By four o'clock you won't be the least bit surprised if you find yourself flying across the New Jersey flats in an aeroplane, or having a cup of hot coffee on board the pilot steamer off Sandy Hook." "I'll risk either of those unlikely things, sir, if we find your car where we left it," They stepped out briskly.

When all was said and done, none of the three wished to be stranded in some unknown byway of Westchester County at that ungodly hour, and their relief was great when the stark outline of the crane became visible in an otherwise impenetrable wall of darkness.
"By Jove! The car is here all right," crowed Devar joyously.
In the next few strides the automobile came in sight, the blaze of its headlights casting a cheerful glow over the wharf.

Brodie was standing where the barge had been moored, and gazing blankly at the river; he turned when he heard their footsteps, and ran quickly to the car.
"It's O.K., Arthur," cried Devar, realizing that the chauffeur might be dreading an attack from the rear, "little Willie has returned, and won't go boating again in a derelict barge at two o'clock in the morning if he can help it." "Oh, it's you, sir!" came the answer in a tone of vast relief.

"My, but I'm glad to see you! I didn't know what to do.

I thought you were safe enough, because I heard your voices as you drifted away, and I fancied you might make the shore again lower down, but it seemed to be a hopeless job to go in search of you, so, after things had calmed down a bit, I decided to stop right here." After the first gasp of excitement, there had crept into the placid Brodie's voice a note of quiet jubilation which hinted at developments.
"Did anything happen after we sailed away ?" asked Devar.
"Did you see anyone ?" demanded the policeman.
"Things were quiet as the grave for quite a time after you gentlemen disappeared," said Brodie, speaking with the unctuous slowness of a man who has been vouchsafed the opportunity of his life and has grabbed it with both hands.
"Something _did_ occur, then ?" put in Devar impatiently.
"Nothing to speak of, sir--at first," came the irritating answer.