districts awaited him. These were already written out by a
constable, and he took them one by one, read them, and handed them
to Brendon. The first came from the post office at Post Bridge, and
the post-mistress reported that a man, one Samuel White, had seen a
motor bicycle run at great speed without lights up the steep hill
northward of that village on the previous night. He gave the time as
between half past ten and eleven o'clock.

"We should have heard of him from Moreton next," said Halfyard;
"but, no. He must have branched under Hameldown and gone south, for
the next news is from Ashburton."

The second message told how a garage keeper was knocked up at
Ashburton, just after midnight, in order that petrol might be
obtained for a motor bicycle. The description of the purchaser
corresponded to Redmayne and the message added that the bicycle had
a large sack tied behind it. The rider was in no hurry; he smoked a
cigarette, swore because he could not get a drink, lighted his
lamps, and then proceeded by the Totnes road which wound through the
valley of the Dart southward.

The third communication came from the police station at Brixham and
was somewhat lengthy. It ran thus:

"At ten minutes after two o'clock last night P.C. Widgery, on
night duty at Brixham, saw a man on a motor bicycle with a
large parcel behind him run through the town square. He
proceeded down the main street and was gone for the best part
of an hour; but, before three o'clock, Widgery saw him return
without his parcel. He went fast up the hill out of Brixham,