Somehow, it was not nearly so sooty as he had expected to find it, and the projecting corners of the bricks that afforded him a slight foothold were quite light-colored.
He had climbed about ten feet when he saw a curious cavity in the side of the chimney. A glitter in the dim light made his heart beat very fast. Striking a taper match he was surprised to see a pile of small tin boxes nearly filling a cavity in the side of the chimney. Looking upward, he saw several similar breaks in the brickwork. He took one of the boxes and climbed down.
“What have you got?” cried Mundon, with more surprise in his voice than gave great credit to the tale he had just recounted.
They bent over the box, which emitted a sickishly sweet odor.
“Opium!” Mundon exclaimed.
For a moment they looked at each other in silent astonishment. Then Ben grasped Mundon’s arm and dragged him to the gap in the side of the building next the water.
“It’s been smuggled!” he cried. “And here’s where they’ve landed the boats!” He pointed to the beach at their feet. The waves were still playing with the dangling rope’s end.
“Was there any more?” questioned Mundon.
“Whole stacks of it.”
“Then you’ve got all the money you’re in need of, many times over. Right in sight this time, sure!”