than they had supposed. A secret inspection seemed more and more
unattainable. Hilliard continued the laborious conversation.

"We thought there might be some stevedoring to do. You've a steamer
in now and then, haven't you?"

The man admitted it, and after a deal of wearisome questioning they
learned that the Girondin called about every ten days, remaining for
about forty-eight hours, and that she was due in three or four days.

Finding they could get no further information out of him, they left
their bovine acquaintance with a fresh supply of beer, and returning
to the station, took the first train back to Hull. As they sat
smoking that evening after dinner they once more attacked the problem
which was baffling them.

"It seems to me," Hilliard asserted, "that we should concentrate on
the smuggling idea first, not because I quite believe in it, but
because it's the only one we have. And that brings us again to the
same point - the unloading of the Girondin."

Merriman not replying, he continued:

"Any attempt involves a preliminary visit to see how the land lies.
Now we can't approach that place in the daytime; if we try to slip
round secretly we shall be spotted from those windows or from the
wharf; on the other hand, if we invent some tale and go openly, we
give ourselves away if they have our descriptions or photographs.
Therefore we must go at night."