I was not here." "Why, where has he gone ?" I asked.
"I don't know.

I thought he had rowed round to the Bay." I shook my head and began to wonder what it meant.
"Father has been round to Penzance or Plymouth, I think," said Bigley.
"He'll be back soon, I expect." "What's he gone after ?" said Bob shortly.
"I don't know," said Bigley, colouring a little.

"Fishing or trading or carrying something, I expect." "I don't!" sneered Bob.

"I know." "That you don't," said Bigley quietly; "even I don't." "No!" sneered Bob; "you never know anything.

People at Ripplemouth do.
He has gone on a jolly good smuggling trip, I know." I saw Bigley's eyes flash, and for a moment I thought that he was going to say something harsh, and that we were going to have a quarrel through Bob Chowne's propensity for saying disagreeable things; but just then I happened to turn my head and saw a boat coming round the western corner of the entrance to the Gap.
"Why, there's father!" I cried.