"By gad, he gave me a shock when he came to the door this morning," said Brack. "You must wait for to-night; I'll come and fetch you if the coast is clear. You'll have to trust me, leave it all to me." "I will," said Hector. "I can do nothing for myself." "You can do a lot. If there's danger keep cool and don't betray any alarm--face it out." "I place myself entirely in your hands," said Hector. There was no chance that night. Brack stayed about the harbor until ten o'clock. Just as he thought the opportunity favorable Carl Hackler turned up, and Brack made for home, thinking he had not been seen. He was mistaken. "Something mysterious about the old fellow lately," thought Carl. "He can't know anything; it's absurd, of course; but I'll swear he put me off the scent about that tramp. Confound him, he's a shrewd 'un, he is. It's my belief No. 832 is in Torquay somewhere. There'll be a shindy if he gets away, because he's got a lot of rich relations I believe; somebody's sure to say it's a put up job. There wasn't any put up business about strangling that dog; I can't help admiring the fellow for that. He bore a good name in the prison too." "No go to-night," said Brack as he came in, "but I've got a bit of news." "What is it?" asked Hector. "I've won the first part of my bet with The Rascal." Hector could not help smiling; it seemed a curious piece of news under the circumstances. He said: "I hope you'll win the double." "It'll mean a fiver to me," said Brack, "and that's a lot to a poor man." "You shall have a pocket full of fivers when I prove my innocence," said Hector. "I'd not take 'em," said Brack. "I'd be satisfied to know I'd done you a good turn, that I would," and he meant it. Next evening Brack was very well pleased with himself when The Rascal won the double. He proceeded to draw his money and enlighten the youthful bookie on the follies of gambling; he also exhibited some liberality in the matter of drinks to several mates. He saw nothing of Carl Hackler, although he walked about the streets and loitered near the water. "I'll try it to-night," he thought. "The races are over and maybe the _Sea-mew_ will sail before morning. There's no telling, and it's the best chance there is; it can't be missed; it's too good, even if we run some risk. If I only knew where that Dartmoor chap was. I'd give half my winnings to know--I'd give the whole blessed lot to get him safe on that yacht." Brack went home full of his plan, and how best to manage it without exciting suspicion. It was after ten o'clock when he slipped out of the house. Hector Woodridge followed at some distance, keeping him in sight. "He's going to the harbor," thought Hector. "What will he do there?"