She has signaled the 'Corbieres,'
and they have telegraphed over to the office at the pier. There's
Mattie Jones's telegram. The three we want are on board, sure enough.
And, thank God! the Hirondelle is riding safe and easy around the
point. It's the one night of a million for my job and for yours."
"What's your final plan? We must get out of here soon," growled
Hawke, shaking off the pouring rain like a burly water dog. "I
have my two men already watching the little gardener's hut in the
Tropical Gardens, where I hid my cracksman's outfit. Old Simpson
is boozing away down at the Jersey Arms. I heard him tell pretty
Ann, the barmaid, that he would have to be home by midnight, for
the 'old man' would surely arrive in the morning. Now, will you
stay here with this man, and 'do up' old Simpson? Mind you, there
must be no stab or bullet wound. The 'life preserver,' and, then
over with him! They will only think that rum and the fall did the
business.
"I will make straight for the Hirondelle when I am done, and send
a man to report to you at the old martello tower, where your gang
are to meet you. This man can get over to the boat now and warn
them to show up, carefully, one by one, and hide around there till
dark. Not in the tower itself, for some of the coast-guard roundsmen
might take shelter there and pitch into them for smugglers. I'll
stay here till he comes back.
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