Rather."

"I had no trouble getting out my list, but I found it a bit
disappointing. The trip took either ten, eleven, or twelve days, and for
a long time I couldn't discover the ruling factor. Then I found it was
Sunday. If you omit each Sunday the Girondin is in port, the round trip
always takes the even ten days. I had the Lesque arrival and departure
for that one trip when we were there, so I was able to make out the
complete cycle. She takes two days in the Lesque to load, three to run
to Hull, two at Ferriby to discharge, and three to return to France.
Working from that and her last call here, she should be due back early
on Friday morning."

"Good!" Merriman exclaimed. "Jolly good! And today is Thursday. We've
just time to get ready."

They went out and bought a one-inch auger and a three-sixteenths
bradawl, a thick footstool and a satchel. This latter they packed with
a loaf, some cheese, a packet of figs, a few bottles of soda water and a
flask of whisky. These, with their caps, rubber shoes, electric torches
and the black cloth, they carried to their boat; then returning to the
hotel, they spent the time resting there until eleven o'clock. Solemnly
they drew lots for the first watch, recognizing that the matter was by
no means a joke, as, if unloading were carried on by night, relief might
be impossible during the ship's stay. But Merriman, to whom the fates
were propitious, had no fear of his ability to hold out even for this
period.

By eleven-thirty they were again sculling up the river. The weather was
as perfect as that of the night before, except that on this occasion a
faint westerly breeze had covered the surface of the water with myriads
of tiny wavelets, which lapped and gurgled round the stem of their boat
as they drove it gently through them. They did not hurry, and it was
after one before they moored to the depot steps.

All was dark and silent above, as, carrying their purchases, they
mounted to the wharf and crept stealthily to the barrel. Carefully
they raised the lid, and Merriman, standing on the footstool, with some
difficulty squeezed himself inside. Hilliard then lifted the footstool
on to the rim and lowered the lid on to it, afterwards passing in
through the opening thus left the satchel of food and the one-inch
auger.

A means of observation now remained to be made. Two holes, they thought,
should afford all the view necessary, one looking towards the front of
the wharf, and the