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never catch the boat。〃
〃We shall catch the boat all right if it runs； sir；〃 the man assured
him。 〃The mail is only a mile or two ahead of us； that's one reason
why we have to go so slowly。 Then the water is right over the line
where we are now； and we can't get any news at all from the other
side of Ipswich。 If it goes on like this； some of the bridges will
be down； that's what I'm afraid of。〃
Mr。 Dunster frowned。 For the first time he showed some signs of
uneasiness。
〃Perhaps；〃 he muttered； half to himself；〃 a motorcar would have been
better。〃
〃Not on your life；〃 his young companion intervened。 〃All the roads
to the coast here cross no end of small bridges … much weaker
affairs than the railway bridges。 I bet there are some of those
down already。 Besides； you wouldn't be able to see where you were
going； on a night like this。〃
〃There appears to be a chance；〃 Mr。 Dunster remarked drily； 〃that
you will have to scratch for your competition to…morrow。〃
〃Also；〃 the young man observed； 〃that you will have taken this
special train for nothing。 I can't fancy the Harwich boat going
out a night like this。〃
Mr。 Dunster relapsed into stony but anxious silence。 The train
continued its erratic progress； sometimes stopping altogether for
a time； with whistle blowing repeatedly； sometimes creeping along
the metals as though feeling its way to safety。 At last； after a
somewhat prolonged wait； the guard； whose hoarse voice they had
heard on the platform of the small station in which they were
standing； entered the carriage。 With him came a gust of wind； once
more sending the papers flying around the compartment。 The rain
dripped from his clothes on to the carpet。 He had lost his hat；
his hair was tossed with the wind； his face was bleeding from a
slight wound on the temple。
〃The boat train's just ahead of us； sir；〃 he announced。 〃She can't
get on any better than we can。 We've just heard that there's a
bridge down on the line between Ipswich and Harwich。〃
〃What are we going to do； then？〃 Mr。 Dunster demanded。
〃That's just what I've come to ask you； sir；〃 the guard replied。
〃The mail's going slowly on as far as Ipswich。 I fancy they'll
lie by there until the morning。 The best thing that I can see is；
if you're agreeable； to take you back to London。 We can very
likely do that all right； if we start at once。〃
Mr。 Dunster； ignoring the man's suggestion； drew from one of the
voluminous pockets of his ulster a small map。 He spread it open
upon the table before him and studied it attentively。
〃If I cannot get to Harwich；〃 he asked； 〃is there any possibility
of keeping straight on and reaching Yarmouth？〃
The guard hesitated。
〃We haven't heard anything about the line from Ipswich to Norwich；
sir；〃 he replied； 〃but we can't very well change our course without
definite instructions。〃
〃Your definite instructions；〃 Mr。 Dunster reminded him drily； 〃were
to take me to Harwich。 You have been forced to depart from them。
I see no harm in your adopting any suggestions I may have to make
concerning our altered destination。 I will pay the extra mileage；
naturally。〃
〃How far did you wish to go； sir？〃 the guard enquired。
〃To Yarmouth；〃 Mr。 Dunster replied firmly。 〃If there are bridges
down； and communication with Harwich is blocked； Yarmouth would
suit me better than anywhere。〃
The guard shook his head。
〃I couldn't go on that way； sir； without instructions。〃
〃Is there a telegraph office at this station？〃 Mr。 Dunster inquired。
〃We can speak anywhere on the line；〃 the guard replied。
〃Then wire to the station…master at Liverpool Street；〃 Mr。 Dunster
instructed。 〃You can get a reply from him in the course of a few
minutes。 Explain the situation and tell him what my wishes are。〃
The guard hesitated。
〃It's a goodish way from here to Norwich；〃 he observed； 〃and for
all we know …〃
〃When we left Liverpool Street Station；〃 Mr。 Dunster interrupted；
〃I promised five pounds each to you； the engine…driver； and his mate。
That five pounds shall be made twenty…five if you succeed in
getting me to the coast。 Do your best for me。〃
The guard raised his hat and departed without another word。
〃It will probably suit you better；〃 Mr。 Dunster continued； turning
to his companion； 〃 to leave me at Ipswich and join the mail。〃
The latter shook his head。
〃I don't see that there's any chance； anyway； of my getting over in
time now；〃 he remarked。 〃If you'll take me on with you as far as
Norwich； I can go quietly home from there！〃
〃You live in this part of the world； then？〃 Mr。 Dunster asked。
The young man assented。 Again there was a certain amount of
hesitation in his manner。
〃I live some distance the other side of Norwich；〃 he said。 〃I don't
want to sponge on you too much；〃 he went on； 〃but if you're really
going to stick it out and try and get there； I'd like to go on； too。
I am afraid I can't offer to share the expense； but I'd work my
passage if there was anything to be done。〃
Mr。 Dunster drummed for a moment upon the table with his fingers。
All the time the young man had been speaking； his eyes had been
studying his face。 He turned now once more to his map。
〃It was my idea；〃 he said； 〃to hire a steam trawler from Yarmouth。
If I do so； you can； if you wish； accompany me so far as the port
at which we may land in Holland。 On the other hand； to be perfectly
frank with you； I should prefer to go alone。 There will be； no
doubt； a certain amount of risk in crossing tonight。 My own business
is of importance。 A golf tournament； however； is scarcely worth
risking your life for； is it？〃
〃Oh； I don't know about that！〃 the young man replied grimly。 〃I
fancy I should rather like it。 Let's see whether we can get on to
Norwich； anyhow； shall we？ We may find that there are bridges down
on that line。〃
They relapsed once more into silence。 Presently the guard
reappeared。
〃Instructions to take you on to Yarmouth； if possible； sir；〃 he
announced； 〃and to collect the mileage at our destination。〃
〃That will be quite satisfactory；〃 Mr。 Dunster agreed。 〃Let us be
off； then； as soon as possible。〃 Presently they crawled on。 They
passed the boat train in Ipswich Station； where they stayed for a
few moments。 Mr。 Dunster bought wine and sandwiches； and his
companion followed his example。 Then they continued their journey。
An hour or more passed； the storm showed no signs of abatement。
Their speed now rarely exceeded ten or fifteen miles an hour。 Mr。
Dunster smoked all the time； occasionally rubbing the window…pane
and trying to look out。 Gerald Fentolin slept fitfully。
〃Have you any idea where we are？〃 Mr。 Dunster asked once。
The boy cautiously let down the window a little way。 With the noise
of the storm came another sound； to which he listened for a moment
with puzzled face： a dull； rumbling sound like the falling of water。
He closed the window； breathless。
〃I don't think we are far from Norwich。 We passed Forncett； anyhow；
some time ago。〃
〃Still raining？〃
〃In torrents！ I can't see a yard ahead of me。 I bet we get some
floods after this。 I expect they are out now； if on