yself
I'd rattle these philanthropists as they 'd never been rattled before in
their lives. And then--why had I ever doubted him?--half-way down the
list I lit on Elphinstone's name. . . . His place is at Henley-in-Arden,
you see, and not far from Bursfield. . . . So I rattled the others
(I spent three-quarters of an hour in the telegraph office, and before
eleven last night I had thirty-two answers. They are all in my bag, and
you shall look 'em over by and by, if you want to be tickled), but I
sent Elphinstone what the girl Tilda would call a cough-drop. It ran to
five sheets or thereabouts, and cost four-and-eightpence; and I wound up
by telling him I meant every word I'd said. He's in Bursfield at this
moment, you may bet, carting those orphans around into temporary
quarters. And Elphinstone is a kind-hearted man, but orphans are not
exactly his line--not what he'd call congenial to him."

"But these two? You seem to me pretty sure about finding them on
Holmness: too sure, I suggest. Either you've forgotten to say why
you're certain, or I may have missed--"

"You are getting keen, I see. No, I have no right to be sure, except
that I rely on the girl--and on Hucks. (You ought to know Hucks, by the
way; he is a warrior.) But I _am_ sure: so sure that I have wired for a
steam-launch to be ready by Clatworthy pier. . . . Will you come?"

"I propose to see this affair through," he said deliberately.

Miss Sally gave him a sharp look, and once again nodded approval.

"And, moreover, so sure," she went on, "that I have not wired to send
Chichester in search. That's worrying me, I confess; for although Hucks
is positive the girl would not start for Holmness without provisions--
and on my reading of her, he's right--this is Tuesday, and they have
been missing ever since Saturday night, or Sunday morning at latest."

"If that is worrying you," said Chandon, "it may ease your mind to know
that there is food and drink on the Island. I built a cottage there two
years ago, with a laboratory; I spent six weeks in it this summer; and--
well, ships have been wrecked On Holmness, and, as an old naval officer,
I've provided for that sort of thing."

Miss Sally slapped her knee. (Her gestures were always unconventional.)

"We shall find 'em there!" she announced. "I'm willing to lay you five
to one in what you like."

They changed at Taunton for Fair Anchor. At Fair Anchor Station Sir
Miles's motor awaited them.