The lantern threw a bright flare after the manner of the headlight of a locomotive, and Storri could hear the scurrying splash of the rats as it sent an alarming ray ahead like a little searchlight.

Being lighted on his way, Storri kept steadily forward until, turning the corner where the drain broke to the right across the White Lot, he was lost to sight.
As Storri disappeared, two men far behind him at the mouth of the drain stood watching.

They had thus far followed Storri dimly with their eyes by the light he carried.
"What's become of him, Inspector ?" whispered Mr.Duff, the shorter of the men.

"He hasn't doused his glim, has he ?" "No," replied Inspector Val, "there's a bend at that point." "What's next ?" asked Mr.Duff; "do we follow him in and collar him?
or do we just wait here ?" "Collar him!" repeated Inspector Val disgustedly.

"I'd like to catch you collaring him! Is this a time to talk of collaring, and we no further than the threshold of the job?
Let him alone; he's only laying out the work to-night.".