ain't committed no crimes, we found the motorcar, see.'
The sergeant's voice still retained its pleasant tone. 'Found it, sir, where, in Church Haven outside the post of-
fice?'
Chunk smiled in remembrance of the visit. 'That's right, Sarge, where the ole lady nearly give me a drink o'
water. I liked 'er!'
The two boys listened in through the open window, chuckling as the sergeant replied. 'Och aye, ye'd be one of
the four royal couriers, or is it one of the racehorse buyers who asked directions at Drakehampton post office. Which
were you? Think!'
Chunk took off his bowler and scratched his shaven head. 'Er, I fink the game's up, Gripp. 'E's nabbed us
fair'n'square!'
Gripper stamped his boot down on Chunk's foot. 'Shar-rup, thick'ead. Don't say another word, none of youse!'
The sergeant sat at the charge office desk, his pleasant mood evaporating suddenly as he rapped out, 'Enough o'
all this nonsense. George Pearson, Frederick Lloyd, Charles Hy-land, and Eric Wardle. Ye are under arrest for the
theft of a motor vehicle, pending further investigations revealing any other felonies. Ye'll be held in custody here until
such times as ye appear before a magistrate, have ye anything tae say t'the charges brought against ye?'
Flash whispered to Gripper, ' 'E knows our proper names! 'Ow'd'e find that out?'
Gripper ground his teeth together audibly. 'Shut... up!'
Sergeant Patterson stared levelly at the four accused. 'Ah said, have ye anything tae say t'the charges?'
Gripper glared sullenly back at him. 'We wanna lawyer!'
Mr. Mackay looked them up and down with disdain. 'I'm a lawyer, the only one in Chapelvale, but I don't deal
in criminal law. Besides, I've quite enough clients at the moment, thank you. So, what are your plans, gentlemen, eh?'
Chaz's nose had stopped bleeding, and he sniffed carefully before blurting out, 'The company we work for in
London, Jackman Donnin' an' Bowe,'ll get a lawyer fer us, a real one from London, not some 'ayseed like that feller!'
Gripper groaned, and clenching both fists, he turned on Chaz. 'You stoopid, loudmouthed squealer! I'll.. .'
Chaz skipped nimbly out of range, placing himself behind the formidable figure of Will Drummond.
'Keep 'im away from me! It was Gripper who pinched the motorcar, 'e's the on'y one of us wot can drive. I
'aven't done nothin', an' I'm not gonna be left carryin' the can fer miss snotty nose Maud Bowe an' 'er father's firm. No!
Not fer any local bigwig who's in with 'em, either!'
It was at that moment when Constable Judmann pounded on the station door and the old seaman let him in. 'I
thought you were comin' to relieve me, Sarge. 'Ello, what've we got 'ere?'
Sergeant Patterson took hold of Chaz firmly. 'Ah'll tell ye all about it later, Constable. Lock those three up in
the holding cell, will ye. Ah'll keep this fellow here with me. Ah've got a feeling he wants tae tell me more.' The
sergeant relieved Mackay of his stick.
'Thanks for the help, gents. Time yon lads were in bed, though. Does your dad know you're out this late, Alex?'
The younger boy who stood framed by the open window with the blue-eyed boy replied, 'It's all right, Sarge.
Me and Amy told him we'd be stopping over with Ben at Miz Winn's tonight.'
The sergeant winked at Ben. 'Weel, you make sure they get straight off tae bed, and don't stay up late yourself!'
Ben grinned cheekily. 'Bed? Not on a night like this. It's gone midnight, d'you realize? Today's Thursday, the
deadline day for Chapelvale. I'm going back to see if Miz Winn and our friends have cracked the riddle!'
The boys ran off, with Will, the shipman, and the lawyer in their wake, calling, 'Hi, wait for us!'
43.
WILL'S MA HAD TAKEN LITTLE Willum to bed with her, in Winnie's room on the ground floor. On the sofa
formerly occupied by little Willum, Mr. Braithwaite lay, wrapped in his gown, overcome by slumber. Hetty took the
plaid traveling rug and covered him over with it. 'Good old feller, it was him who thought of lightin' the candle. That
got us started.' Mackay bobbed his head in a small bow. 'But I've no doubt he couldn't have got much further without
the help of you ladies, excellent work all 'round!' Amy, Eileen, and Mrs. Winn were far too excited to contemplate
sleep. They showed the results of their labors to the menfolk, who told them of the capture of the London toughs. The
blue-eyed boy took a look at the writing, then at the old map with the four dots upon it. 'It's marked here as East-path,
where's that?'
Eileen blushed in the lamplight. 'Oh, 'tis a pretty little lane. Will an' me used to walk there, when we was
a-courtin'.' Mr. Mackay knew a bit more about the area. 'Ah yes, East-path. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, Jon, but
isn't that the old stagecoach way, to the east of the village square?'
Jon confirmed the solicitor's words. 'Aye, that's the place,' the old shipmate said. 'Once the new road was built
from Hadford, for the waggoners to use, the path fell into disrepair. Of course, that'd be nigh on a hundred years back.
Eastpath will be so overgrown we'll have a right old job tryin' to locate a milestone.'
Will shook his head. 'Oh no we won't, friend. I recall trip-pin' over that stone an' sprainin' my ankle one
evening as I was runnin'.'
Amy chuckled. 'Were you chasing after Eileen?'
Will's big, jolly wife gave Amy a nudge, almost knocking her over. 'No, it were I who was chasin' after Will!'
Mr. Mackay coughed officiously to dispel any more talk of the romantic escapade. 'Harrumph! Yes, well, we're
going to need spades, lanterns, and so on. Shall we get started? Our time is short now.'
The black Labrador passed a thought to his master, who was sitting stroking him. 'Pity the poor girl who ever
