Hector pondered over Lancaster's report for several hours. Bribery and corruption creeping in—here—there; and he sought for a light in the darkness.
In the afternoon Fate startled him with a piece of news directly and unpleasantly bearing on the conversation of the morning—Fate assuming the form and personality of Inspector Gemmell and of Sergeant (ex-Lieut Col.) Kellett, who came into the office to see him.
A curious pair they made, Kellett and Gemmell—the grey-headed Sergeant, with his breast of ribbons, taking orders from the boy, who might, under other circumstances, have passed for his son or the junior subaltern of his regiment.
"Well?"
The stern ejaculation jerked Gemmell into action.
"I've brought Sergeant Kellett in to report an experience he had yesterday, sir," said the curly-headed Inspector. "I thought it better you should hear it, sir, from him direct."
"All right, Kellett—your story."
"Sir," said Kellett, "yesterday, when collecting royalties, I was offered a bribe."
Hector's mind flashed back to his conversation with Lancaster. A bribe!
"The man was a Swede, Hendrick Olson, working a group of claims on Lake Fortune and another on Discovery. He handed me a large poke and told me there was more where that came from if I would not ask him to pay the royalty, or words to that effect."