s' way
is to take de train f'm Spanish Town. Dat'll land you right in Buff
Bay."

"I don't want to," answered Stuart, making up the first excuse that came
to mind, "I get train-sick. Can't your car make it?"

The boy knew that there is nothing in the world that so much touches a
man's pride as to have his car slighted, no matter whether it be the
craziest kettle on wheels or a powerful racer.

"Make it? Yes, Sah!" The exclamation was emphatic. "I can have you in
thar by noon."

Business arrangements were rapidly concluded, and in a few minutes they
started out, Stuart having borrowed an old straw hat from the driver, in
order, as he said, that he could take a good sleep under it, which
indeed, he did. But his main reason was disguise.

The negro looked back at his passenger once or twice, and muttered,

"Train-sick? Huh! Looks more like ter me he's in pickle wid de police!
Wonder if I didn't ought to say somet'ing?"

Then a remembrance of some of his own earlier days came to him, and he
chuckled.

"Fo' de sake!" he said. "I wouldn' want to tell all I ever did!"

And he drove on through Linfield, without summoning the guardians of the
law.

Stuart, unconscious how near he had been to an unpleasant delay, slept
on. Questioning would have been awkward, search would have been worse,
for, in the pocket of his jacket, was Fergus's letter he had received in
Kingston, which closed with the words,

"Get to the Mole St. Nicholas with utmost speed! Spare no expense, but
go secretly!"

That this bore some new development in the Great Plot, there was no
doubting, and the letter had told him to be sure to leave Kingston
without letting Cecil catch a glimpse of him. That meant that Cecil was
still in Kingston. In that case, what could the other conspirators be
doing without him?

Towards noon, a whiff of salt air wakened Stuart. He stirred, rubbed his
eyes and looked round.

"The north shore, eh!" he exclaimed on seeing the sea.

"Yes, Sah! Annotta Bay, Sah!"

"Do you know anyone around these parts?"

"Fo' de sake, yes, Sah! I was born in dese parts. I jes' went to Spanish
Town a few years ago, when my wife's folks died."

"Do you know anyone who has a motor boat?"

"You want to buy one?"

"Not unless I have to. Do you happen to know of any?"

"Well, Sah," said the negro cautiously, "thar's a preacher here what has
one, but--but--he's a mighty careful man is Brother Fliss, an'----"

Stuart, refreshed from