He couldn't quite, swear that the figure was White or that the boat was the _Martha_ but he didn't know who either could be if they were not.

The figure might have been a boy, but, as he was a quarter of a mile off, he couldn't say.

He never left his beat till one in the morning.

By that time the tide was in.

He didn't actually see Tom White row off in the _Martha_ but neither of them was to be seen in Templeton next day.
After this piece of conclusive evidence the public looked at one another and shook their heads, and thought what wonderful men the Templeton police were for finding out things.
"Have you any questions to ask the witness ?" demanded the clerk of Tom.
"Thank'ee, no, sir; it's all one to me," said Tom.