to drop down on the wharf when the
discharging was about finished, and I had a chat with the captain;
superior chap, that. I told him I was interested in his ship, for it
was the largest I have ever seen up at my wharf, and that I had been
thinking of getting one something the same built. I asked him if he
would let me see over her, and he was most civil and took me over
the entire boat. There was no part of her we didn't examine, and I'm
prepared to swear there were no props left on board. So we may take it
that whatever else they're up to, they're not carrying brandy in faked
pit-props. Nor, so far as I can see, in anything else either."

The three men smoked in silence for some time and then Hilliard spoke.

"I suppose, Leatham, you can't think of any other theory, or suggest
anything else that we should do."

"I can't suggest what you should do," returned Leatham, rising to his
feet and beginning to pace the room. "But I know what I should do in
your place. I'd go down to Scotland Yard, tell them what I know, and
then wash my hands of the whole affair."

Hilliard sighed.

"I'm afraid we shall have no option," he said slowly, "but I needn't say
we should much rather learn something more definite first."

"I dare say, but you haven't been able to. Either these fellows are a
deal too clever for you, or else you are on the wrong track altogether.
And that's what I think. I don't believe there's any smuggling going on
there at all. It's some other game they're on to. I don't know what it
is, but I don't believe it's anything so crude as smuggling."

Again silence fell on the little group, and then Merriman, who had for
some time been lost in thought, made a sudden movement.

"Lord!" he exclaimed, "but we have been fools over this thing! There's
another point we've all missed, which alone proves it couldn't have been
faked props. Here, Hilliard, this was your theory, though I don't mean
to saddle you with more imbecility than myself. But anyway, according to
your theory, what happened to the props after they were unloaded?"

Hilliard stared at this outburst.

"After they were unloaded?" he repeated. "Why, returned of course for
the next cargo."

"But that's just it," cried Merriman. "That's just what wasn't done.
We've seen that boat unloaded twice, and on neither occasion were any
props loaded to go back."

"That's a point, certainly; yes," Leatham interposed. "I suppose they
would have to be used again an