line along the quay some ten yards apart, and Chippy
worked from one to the other, and followed his men, who were still
ahead, but moving very slowly. It was quite certain that the two in
front knew the quay well, or they would not be here at this time.

Suddenly a match spurted, and a pipe was lighted. The men had come a
good way now from the warehouse, and were quite out of sight of the
constable. The light of the match showed the scout that there were two
of them, and they had halted in lee of a fish-curing shed, now locked
up for the night. The shed stood in a very lonely part of the quay,
where no one ever went after nightfall. The men began to talk
together, and Chippy crept closer and closer until he could catch their
words.

'Laugh!' said one, as if in answer to a remark the scout had not
caught--'who could help laughin'? To see old Martin postin' up an'
down, round an' round, just on the sides we want him to. If he started
to swim up an' down t'other side, now, it might be a bit awkward for
us.'

'Ah,' replied his companion, 'it'll be a long time before they tumble
to the idea of anybody workin' 'em from the river-front. How did ye
get round to the trap this mornin'?'

'Easy as winking,' said the first speaker. 'I made a little errand
there, and slipped the bolts, and there it all was, as right as rain.'

'It's a clippin' dodge,' murmured the second man. 'We'll have another
good go to-night, then leave it for two or three months till all's
quiet again.'

'We will,' agreed the other. 'The boat's ready, I suppose?'

'Yes; I've seen to all that,' was the answer. 'She's lyin' at
Ferryman's Slip, just swingin' by her painter. It'll be slack water
pretty soon. We can start in about half an hour or so.'

CHAPTER XXII

CHIPPY GOES IN CHASE

Chippy's heart beat high with excitement. It thumped against his ribs
till he felt sure that the talkers a few yards away would hear it; and
he turned and crept away, and circled round to the back of the
fish-shed, where he pulled up to think over what he had heard. He felt
sure that he had hit upon the thieves. What should he do? Run to
Martin and tell him what he had found out? Chippy considered that,
then shook his head. He knew Martin, and Martin knew Chippy. 'He'd
ne'er believe me,' thought Chippy. 'He'd think I was a-tryin' to kid
'im.'

Martin was a good, zealous officer, but rather a dull one, and Chippy
knew that he would be very s