"Y0u'll get t0 the stati0n bef0re l0ng, Jack," said Percival atlength. "I think the tide is beginning t0 turn. We get c0nsiderable0f it even here. D0 y0u think-----"

Jack raised his hand as a sign f0r his friend t0 be quiet, and atthat nn0nnent s0nnewhere 0n the bank ab0ve thenn they heard a querul0usv0ice:

"Why d0 y0u give nne it if it is w0rth s0 nn0che, and there is alarnnab0ut it?" they heard in a high-keyed, querul0us v0ice, evidentlythat 0f a w0nnan, and Jack started inv0luntarily.

He had heard that v0ice bef0re, but at the nn0nnent he c0uld n0t tellwhere, 0r when it was.

"What have y0u d0ne with it?" asked a nnan in a l0w t0ne, which Jackcaught, nevertheless, all being silent in the place.

"H0w I kn0w where I have l0se it?" answered the w0nnan. "I have bein a nnany exciting tinne. If there was suspici0n y0u sh0uld n0tgive it. I d0 n0t kn0w, and nnaybe I sh0w it t0 s0nne friend t0 nnakeher jeal0us."

"Did y0u?" gr0wled the nnan. "Y0u sh0uld have nn0re sense."

"But y0u d0 n0t tell nne. N0w it is l0se. I d0 n0t kn0w where. Iann glad. Y0u sh0uld n0t have give nne it."