"All right; there’s no need. Leave it to me." They walked on, giving no sign of having seen the boy, who slipped behind a tree-trunk as they neared him. "Yes, it’s just the night," said Eves in a loud voice, as though continuing a discussion. "Just the night rabbits like. Slip round quietly to the wood; there’ll be hundreds skipping about in the darkness. It’s nearly a mile away; allow half an hour to get there and back, and an hour’s sport; it’ll only be eleven then—not so very late." By this time they had passed the lurking scout, who must have heard all Eves said. A few yards farther along there was a turning on the right, leading to a small wood. Eves struck into this. "Come on," he said to Templeton. "See if my strategy doesn’t answer." They concealed themselves in the hedge, and a few seconds later saw Josiah Noakes run down the road towards the village. "There you are," said Eves. "Josiah’s run to tell his father we’re off shooting rabbits, and the coast is clear. To bring the guns was a bright idea, Bobby." They waited until the boy was well out of earshot, then returned to the road, crossed it, and entered the lane on the opposite side. Some twenty minutes later three figures were faintly discernible on the white road, coming up the hill. "Here they are," whispered Eves. "They’re bringing Josy to protect their rear. Now into cover!" They crept through the hedge and waited. No footsteps sounded on the road. "Wearing rubber-soled shoes," whispered Eves. "So much the better; the tar will stick." Presently the voice of Noakes in subdued tones came to them. "Now, Josiah, do ’ee stop here at the end of the lane, and if so be you see or hear any one coming up or down along, do ’ee run and tell us—quiet as a cat, mind ’ee." "All right, feyther. I’ll tell ’ee sure enough." The men passed on. Smail sniffed. "A powerful smell o’ tar, Mr. Noakes," he said in a hoarse murmur. "Mm’m," grunted Noakes. "Trenchard don’t tar his fences till autumn. ’Tis some mischief o’ they young varmints, belike. I’ll tar ’em!" "You be sure o’ the law, Mr. Noakes? Young feller said summat about my being in quod _again_. How did he know I been in quod?" "Quiet, Smail. I’ll answer for ’ee, man. Now, you go for’ard, straight along. When you get into coal-shed, gi’e me a whistle." "Not if I knows it. I can’t get in that there winder wi’out being hoisted, and ’tis you must hoist me." "Stuff and rubbish! Winder’s low, and don’t ’ee see ’tis best I shouldn’t be seen, if so be the door inside’s locked and you can’t get in?" The men had halted some yards from the patch of tar. Smail was insistent. Noakes declined to accompany him to the shed, and it seemed to the two watchers that matters had come to a deadlock. "Now, Bob," whispered Eves, "we must give them a start." He pulled back the trigger of his gun, causing a slight click. "What’s that?" murmured Smail. "I didn’t see nothing," returned Noakes. "But I heard something."