How
many sheeps are zere in zis island, eh?"
Did I see a gleam of intelligence for an instant in Jock's eye? I cannot
honestly say. I only know that he looked not unnaturally surprised, and
then thickly answered what sounded like "A hundred and six." Anyhow it
was nothing that seemed to illuminate the subject very brightly.
"And how many wax matches?" I enquired.
Jock hooted with laughter. He sounded so cheerful, that I perforce
laughed too, and then I gazed at him sombrely.
"Jock," I said, "you are a fraud and a disappointment."
He laughed again, and then all at once a much more sensible idea struck
me. He was not a very promising ally, but he might prove better than
none at all.
"Jock," said I, "I am a stranger."
He nodded and seemed to understand.
"Have you seen any other strangers in this island of yours?" I asked.
He seemed a little confused.
"No, no," he began, and then altered it into "Yes, yes."
Which did he mean, or did he mean anything at all.
"A man in an oilskin coat, with a moustache on his lip--here," I went on,
touching my own lip. "Who goes out at night and walks along the shore;
have you seen any one like that?"
Again he seemed to look intelligent, but he only shook his head vaguely.
"Well," I said, "if you do see any one like that let me know, and you
will see some more shoots.
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