1 68 Studies in Rat Catching, [ch. x. 



moment or speaking to anyone he waded out 

 through the low surf to the boat, which at 

 once left the harbour and made the best of 

 its way to the yacht, which as soon as all 

 were on board hoisted all sail and was soon 

 out of sight, driven along by a storm that 

 became in the course of the day as fierce a 

 one as that of last night. There was much 

 talk on the beach among the fishermen and 

 in the village among us all as to what the 

 yacht could be and who the stranger was ; 

 and we gathered from the driver of the 

 dog-cart, who had put up his horse at the inn 

 to rest, that he had been called by the porter 

 at the railway station to drive the gentleman 

 over ; but that he had not heard his name, 

 or what business brought him here. The 

 driver, who was a sharp old fellow, said the 

 gentleman had chatted with him as he came 

 along, but kept pressing him to drive faster 

 and faster, and gave him five shillings above 



