Any further strategy on my part appeared to be out of place.  I grasped the position in one hurried glance, and then, buttoning my coat and ramming down my cap, openly and frankly took to my heels.  I heard the gentlemen behind shout out something which sounded like a request that I should stop, but I was too occupied to pay much attention.  The marsh was infested with small drains, and one had to keep one’s eyes glued on the ground immediately ahead to avoid coming an unholy purler.  That was the only thing I was afraid of, as I was in excellent condition, and I have always been a very fair runner.

When I had covered about a couple of hundred yards I looked back over my shoulder.  I expected to find that I had widened the gap, but to my dismay I discovered that my immediate pursuer had distinctly gained on me.  I could just see that he was a tall, active-looking fellow in a policeman’s uniform, with a long raking stride that was carrying him over the ground in the most unpleasant fashion.  Unless he fell over a drain and broke his silly neck it seemed highly probable that he would arrive at the creek almost as soon as I did.

As I ran I prayed fervently in my heart that Mr. Gow had followed my instructions and left the dinghy within easy reach of the water.  Otherwise I was in a tight place, for though I could swim to the Betty all right, it would be impossible to take her out of the creek in a dead calm and with no petrol aboard for the engine.  I should be compelled to stand at bay until a breeze got up, repelling boarders with the boat-hook!

Just before I reached the sea-wall I looked round a second time.  My pursuer was now only about thirty yards distant, but it was evident that his efforts had begun to tell on him.  He again shouted out some breathless advice to the effect that it would be “best” for me to surrender, but without waiting to argue the point I scrambled up the bank and cast a hurried, anxious glance round for the dinghy.

Any doubts I might have had about Mr. Gow’s trustworthiness were instantly dispelled.  The boat was lying on the mud only a few yards out of reach of the tide.  With a gasp of thankfulness I leaped on to the saltings, and clearing the distance in about three strides, clutched hold of the gunwale and began to drag it towards the water.

Just as I reached that desirable element the figure of my pursuer appeared above the bank.  I gave a last savage wrench, but my foot slipped in the treacherous mud, and I as nearly as possible stumbled to my knees.  That final tug, however, had done the trick.  The boat was floating, and with a wild effort I scrambled in, and seizing an oar, shoved off furiously from the shore.

I was only just in time.  Jumping from the sea-wall, the policeman fairly hurled himself across the intervening space, and without a moment’s hesitation plunged into the creek after me.  I shortened my oar, and as he made a grab for the stern I suddenly lunged forward with all the force I could command.  The blade took him fair and square in the wind, and with a loud observation that sounded like “Ouch!” he sat down abruptly in the water.  Before he could recover himself I was ten yards from the shore, sculling vigorously for the centre of the stream.