us; and even when London
received them, it had not the knowledge of the sender on the spot,
wherewith to fill them out. London, let it be admitted, or rather that
one particular small section of London with which Hillyard dealt, was at
one with Hillyard. Having chosen its men it trusted them, until such
time as indiscretion or incapacity proved the trust misplaced; in which
case the offender was brought politely home upon some excuse, cordially
thanked, and with a friendly shake of the hand, shown the door.

Hillyard's second conclusion was that of one hundred trails, ten at the
most would lead to any result: but you must follow each one of the
hundred up until you reach proof that you are in a blind alley.

The third was the sound and simple doctrine that you can confidently
look to Chance to bring you results, probably your very best results, if
you are prepared and equipped to make all your profit out of chance the
moment she leans your way. Chance is an elusive goddess, to be seized
and held prisoner with a swift, firm hand. Then she'll serve you. But if
the hand's not ready and the eye unexpectant, you'll see but the trail
of her robe as she vanishes to offer her assistance to another more
wakeful than yourself.

In pursuit of this conviction, Hillyard steamed out of Palma Bay on the
morning of the day after his interview with Jose Medina, and crossing to
the mainland cruised all the next night southwards. At six o'clock in
the morning he was off a certain great high cape. The sea was smooth as
glass. The day a riot of sunlight and summer, and the great headland
with its high lighthouse thrust its huge brown knees into the water.

The _Dragonfly_ slowed down and dawdled. Three men stood in the stern
behind the white side-awning. Hillyard was on the bridge with his
captain.

"I don't really expect much," he said, seeking already to discount a
possible disappointment. "It's only a possibility, I don't count on it."

"Six o'clock off the cape," said the captain. "We are on time."

"Yes."

Both men searched the smooth sea for some long, sluggish, inexplicable
wave which should break, or for a V-shaped ripple such as a fixed stake
will make in a swiftly running stream.

"Not a sign," said the captain, disconsolately.

"No. Yet it is certainly true that the keeper of that lighthouse paid an
amount equal to three years' salary into a bank three weeks ago. It is
true that oil could be brought into that point, an