small window commanding a
view of the road.

Vera, we saw, had some conversation with the old woman who answered her
ring, and then went in, the gate being closed after her.

Together we waited for a considerable time, our impatience and
apprehension increasing. All was silent, except for a dog-cart, in
which we recognised Mr. Wilkinson driving home from the station.

"Curious that Vera doesn't return," Ray remarked at last, when we had
waited nearly three-quarters of an hour. "We must investigate for
ourselves. I hope nothing has happened to her."

And motioning me to follow, he very cautiously crept along the muddy
path and tried the gate. It had been relocked.

We therefore scaled the wall without further ado, and, standing in the
little front garden, we listened breathlessly at the door of the house.

"Get back there in the shadow, Jack," urged my friend; and, as soon as I
was concealed, he passed his hand along the lintel of the door, where he
found the bell-wire from the gate. This he pulled.

A few moments later the old woman reappeared at the door, passing out
towards the gate, when, in an instant, Ray and I were within, and
flinging open a door on the left of the narrow passage we found
ourselves confronted by the exemplary waiter Klauber and a companion,
whose short beard and snub nose I recognised as those of the man who so
calmly entered the naval offices a couple of hours before.

For them our sudden appearance was, no doubt, a dramatic surprise.

The el