That Tom White had only got his deserts they never questioned; but they would have been more comfortable if that loop had slipped itself.
Days went on, and still no tidings reached them.

The bills faced them wherever they went, and once, as they passed the boat-house with a crowd of other fellows, they received a shock by seeing Tom White himself sitting and smoking on a bench, and looking contemplatingly out to sea.
"There's Tom White," said one of the group.

"I say," shouted he, "have you found your boat, Tom ?" Tom looked up and scanned the group.

Our heroes' hearts were in their boots as his eyes met theirs.

But to their relief he did not know them.
A half-tipsy man on a dark night is not a good hand at remembering faces.
"Found her?
No, I aren't, young gentleman," said he.
"Hard lines.