By his side he was conscious of the presence of a thick-set man in a fisherman's costume of brown oilskins and a southwester pulled down as though to hide his features, obviously the man who had dealt him the blow.

Then he heard a very soft, quiet voice behind him.
"He will do now.

Come." The man by his side grunted.
"I am going to make sure of him," he said thickly.

Again he heard that clear voice from behind, this time a little raised.

The words failed to reach his brain, but the tone was one of cold and angry dissent, followed by an imperative order.