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"I knowed they hadn't had time to find you perlice I mean but I saw as you must have got tired waiting so long. So off I set till I met a woman who told me the way to the Sandle'ham road. I had a fancy you'd ask for it rather than come into the town if you thought they'd cotched me, and I was about right you see." "Is this the Sandle'ham road? Oh yes, Barbara told us it was," said the children.
Us would much rather go straight home." Then Tim had to enter upon an explanation. He did not know the nearest way to Sandle'ham, and they might wander about the country, losing their way. They had very little money, and it most likely was too far to walk. He was afraid to ask unless sure it was of some one he could trust; for Mick might have sent word to some one at Monkhaven about them.
There were some tears, as might have been expected, and not only on the children's part, when they came to say good-bye to Mrs. Peter and the baby. But they soon dried in the excitement of getting on shore again and setting off under Tim's care on the last stage of their journey "home." "Is it a very long walk, do you think, Tim?" they asked. "Us knows the way a long way down the Sandle'ham road.
Peter that's the name of the man there Peter's promised to take us as far as he goes towards Sandle'ham. It's such a piece of luck as never was to have come across him; he's the cousin of the boy I told you of who let me stay in his boat when I was a little 'un." "Oh," cried the children, "oh yes, us remembers that story. It was a boy and his mother. And was it a boat just like this, Tim?"
Mick'll not be likely to think of the canal, and Tim's been down to see if there was any one among the boat-people as would take you. He used to know some of them not far from here. And the canal goes straight on to a place called Monkhaven, on the road to Sandle'ham. Did you ever hear of that place?" The children shook their heads. "Well, it can't be helped.
But here am I wasting time talking of myself, and I want to tell you all I'm thinking of. First, do you know the name of the village or town nearest where you live?" "Sandle'ham," said the children. "But is that near your home?" pursued Diana. The twins shook their heads. They didn't know. "Us was there once," said Duke. "But it was a long time ago. It seemed a very far way."
Then after Sandle'ham, which way were they to go? There was but one thing to do ask the police. The police would take care of them and set them on the way. But oh, poor Tim! Little did he know the effect of that fatal word, and yet he had far more reason to dread the police than the twins could have.
I've been up early; I want to get to the wharf before it's crowded. So after you've had some breakfast, you and the little uns, what d'ye think of next?" "To find the quickest road to Sandle'ham," said Tim; "that's the only place they can tell the name of near their home.
That's as far as you can get by the canal. After that Tim must use his wits and look about him; and when you get to Sandle'ham I'm afraid there's no help for it you'll have to ask the police to take you home." "But Tim too?" said Pamela. "Tim's to go home with us." "I hope so," said Diana. "I hope the old gentleman and lady will be good to him, poor boy!
Tim's first knock was not heard, but a second brought one to the door. "Please, sir," said the boy without waiting to be asked what he wanted, "could you tell me the nearest way to Sandle'ham? I'm on my way there leastways to some place near-by there there's two childer with me, sir, as has got strayed away from their home, and "
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