found he could manage, so he is letting
the ship come on."

"Jolly good, Leatham."

"The Girondin is expected about seven tomorrow evening. Benson then
asked about a pilot. It seems their captain is a certified pilot of the
Humber up to Ferriby, but he could not take the boat farther. I told him
I'd lend him the man who acted for me, and what I've arranged is this,
I shall send Angus Menzies, the master of one of my river tugs, to the
wharf at Ferriby about six on Saturday evening. When the Girondin comes
up he can go aboard and work her on here. Menzies is a good man, and I
shall drop a hint that I've bought the whole cargo, and to keep his eyes
open that nothing is put ashore that I don't get. That'll be a still
further check."

The friends expressed their satisfaction at this arrangement, and it was
decided that as soon as the investigation was over all three should meet
and compare results at Leatham's house.

Next evening saw the two inquirers back at their hotel in Hull. They
had instructed the owner of their hired boat to keep it in readiness for
them, and about eleven o'clock, armed with the footstool and the satchel
of food, they once more got on board and pulled out on to the great
stream. Merriman not wishing to spend longer in the barrel than was
absolutely necessary, they went ashore near Hassle and had a couple of
hours' sleep, and it was well past four when they reached the depot. The
adventure was somewhat more risky than on the previous occasion, owning
to the presence of a tiny arc of moon. Rut they carried out their plans
without mishap, Merriman taking his place in the cask, and Hilliard
returning to Hull with the boat.

If possible, the slow passage of the heavily weighted hours until the
following evening was even more irksome to the watcher than on the
first occasion. Merriman felt he would die of weariness and boredom long
before anything happened, and it was only the thought that he was doing
it for Madeleine Coburn that kept him from utter collapse.

At intervals during the morning, Benson, the manager, or one of the
other men came out for a moment or two on the wharf, but no regular work
went on there. During the interminable hours of the afternoon no one
appeared at all, the whole place remaining silent and deserted, and it
was not until nearly six that the sound of footsteps fell on Merriman's
weary ears. He heard a gruff voice saying: "Ah'm no so sairtain o' it
mesel'," which seemed