footmarks on the far side of it and a stone loosened like as if some one
had climbed up it."

"Well," said Sir Lucius, "I'm sorry for Sweeny, but I don't see that I
can do anything to help you now. If you make out a case against any one
come up to me in the evening and I'll sign a warrant for his arrest."

"I was thinking," said the sergeant, "that if it was pleasing to your
honour, you might take Sweeny's depositions before you go out in the
boat; just for fear he might take it into his head to die on us before
evening; which would be a pity."

"Is he able to make a deposition?" said Sir Lucius.

"He's willing to try," said the sergeant, "but it's badly able to talk
he is this minute."

Sir Lucius turned to Lord Torrington.

"This is a confounded nuisance, Torrington," he said. "I'm afraid I'll
have to ask you to wait till I've taken down whatever lies this fellow
Sweeny chooses to swear to. I won't be long."

But Lord Torrington had a proper respect for the forms of law.

"You can't hurry over a job of that sort," he said.

"If the man's been shot at---- Can't I go by myself? I know something
about boats. You'll be here for hours."

"You may know boats," said Sir Lucius, "but you don't know this bay."

"Couldn't I work it with a chart? You have a chart, I suppose?"

"No man living could work it with a chart. The rocks in the bay are as
thick as currants in a pudding and half of them aren't charted. Besides
the tides are----"

"Isn't there some man about the place I could take with me?" said Lord
Torrington.

Peter Walsh was hovering in the background with his eyes fixed anxiously
on Sir Lucius and the police sergeant. Sir Lucius looking around caught
sight of him.

"I'll tell you what I'll do if you like," said Sir Lucius. "I'll send
Peter Walsh with you. He's an unmitigated blackguard, but he knows
the bay like the palm of his hand and he can sail the boat Come here,
Peter."

Peter Walsh stepped forward, touching his hat and smiling respectfully.

"Peter," said Sir Lucius, "Lord Torrington wants to take a sail round
the islands in the bay. I can't go with him myself, so you must. Have
you taken any drink this morning?"

"I have not," said Peter. "Is it likely I would with Sweeny's shop shut
on account of the accident that's after happening to him?"

"Don't you give him a drop, Torrington, while you're on the sea with
him. You can fill him up with whisky when you get home if you like."

"I wo