Such a random shot might demolish Tom Slade, too, but he did not think of that.

What he thought of chiefly was the inglorious role he would play if, after shifting his responsibility, he should go riding into Dieppe only to find that the faithful dots and dashes had done his work for him.

Then again, suppose the wires should be tapped--there were spies everywhere, he knew that.
Whatever might have been the part of wisdom and caution, he was well past Aumale before he allowed himself to realize that he was taking rather a big chance.

If there were floods in one place there might be floods in another, but---- He banished the thought from his mind.

Tom Slade, motorcycle dispatch-bearer, had always regarded the villages he rushed through with a kind of patronizing condescension.