ach, and with apparent difficulty hoisted them into a small boat. So
intent were they on their occupation that they never glanced in the
direction of the rock where Margaret and Lorraine were concealed. The
bathing-tent, fortunately, was round a corner, and out of sight. No
doubt they imagined that in that early hour of the morning they had the
cove to themselves. Two anxious pairs of eyes, however, were watching
them narrowly, and making a mental register of their actions. As the men
went back to fetch more barrels, they were met by a third companion who
issued from the cave; he stood for a moment speaking to them, and
looking out over the water towards the conning tower of the U-boat. The
first rays of the rising sun fell full on his face.

As she watched him standing there in the sunlight, with the background
of the dark cave behind him, some detached links in Lorraine's memory
suddenly welded themselves together, and formed a continuous chain. In a
flash she recollected where she had seen him before--he was the man who
had tried to take the photo of the hockey field and of the golf links in
the autumn, and not only that, but she could almost be sure that he was
identical with the stranger who had met Madame Bertier on the beach, and
the foreigner who had admired her picture in the Academy. The sudden
discovery almost stunned her. She realized all it might mean. It was
evident enough what the men were doing. They had a secret store of
barrels of oil inside the cave, and were taking them out to supply the
U-boat. They were in a hurry, and the business did not last long. Their
cargo was soon complete, the boat pushed off and was making its way
along the side of the cove to the place where the conning tower still
showed like a blot on the water.

As soon as it seemed safe to move from their hiding-place, Margaret and
Lorraine dodged round the rocks, and abandoning tent, easel, and
painting accessories climbed up the cliff-side and tramped home across
the moor to Porthkeverne with all possible speed. They were sure that
what they had witnessed ought to be reported at once, so they went
straight to the police station and told their amazing story. The
constable listened attentively, jotting down points in his notebook,
asked various questions and took their names and addresses. He was
guarded in his communications, but he thanked them for coming.

"I may have to call on you for more help" he remarked thoughtfully, then
t