Something important was to happen within forty-eight hours, and it depended on the weather. It was now midday on Friday; what was to be done would be done before midday on Sunday. There had been mention of carriers—that implied a smuggling run. Penwarden’s name had not been mentioned, but two men had been said to be on guard. Over whom or what? Not over smuggled goods, for the run had not yet taken place. Not over the revenue officers, for the phrase would then have been "on the watch" or something similar. The word "guard" would naturally be used in connection with a prisoner; that prisoner must be Penwarden: where was he? The men on guard were afraid; no doubt the place chosen for his imprisonment was a lonely spot, not in the village, but somewhere remote from the scene of the impending operations, unless, indeed, it was intended to ship him to France in the lugger that brought the cargo. In that case he would probably be in some secure nook near the shore. Perplexed, Dick wondered whether he had at last discovered a clue. It was at least worth while to follow it up. The men whose names had been mentioned were well known to him. Pennycomequick was a cobbler, Nancarrow a farmer, whose holding was situated about three miles away on the moor. To make direct inquiries might awaken suspicion: how could he discover where they were? An idea struck him. No doubt their guard would be relieved. Trevanion had been surprised to learn that two were on duty; the task, then, was usually undertaken by one. Was it possible to find out if any one left the village secretly during the day? Suddenly a simple stratagem occurred to him. He took up an old, worn pair of boots, ran downstairs, and called Sam. "Take these down to Pennycomequick’s, and tell him to sole them, and to put a good iron tip on the heels. If he is not there, ask when he will be back. Be sure not to forget that, and be as quick as you can." "Iss, I woll," said Sam, "for I do have a hankerin’ arter dinner." He hurried away, and returned when Dick was half through his midday meal. Dick heard the boy clumping into the house, but did not go to him at once, being disinclined to enter into explanations with his parents at this stage. He left the table as soon as he could, and found Sam busy with dumpling and gravy in the kitchen. "Well, Sam?" he said. "Mistress commands me not to speak wi’ my mouth full," mumbled the boy. "Now I can tell ’ee," he went on after a few moments. "Pennycomequick bean’t to home. He be gone to Trura to buy leather." "When will he be back?" "’Them above alone knows,’ says the woman when I axed her. ’He said four, but what Pennycomequick says, and what he do, be as far apart as from here to nowhere.’ If that be all you want to know, Maister Dick, I’ll continny work on this noble pudden."