Знак четырех
X. The End of the Islander
Inacoupleofnights,whentheyhadtimetoseewhatviewthepaperstook,andwhethertherewasanysuspicion,theywouldmaketheirwayundercoverofdarknesstosomeshipatGravesendorintheDowns,wherenodoubttheyhadalreadyarrangedforpassagestoAmericaortheColonies.”
“Butthelaunch?Theycouldnothavetakenthattotheirlodgings.”
“Quiteso.Iarguedthatthelaunchmustbenogreatwayoff,inspiteofitsinvisibility.IthenputmyselfintheplaceofSmall,andlookedatitasamanofhiscapacitywould.Hewouldprobablyconsiderthattosendbackthelaunchortokeepitatawharfwouldmakepursuiteasyifthepolicedidhappentogetonhistrack.How,then,couldheconcealthelaunchandyethaveherathandwhenwanted?IwonderedwhatIshoulddomyselfifIwereinhisshoes.Icouldonlythinkofonewayofdoingit.Imightlandthelaunchovertosomeboat-builderorrepairer,withdirectionstomakeatriflingchangeinher.Shewouldthenberemovedtohisshedoryard,andsobeeffectuallyconcealed,whileatthesametimeIcouldhaveheratafewhours’notice.”
“Thatseemssimpleenough.”
“Itisjusttheseverysimplethingswhichareextremelyliabletobeoverlooked.However,Ideterminedtoactontheidea.Istartedatonceinthisharmlessseaman’srigandinquiredatalltheyardsdowntheriver.Idrewblankatfifteen,butatthesixteenth—Jacobson’s—IlearnedthattheAurorahadbeenhandedovertothemtwodaysagobyawooden-leggedman,withsometrivialdirectionsastoherrudder.
