I went for a walk in the afternoon along the shore and passed the telegraph office, but the confounded fellow was with me all the time.

My only chance was just before we sailed, when he had to go on board to check some cargo.

As the telegraph office stood full in view of the ship's deck I did not go near it.

But in the back end of the clachan I found the schoolmaster, and got him to promise to send the wire.

I also bought off him a couple of well-worn sevenpenny novels.
The result was that I delayed our departure for ten minutes and when I came on board faced a wrathful Gresson.