"It seems ages, but I think it must have been about the middle of the day." "And when did Fenton come back?" "Just as it was growing dark. He had been down to the river to get the yacht ready, and had left one of the men here to look after me. He told me exactly what he meant to do--that he was going to take me away on the boat and keep me there until--until----" Her voice faltered. "I know," said Colin quickly. "I've had the whole story from Medwin!" "The whole story! Oh, Colin, what does it mean? Why should he----" "You shall hear everything in a minute," he interrupted. "Just tell me first what happened when we broke into the house." "It was all over so quickly," said Nancy. "He was in there talking to me and threatening me when he suddenly heard a tremendous crash, and one of the others--the man they call Spike--rushed into the room and shouted out something about the police. Before I could----" She stopped abruptly. "Listen!" she exclaimed. "They're coming back." There was a sound of voices and steps on the verandah outside, and, letting go Nancy's hands, Colin jumped to his feet. He walked across to the sitting-room door, where the sight which met his eyes caused him to hurry forward with a sudden exclamation of dismay. The Inspector and Joe were coming in through the window, carrying between them the limp, unconscious body of Sergeant Bentley. Marsden glanced round, his usually stolid face flushed and contorted. "They've shot him, doctor--shot him down like a dog and got away in the car. They must have had it standing ready in the garage." As he spoke, he and Joe lowered their burden gently on to the thick rug which lay just across the window, and the next instant Colin had dropped on his knees, and was bending forward over the prostrate figure. To an untrained eye the spectacle was a ghastly one, for the man's face was covered with blood, which had trickled down from a broad gash in his forehead. His pulse was still beating, however, and after feeling it for a few moments, and then closely examining the injury, Colin looked up with a little gesture of relief. "It's not as bad as it appears," he announced. "The bullet must have struck him sideways and glanced off the outside of his temple. He's only stunned." "Only stunned!" repeated the Inspector. "Well, in that case he can stop here with Bates and Miss Seymour, while you and I go after the others. If they once get on board that boat we may have the devil's work in catching them." Colin started up immediately, but before he could speak he was interrupted by Nancy, who had followed him into the room. "I can tell you where the yacht's lying," she said. "I heard them talking about it. It's in some small creek just this side of Thames Haven." The Inspector wheeled round sharply on Colin. "Do you know the way?" he demanded. "Do you think you can overtake them?" "I expect I can," replied Colin, "unless Nancy would rather I stayed with her."