Hearing raised voices, Sheriff Plodfoot stepped out of his office to be confronted by Diver Dennis, whose seaweed-entangled hair dripped water onto the floor, forming a puddle around his barnacled bare feet. "What's wrong, Dennis?"
"That bushranger's nicked all me pearls."
"Are you sure it was him?"
"Yes, I seen him skulking around me boat last night and when I come back from pub, all me pearls was gone."
Plodfoot turned to constable Cacher. "Geo, do bushrangers skulk?"
Cacher shrugged. "I dunno, sir."
"It must've been him," Dennis said, "'cause he left you this parchment."
"Show me."
"I know the eatery he's talking about!" Cacher said. "I'll coordinate the enlisted men and start there."
Plodfoot turned to Dennis as Cacher dashed out the door. "Don't worry, we'll get your pearls back."
"You do that, Sheriff, thank'ya."
