He had lost caste, he feared, with Pledge, and he was running into the enemy's country and perilling not only himself, but Dick, in the venture.
He made fearful and wonderful detours to avoid a few straggling policemen, or any figure which in the distance looked remotely like a British seaman.

The sight of a shopkeeper sitting at his door and reading the _Templeton Observer_ scared him, and the bill offering a reward for his discovery all but drove him headlong back to the school without accomplishing his mission.
At length, after an anxious voyage, he ran into Mr Webster's harbour, and for a little while breathed again.
The bookseller knew quite well what book Pledge had ordered.
"Here it is," said he, handing over a small parcel, "and I'd advise you to get rid of it as soon as you can.

It would do you no good to be found in your pocket, or Mr Pledge either," he added.
"He says it's paid for," said Heathcote.
"Quite right." Then, noticing that the boy still seemed reluctant to launch forth once more into the High Street, he said-- "Perhaps you'd like to look round the shop, Mr Heathcote ?" Heathcote thought he would, and spent a quarter of an hour in investigating Mr Webster's shelves of books.
Just as he was about to leave, Duffield and the "sociable" Raggles entered the shop.
"Hullo, Georgie!" said the latter; "who'd have thought of seeing you in the town?
Everyone says you're keeping out of the way of the police, don't they, Duff ?" "Yes," said Duffield, perceiving the joke, "for some burglary, or something like that." Heathcote breathed again at the word burglary, and made an heroic effort to smile.
"Not at all," said Raggles, nudging his ally; "not a burglary, but boat- stealing, isn't it, Webster ?" "Ah," said Mr Webster, who was a good man of business and fond of his joke, "they never did find that young party, certainly." "Shut up and don't be a fool!" said Heathcote, feeling the colour coming to his face, and longing to be out in the open air.
"What's this the description was ?" said Duffield, perching himself on the corner of the counter and reading off the unhappy Heathcote's personal appearance.

"Good-looking boy of fourteen, with fair hair and a slight moustache.

Dressed in a grey tweed suit, masher collar, and two tin sleeve-links.