ed nervously about the tank. There was nothing he could do but wait.
There would be no use to fill the cans at present or start the conveyer
to carry the empty-bellied fish to the cannery floor. Both would
necessitate the use of machinery, and even electric-driven power made
some noise.

If the Slavonian was through, why didn't he close the valve and come
down? The door of the storage-vat opened suddenly and Blankovitch's
bulky figure staggered within. Rock drew back at the expression on the
Slavonian's face. All color had fled from the manager's ruddy cheeks.
His eyes were staring and his heavy jaw sagged.

Then Rock noted that the door was still open. As he made haste to close
it before questioning the frightened Slavonian, he found the way blocked
by three shadowy figures who sprang upon him.

"You are under arrest, Mr. Rock."

Silvanus Rock wriggled vainly in the arms of the men who forced him back
into the tank. In the struggle the light fell full upon the open vest of
one of the strangers. Then Rock collapsed.

For years he had suffered this nightmare. In his troubled dreams he had
seen the glittering shield of the revenue men winking at him from the
darkness. Now it was a tangible reality. He was caught with the goods
through the Slavonian's treachery. Glaring in sullen anger at his
trembling manager, he opened his mouth to speak but no word came. Then
one of the deputies who had made a cursory examination of the vat, began
to speak:

"Well, Mr. Rock," he said, "it kind of looks like we had the man higher
up. At the point of a gun, Mr. Blankovitch showed us the way to your
little office down here. And Signor Rossi brought us all the way over
from Diablo hidden away among his fish so we could have the pleasure of
finding out where he sold his cargo. The little ride was worth as much
to him as it was to us."

Turning to the man who was standing by the Slavonian, he ordered:
"Better put the steels on him, Jack. I'll take this one while Joe stays
down here with the stuff."

* * * * *

When the _Bennington_ entered Crescent Bay followed by the _Richard_
towing the _Fuor d'Italia_, excitement was rife at Legonia. And as the
boats came to anchor off the Golden Rule Cannery a large crowd of
curious village-folk collected on the dock.

The consensus of opinion, in Silvanus Rock's absence, was expressed by
the local postmaster. There had been another fight at El Diablo and
"Uncle