Having delivered himself of this information, the gentleman walked on leisurely; not, however, without having given me the tip to meet him on the lower corner. And then to divest myself of all suspicion, should any still be lurking in the officer’s mind, I feigned considerable feeling at the loss of my watch, and even went so far as to offer a reward for it, paying the man ten shillings down on account. Of course I gave him a fictitious name and address. It was a capital ruse, if I do say it myself, and worked like a pair of charms. As soon as I was free I hurried down the street to join Torrence, who was waiting quietly for me on the corner. "And now the sooner we get out of this neighborhood the better!" he said, leading the way quickly down the thoroughfare; "but mind, we must not run. Not a step." We then hastened along all manner of back streets, till I thought we were lost, but suddenly emerged on the bank of the river, at a small wharf, where, to my surprise, I found the launch already waiting, with steam up. In an instant we were aboard, and in a couple of minutes more had shoved off, and were out in the channel of the river. "Give her her head!" called Torrence to one of his men. "We have lost time, and must make it up!" We were soon shoving down the stream at a tremendous pace; the ghostly houses on either side rushing by, and giving me a happy sense of relief after our scary adventure. "I’m glad we’re free at last!" I said, cuddling up to Torrence in the stern of the boat. "Don’t crow before you’re cut of the woods!" he answered. "We shan’t be safe until we’re in the air ship, above the heads of all of them!" "Not knowing who the _them_ are, I’m not in a position to disagree with you!" I answered. "Nor to agree with me, either," said he; "but wait ’till we’re up in the clouds; then I’ll tell you all about it." The launch trembled under the pressure of steam put upon her. The grim docks, just showing their heads through the darkness, and the black swirling water beneath, made it seem as if we were rushing down some giant millrace. It was the stillest hour of night, and Torrence said we must make Gravesend before dawn, which at that season of the year, would not be long in coming. As usual, a tremendous fog came piling in from the sea, as we swept down the river; and before reaching our landing, we were enveloped in a dense cloud-like vapor which wet us to the skin. Luckily our pilot knew his business, and I believe that with points of the compass given, and revolutions of the screw, he could have landed us with his eyes shut. However that may have been, we got there without an accident; and when ready to go ashore, I saw Torrence put a pile of money into the hands of each of the men; at the same time, he said: "Boys, she’s yours! I shall never want her again!" Then leading the way with his lantern, we hastened forward toward Wetherbee’s barn.