III
I came to myself on the floor of a lighted room, with Hewitt's face over mine. My wrist seemed broken, though it was free, there was oil and blood on my clothes, and in my left hand I still gripped a piece of Mayes's coat.
"Stop him!" I cried. "He's gone by the stable! Have they got him?"
"No good, Brett," Hewitt answered soberly. "You did your best, but he's gone, and Peytral after him!"
"Peytral?"
"Yes. He brought his own message to town. But see if you can stand up."
I was well enough able to do that, and, indeed, I had only fainted from the pain of the strain on my wrist. Several policemen were in the room, beside Hewitt and Plummer. Mayes's stronghold was in the hands of his enemies.
Then I suddenly remembered.
"The Admiralty code!" I cried. "It was in the office desk. Have you got it?"
