"So where are you taking us--er--Mr.Gregory ?" (III) They were fortunate that night.
The part of Yorkshire where they were traveling consists chiefly of an innumerable quantity of little cottages, gathered for the most part round collieries.

One has the impression--at any rate, from a motor--that there is nothing but villages.

But that is not a fact.

There are stretches of road, quite solitary at certain hours; and in one of these they noticed presently a little house, not twenty yards from the road, once obviously forming part of a row of colliers' cottages, of which the rest were demolished.
It was not far off from ruin itself, and was very plainly uninhabited.
Across the front door were nailed deal props, originally, perhaps, for the purpose of keeping it barred, and useful for holding it in its place.

The Major and Gertie kept watch on the road while Frank pushed open the crazy little gate and went round to the back.