me much because he had sworn a blood oath and he would die a most grievous death if he broke his word. He did say as how his aunt was meeting a sly boots in the park and he was right worried about her. So we thought it would be good experience to be right on her trail. We're planning to join the Bow Street Runners, you know."
"I am sure they will be delighted that you will be expanding their ranks," Drew said drily. He was relaxed for the first time since he had entered the house. If his suspicions were correct, they would soon have the solution to Blaine's whereabouts. He smiled fondly at the filthy child, who was looking uneasy at the tone of his voice. "Go on, lad."
"We got there early so we might get an idea of the set up. Val had copped a peek at some letter with directions so we knew where to go. I found a smashing climbing tree. We skinned up it and waited and sure enough along comes this bloke and, believe it or not, Lord Farrington, the man leaned right up against our tree."
"Good God!" By his triumphant smile, Drew knew that Jamie had little conception of the danger they had been in. He hoped Val was more perceptive.
"Along comes Val's aunt. There was a lot of flapping back and forth and I can tell that the old lady's not best pleased. I didn't 'azactly' understand all that was said and when I look up at Val he's just as confused as me. There was a lot of talk about cards. The man wanted some card game and the old lady wouldn't give it to him."
"Solitaire?"
"Righto, guv!" Jamie congratulated Drew for his guess. "Well, sir, they nattered awhile and then the fancy dress bloke whistles up two real mean types and they haul off the old lady. Val wanted to jump down right away but I couldn't see any sense in it. We waited a few minutes and then as soon as we could, we lit into the bushes. They were just stowing Val's aunt in the carriage."
"Did all three of them go with the carriage?"
"Yes, sir. The two bruisers on top and the fancy Dan inside."
At a growl from behind, Drew glanced back at Sarge who was gripping the back of a chair with both hands. He had been so caught up in the boy's story that he had quite forgotten that he was not alone. Tate's usual expression of disapproval was replaced one of unvarnished fear and Frau Puffentraub sat on a chair, her face pinched and white. Drew turned back to the child, anxious to hear the end of the story.
"When the rascals moved forward to talk, Val crept along the ground to the boot. I followed him, of course. We climbed in all right and tight just before the carriage took off. I can tell you, Lord Farrington, I'm never letting Momma put my turtles in the boot. It's a very nasty ride."
Drew hid a smile behind his hand at the disgust in Master Wildebrand's voice and marveled at the bravery of the boys.
"We bounced and jounced for ever such a long time until I felt like I had a touch of the quinsy. Then all of a sudden the ride seemed to smooth out, even though the horses were going a fair clip. Val could see a bit of the road and he told me we were going out of London. He told me as how I would have to get out so that I could tell someone where he had gone."
Here the boy's voice broke and there was a suggestion of dampness to his eyes. Drew leaned forward and clamped a comforting hand on the small shoulder.
"The ground was moving frightfully fast and I knew it wasn't going to be a great comfort when I smacked up on the flat. To my shame, sir, I didn't want to jump."
"Ah, Jamie. You would have been stupid to want to jump. War heroes know the danger but still do what they have to do," Drew said, as he squeezed the scrawny shoulder. He ruffled the boy's hair. "I think you've shown great courage all the way. And so I will tell your father."
"Wizard, sir!" An enormous smile erased the doleful expression and he wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve, distributing the dirt into a more uniform design.
"The proof of your courage is that