that the soldiers with him failed to entirely grasp his
meaning, and one shouldered his rifle, while the other
brought his politely to a salute.

"You ass!" muttered the tall German. " Get out!"

As they charged into the street, they heard behind them a
wild feminine shriek, then a crash of pottery and glass, then
silence, and an instant later the Ship Inn was buried in
darkness.

"That will hold Stiffkey for a while!" said Ford. "Now, back
to the car."

But between them and the car loomed suddenly a tall and
impressive figure. His helmet and his measured tread upon the
deserted cobble-stones proclaimed his calling.

"The constable!" whispered Herbert. "He must see us, but he
mustn't speak to us."

For a moment the three men showed themselves in the middle of
the street, and then, as though at sight of the policeman
they had taken alarm, disappeared through an opening between
two houses. Five minutes later a motor-car, with its canvas
top concealing its occupants, rode slowly into Stiffkey's
main street and halted before the constable. The driver of
the car wore a leather skull-cap and goggles. From his neck
to his heels he was covered by a raincoat.