Inspector Val had tripped over
this bar. Remove the detaining iron bar, and the released flotilla would
sail downward to the mouth of the drain and deliver its yellow freight
of gold to whomsoever waited to receive it.

Richard and Inspector Val continued up the drain, the latter wary and
ready for Storri, whom he every moment hoped to meet. There appeared no
Storri; the two explorers at last reached London Bill's tunnel, finding
nothing during their march but a solid procession of richly freighted
rubber rafts--three-quarters of a mile of gold!

"There's four millions of dollars between here and the river," said
Inspector Val.

Richard and his guide paused where London Bill's tunnel opened into the
drain. Flashing his lamp about, Inspector Val showed Richard where
London Bill had built a platform on which to store the rubber rafts
before inflating and launching them down-stream, each with its
five-thousand-dollar cargo of gold.

"Did you ever see sweeter arrangements!" whispered Inspector Val, in an
ecstasy of admiration.

Bidding Richard remain where he was, Inspector Val, revolver in one
hand, dark-lantern in the other, bent low his head and disappeared in
London Bill's tunnel. He was gone an age as it seemed to Richard. Then
he reappeared, and soberly brushed the clay from his garments.

"No Storri," was the sententious remark of Inspector Val; "not a sign of
him. But I've thought it out. Do you know why we don't find Storri? The
reason is the best in the world; the man's dead."

CHAPTER XXII

HOW THE SAN REVE KEPT HER STORRI

Richard was of a temperament singularly cool and steady. His curiosity
had been trained to wait, and he put questions only as a last resort.
Throughout the strange happenings of the night--the tryst with Inspector
Val--the meeting with Mr. Duff and Mr. England at the drain's mouth--the
presence of Steamboat Dan--the colloquy between that unworthy and
Inspector Val--the signal pistol shot--the flight of the robbers--he had
not spoken a word. While his astonishment was kept to an upgrade, there
had not been elicited a syllable of inquiry from Richard. He threaded
the drain, encountered the long fleet of little rubber argosies, and
finally brought up at London Bill's tunnel, and never an interrogation.
This was not acting nor affectation; Richard knew that he might with
better intelligence invite an explanation from Inspector Val after
having seen and understood his utmost. Mo