“When I did get away⁠ ⁠… went like a bird⁠ ⁠… nearly up to Kew⁠ ⁠… but not a sign of the⁠—the sack⁠ ⁠… looked everywhere⁠ ⁠… couldn’t wait any longer⁠ ⁠… I had to get back⁠ ⁠… only just back now⁠ ⁠… against the tide. John, will you go out now?⁠ ⁠… for God’s sake, go⁠ ⁠… take the boat and just patrol about⁠ ⁠… slack water now⁠ ⁠… tide turns in about ten minutes⁠ ⁠… the damned thing must come down⁠ ⁠… unless it’s stuck somewhere⁠ ⁠… you must go, John. We must get hold of it tonight⁠ ⁠… tonight⁠ ⁠… or they’ll find it in the morning. And, John,” he added, as a hideous afterthought, his voice rising to a kind of hysterical shriek, “there’s a label on the sack⁠—with my name and address⁠—I remembered yesterday.”

“But⁠ ⁠… but⁠ ⁠…” began John.