down the road towards Hull.

When it was out of sight, Hunt descended and with some difficulty
climbed the wall to his colleague. There in the shade of the thick
belt of trees both men lay down and smoked peacefully until nearly four
o'clock. Then once more they took up their respective positions,
watched until about half an hour later the lorry again passed out and
photographed it precisely as before. That done, they walked to Hassle
station, and took the first train to Hull.

By dint of baksheesh they persuaded the photographer to develop their
films there and then, and that same evening they had six prints.

As it happened they turned out exceedingly good photographs. Their
definition was excellent, and each view included the whole of the lorry.
The friends found, as Hunt had hoped and intended, that owing to the
height from which the views had been taken, each several keg of the load
showed out distinctly. They counted them. Each picture showed seventeen.

"You see?" cried Hunt triumphantly. "The same amount of stuff went out
on each load! We shall have them now, Willis!"

Next day Hunt returned to Ferriby works ostensibly to continue his
routine inspection. But in three minutes he had seen what he wanted.
Taking the certificate book, he looked up the blocks of the two
consignments they had photographed, and he could have laughed aloud in
his exultation as he saw that what he had suspected was indeed the fact.
The two certificates were identical except that to the second an item of
four kegs of French brandy had been added! Hunt counted the barrels. The
first certificate showed thirteen and the last seventeen.

"Four kegs of brandy smuggled out under our noses yesterday," he thought
delightedly. "By Jove! but it's a clever trick. Now to test the next
point."

He made an excuse for leaving the works, and returning to Hull, called
at the licensed house to which the previous afternoon's consignment
had been dispatched. There he asked to see the certificates of the two
trips. On seeing his credentials these were handed up without demur, and
he withdrew with them to his hotel.

"Come," he cried to Willis, who was reading in the lounge, "and see the
final act in the drama."

They retired to their private room, and there Hunt spread the two
certificates on the table. Both men stared at them, and Hunt gave vent
to a grunt of satisfaction.

"I was right," he cried delightedly. "Look here! Why I can see it with
th