The Pit Prop Syndicate

had been a glorious day of clear atmosphere and brilliant sunshine, and there was every prospect of a spell of good weather. Now, as the train rumbled over the br

t the light beyond, dark and somber masses with nicked and serrated tops, then, the river crossed, nearer b

. He had never been on any kind of cruise. The nearest approach had been a couple of days' yachting on the Norfolk Broads, but he had found that monotonous and boring, and had been glad when it was over. But this, he expected, would be different. He delighted in poking about abroad,

partly explained by his love of puzzles and mysteries. Perhaps also he half believed in his absurd SUGGESTION about the smuggling, or at least felt that if it were true there was the chance of his making some coup which would also make his name. How a man's occupation colors his mind! thought Merriman. Here was Hilliard, and because he was in the Customs his ideas ran to Customs operations, and wh

he train rumbled on through the rapidly darkening country Merriman began once again to picture the details of that excursion. No doubt they could have tea on board.... He mustn't forget to buy some decent cakes in Bordeaux.... Perhaps she would help him to get

lans until he had gone on board the boat and settled down in a corner of the smoker room. Th

y, and as the hours passed and they ran steadily southward through the pleasing but monotonous central plain of France, the heat grew more and more oppressive. Poitiers was hot, Angoule

iting at the pl

to see you. Give me one of your h

across the great stone bridge leading from the Bastide Station and suburb on the east bank to the main city on the west. In front of them lay the huge concave sweep of quays fronting the Garonne, here a river o

an said, looking up and do

-down old shanty, but it's easier than mooring in the stream and rowing out. We'll go

" Merrima

bridge the taxi swung down towards the water's edge, stopping at a somewhat decrepit enclosure, over the gate of which was the leg

the opposite side. Between the two lay a number of boats. Trade appeared to be b

d, with a ring of pride in hi

msy-looking boat, painted, where the paint was not worn off, a sickly greenish white, and giving a general impression of dirt and want of attention. She was flush-decked, and sat high in the water, with a freeboard of nearly five feet. A little forward of amidships was a small deck cabin containing a brass wheel and binnacle. Aft of the cabin,

liard went on enthusiastically, "and I tell you she didn't ship a pi

; in fact, she was massive. But he thanked his stars he had not assisted in the test. He shuddered at th

n praising the boat, until the unsuspecting Hi

," he agreed. "Come abo

rf, wet, slippery, ooze-covered steps left bare by the recedin

rols come up here, and I can reach them with my left hand while steering with my right." He demonstrated a

ner, disappearing down a steep flight

rward a store containing among other things a collapsible boat, and aft a cabin with lockers on e

but it was soiled and dingy, and the whole place looked dirty and

erneath that turns up to keep you in if she's rolling; not that we shall want it until we get to the Mediterranean. I'm afraid," he went on, answering Merriman's unspoken thought, "the place is not very tidy. I hadn't time to do

e various contraptions the boat contained, and when he had finished, Merriman felt that, could he but remember

he slippery steps, and, strolling slowly up the town, ente

t the latter had put it down to the natural interest of his own arrival, the showing of the boat to a new-comer, and the start of the cruise generally, but as dinner pro

ked during a pause

Hilliard, looking uncompr

ere on pins and needles and gabbling at the rate of a th

has happened since we parted that night in London. I haven't told you yet. I was waiting until

here were a number of people about, the place was by no means crowded, and they were able to find under a large tree set back a little from one of t

les, mostly open sea, and with Ushant at the end of it-a beastly place, generally foggy and always with bad currents. We intended to wait in the Dart for good weather, and we wired the Meteorological Office for forecasts. It happened that on Tuesday night there was a first-rate forecast, so on Wednesday we decided to risk it. We slipped out past the old castle at Dartmouth at 5 a.m., had a topping run, and were in Brest at seven that evening. There we filled up again, and next day, Thursday, we made

e Merriman congratula

r-the Lesque I find it is. I told the chap to come back for me at six, and I walked down the river and did a bit of prospecting. The works were shut, and by keeping the mill building between me and the manager's house, I got close up and had

be nothing really wron

e undergrowth, and it's nearly impossible to get decent cover. But at last I found a little hollow with a mound between it and the lane and road-just a mere irregularity in the surface like what a Tommy would make when he began to dig himself in. I thought I could lie there unobserved, and see what went on with my glass. I have a very good prism monocular-twenty-five diameter magnification, with a splendid de

rriman did not speak. He was leaning forw

fisherman. I had brought some lunch, and I told the man to return for me at seven in the evening. Th

n hour, then the first lorry came. I heard it for some time before I saw it. It passed very slowly along the road from Bordeaux, then turned into the lane and went along it at almost w

No. 4, and the driver was, I am sure, the man you saw. He was like your descript

and I followed it along, going very slowly and bumping over the inequalities of the lane. When it got to a point about a hundred yards from the road, at, I afterwards found, an S c

plate?" suggested M

ged the 4 to a 1. He took the 1 plates out of his pocket and put the 4 plates back instead, and the whole thing just took a couple of sec

rriman returned slowly. "

d out, loaded, so far as I could see, with firewood. That was the one that passed in empty at nine. Then there was a pause until half past two, when your friend retu

sely, now almost as much

an-shaven driver. You remember it had started out loaded at about eleven. It came back empty shortly after the other, say about a quarter to three. It didn't stop and there was no change made with its number. Then there was another

ded and Hill

e lane towards the road. In about an hour she passed back. Then about five minutes past five some workmen went by-evidently the day ends at five. I waited until the coast was clear, then went down to the lane and h

nutes after Hilliard ceased s

ay those lorries we

four

iven them time to

t, and an hour in the city. Yes, that

and again Merriman br

no theory

utely

have some private game of his own

it likely Miss Coburn would join the driver in anythi

man n

"Supposing for a moment it was smuggling. Ho

I can get no l

mind was gradually taking concrete form. It had not assumed much importance when the two friends were first discussing their trip, but now t

is affair that you've discovered is extraordinarily INTERESTING and

nodded

sterday when that girl came by, as if I were spying on her, you know. I wouldn't care to do

ow that I d

te suspicious import trades. Am I not justified in trying to find out if smuggling is going on? Of course I am. Besides, Merriman, I can't pretend not to know that if

u, but I can't see that the a

ur business and mine-the business of any decent man. There's a

sat up

, Hilliard?" he cried fiercely. "Wh

n't be over squeamish. Again, if there's anything, Miss Coburn knows about it. Oh, yes, she does," he repeated as Merriman would have dissented, "there is your own evidence. But

his head bent and a frown on his face. Hilliard took no n

o with you to find that out, and tha

y, "and I confess I think you are right. We'll go and take a look round, and if we f

man n

program then

the Lesque. It's a good long run and we mustn't be

don't mind if

our in the afternoon. Though that mill is only seventeen miles from here as the crow flies, it's a frightful long way round by sea, most

slowly through the well-lighted street