'That is Jacobson's Yard,' said Holmes, pointing to a bristle of masts and rigging on the Surrey side. 'Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters.' He took a pair of night-glasses from his pocket and gazed some time at the shore. ‘I see my sentry at his post,' he remarked, 'but no sign of a handkerchief.'
'Suppose we go down stream a short way and lie in wait for them,' said Jones eagerly.
We were all eager by this time, even the policemen and stokers, who had a very vague idea of what was going forward.
'We have no right to take anything for granted,' Holmes answered. 'It is certainly ten to one that they go down stream, but we cannot be certain. From this point we can see the entrance of the yard, and they can hardly see us. It will be a clear night and plenty of light. We must stay where we are.