When the hut was reached the night had become so nearly dark that they
ventured to approach it with the intention of peeping in at the front
window, but their steps were suddenly arrested by the sight of a man's
figure approaching from the opposite direction. They drew back, and,
being in the shadow of a wall, escaped observation. The man advanced
noiselessly, and with evident caution, until he reached the window, and
peeped in.

"It's Dick," whispered Bob. "Can't see his figure-head, but I know the
cut of his jib, even in the dark."

"Let's go at 'im, slick!" whispered Pat, grasping his cudgel and looking
fierce.

"Not yet. We must make quite sure, an' nab him in the very act."

As he spoke the man went with stealthy tread to the door of the hut,
which the drunken owner had left on the latch. Opening it softly, he
went in, shut it after him, and, to the dismay of the boys, locked it on
the inside.

"Now, Pat," said Bob, somewhat bitterly, "there's nothin' for it but the
police."

Pat expressed strong dissent. "The p'leece," he said, "was useless for
real work; they was on'y fit to badger boys an' old women."

"But what can we do?" demanded Bob anxiously, for he felt that time was
precious. "You an' I ain't fit to bu'st in the door; an' if we was,
Dick would be ready for us. If we're to floor him he must be took by
surprise."

"Let's go an' peep," suggested the smaller warrior.

"Come on, then," growled the big one.

The sight that met their eyes when they peeped was indeed one fitted to
expand these orbs of vision to the uttermost, for they beheld the thief
on his knees beside the invalid's bed, holding her thin hand in his,
while his head was bowed upon the ragged counterpane.

Bob Lumsden was speechless.

"Hold me; I'm a-goin' to bu'st," whispered Pat, by way of expressing the
depth of his astonishment.

Presently Eve spoke. They could hear her faintly, yet distinctly,
through the cracked and patched windows, and listened with all their
ears.

"Don't take on so, poor man," she said in her soft loving tones. "Oh, I
am _so_ glad to hear what you say!"

Dick Martin looked up quickly.

"What!" he exclaimed, "glad to hear me say that I am the thief as stole
your mother's money! that I'm a low, vile, selfish blackguard who
deserves to be kicked out o' the North Sea fleet--off the face o' the
'arth altogether?"

"Yes," returned Eve, smiling through her tears--for she had been
crying--"g