ed away,
to stand looking on while every article that could by any possibility
have been made to act as a vehicle to hide smuggled diamonds had been
examined and replaced.

"We've been sold, eh?" said the sergeant, looking up in his
superintendent's eyes at last.

"It seems like it," was the reply. "There's nothing here."

Just then Anson, who had been lighting a fresh cigar, came up to him
smilingly.

"Haven't done, have you?" he said.

"Yes: quite," was the gruff reply.

"Oh, I am sorry you haven't had better luck," said Anson, in a mock
sympathetic tone. "It must be terribly disappointing, after expecting
to make a big capture."

"Very," said the superintendent, looking the speaker searchingly in the
eyes.

"Well, I said something to you before, but you took no notice."

"Oh yes, I did."

"But you didn't act on my tip. It seems like playing the sneak, but
that's what they did to me, so I don't mind paying them back in their
own coin."

"Pay whom?"

"The two who informed on me to save their own skins."

"I do not understand you."

"Oh dear, what fools you clever men are!"

"What do you mean?"

"Bah! And you call yourself a police officer. I'd make a better one
out of a Dutch doll."

"Once more, what do you mean?"

"Rub the dust out of your eyes, man."

"There's none there."

"Tchah! Your eyes are full of the dust those two threw there. Can't
you see?"

"No."

"Well, I am surprised at you," cried Anson; "and after such a hint too!
Can't you see that they've been a-playing upon you--setting you off on a
blind lead to keep your attention while they went off with a big parcel
of diamonds?"

"What! West and Ingleborough?"

"To be sure! What should they want to volunteer for, and risk capture
by the Boers, if they hadn't something to gain by it?"

"Well, they had something to gain--honour and promotion."

"Pish!" cried Anson; "they want something better than that! You've been
had, squire. You've been set to catch poor innocent, lamb-like me, and
all the while those two foxes have been stealing away with the plunder."

"What!" cried the superintendent.

"I spoke plainly enough," said Anson, smiling pleasantly.

"Yes, you spoke plainly enough," said the superintendent; "but it's
nothing to laugh at, sir."

"Why, it's enough to make a cat laugh. Well, I wish you better luck,"
said Anson, "and if you do catch up to Oliver West I hope you'll slip
the handcuffs on him at onc