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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dock Rats of New York, by 
+"Old Sleuth" Harlan Page Halsey
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license
+
+
+Title: The Dock Rats of New York
+
+Author: "Old Sleuth"
+         Harlan Page Halsey
+
+Posting Date: October 5, 2013 [EBook #5248]
+Release Date: March, 2004
+[This file was first posted on June 11, 2002]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOCK RATS OF NEW YORK ***
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note:
+This book is an example of early pulp fiction. It was
+published in 1908 by The Arthur Westbrook Co. as Adventure
+Series No. 76. "Old Sleuth" is the pseudonym of Harlan Page
+Halsey (1837-1898).
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE "DOCK RATS" OF NEW YORK
+
+OR
+
+THE SMUGGLER BAND'S LAST STAND
+
+BY "OLD SLEUTH"
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+"Hold, Stranger!"
+
+The words fell from beautiful lips under the most exciting
+circumstances.
+
+A boat rocked upon the calm water that murmured along the
+shore, when a young man came down from the upper bank of white
+drift sand, and seized the tiller rope. He had the rope in
+his hand, his arm was upraised to draw the boat to his feet,
+when he was startled by hearing the words with which we open
+our narrative.
+
+The young man turned toward the speaker, and encountered a
+sight that caused his handsome eyes to bulge with amazement.
+
+It was a clear, cloudless night, and a half moon shed its
+diminished radiance on surrounding objects, and revealed to
+the astonished gaze of the young man the weird-appearing
+figure of a young girl.
+
+One glance was sufficient to announce the fact that the girl
+was beautiful, but alas! in what questionable shape did she
+appear? She was attired in a loose gown tightened about the
+waist with a leathern belt, her feet were bare, and her long
+hair hung unkempt upon her shoulders.
+
+As our old-time readers know, we are not heavy on the
+beauty-describing business, and we will merely declare that
+the girl was indeed a lovely creature, clad in rags; but she
+was beautiful, and Spencer Vance, the young man, discerned
+the fact at a glance, and his amazement was the greater
+because of the thrilling conditions under which re beheld
+so great loveliness.
+
+The young man made no immediate answer to the girl's abrupt
+salutation, but merely stood and gazed at her without any
+attempt to conceal his utter astonishment.
+
+"You must not go off in the yacht to-night!" said the girl.
+
+"Why must I stay ashore to-night?"
+
+"Danger is ahead of you!"
+
+"But I am an old sailor, miss; I can take care of myself, I
+reckon."
+
+The girl drew close to the young man, laid her hand upon his
+arm, and in a husky voice, whispered:
+
+"The danger comes not from the sea! You will be a victim!"
+
+The young man let the boat line fall from his grasp, a fierce
+light shone in his eyes, and there was a tremulousness, but
+not of fear, in his voice as he demanded:
+
+"Who sent you to tell me this?"
+
+"It matters not, you are doomed if you go on the yacht
+to-night! never again will your feet press the hard shore,
+but the waves will cast you up!"
+
+"Who are you, miss, and why have you come to warn me?"
+
+A moment the girl was silent. She hung her head and appeared
+lost in thought, but at length, looking up and fixing her
+magnificent blue eyes upon the young man, she said:
+
+"I do not know who I am, but I do know that if you go out on
+the yacht to-night, you will never return till the waves wash
+your dead form to the beach!"
+
+"You must have some reason for coming to warn me?"
+
+"Yes; I would save your life!"
+
+"Why are you so deeply interested in saving my life?"
+
+"I would warn anyone whom I knew was in peril! and you must
+heed my words!"
+
+"I cannot!"
+
+"Are you seeking death?"
+
+"No."
+
+"I do not understand."
+
+"And I cannot explain, but I must go out though death meet
+me upon the crest of every wave."
+
+The girl again remained silent for a moment, but, at length in
+a still lower whisper, she said:
+
+"You have been betrayed!"
+
+The young man started, and a slight pallor overspread his
+handsome face as he caught the girl's delicate arm in his firm
+grasp, and demanded:
+
+"Who am I?"
+
+"You are Spencer Vance."
+
+The young man could not conceal an expression of extreme
+astonishment.
+
+"Who told you my name was Spencer Vance?"
+
+"It matters not, but take heed; do not go out on the sea
+to-night."
+
+"I tell you I must! I will go, but you must tell me what you
+know of Spencer Vance."
+
+"You are a revenue detective; you are in the employ of the
+Government; you have been betrayed, and to-night you are to be
+silenced if you go out on the yacht!"
+
+"Do the men on the yacht know who I am?"
+
+"They do not know your name, but they suspect you are a
+Government detective, and they have determined to put you out
+of the way; to-night they will do the deed if you go."
+
+"Someone must have told them I was a Government officer."
+
+"Yes; someone told them."
+
+"Do you know who gave the information?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Will you tell me?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I have warned you, now go your way, and save your life! they
+are desperate men, the waves have already received three of
+their victims within a year go, and your doom is sealed!
+Nothing can save you!"
+
+"I shall go!"
+
+"You do not believe my words?"
+
+"I will believe you if you will tell me who betrayed me to the
+smugglers."
+
+"I did!" came the starring response.
+
+The detective stood the girl off from him at arm's length, and
+studied her from feet to head.
+
+The girl stood and calmly submitted to the inspection.
+
+"So you are the traitor?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You admit you betrayed me?"
+
+"I am no traitor! I owe nothing to you! I had a right to
+inform the boys if I saw fit, and I did so."
+
+"And now you come and warn me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why do you warn me, if you are the one who set them on to
+murder me?"
+
+"I did not think they would murder you, and now I have come to
+warn you."
+
+"Are you engaged in the business?"
+
+"NO."
+
+The girl spoke in a scornful tone, and her eyes dashed with
+indignation.
+
+"Who are you?"
+
+"I do not know who I am."
+
+A strange look came into the detective's eyes as an idea
+dashed through his mind.
+
+"Are you the child of a wreck?"
+
+"I do not know. I know nothing about myself."
+
+"Whom do you live with?"
+
+"The man who calls himself my father."
+
+"Is he not your father?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Has he confessed to you that he is not your father?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then how do you know he is not your father?"
+
+"I know he is not."
+
+"Why do you live with him?"
+
+"Where should I go? I have no other home, and he is kind to
+me."
+
+"Is he a smuggler?"
+
+"It is not fair to ask me that question."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I have told you all that was needful to warn you of your own
+peril; you should not take advantage of my frankness."
+
+The detective looked upon the lovely girl with a deep sense of
+pity in his heart. Her appearance seemed to tell her tale,
+and it was sad to think that such wondrous beauty was but the
+plaything of a gang of rough sailors.
+
+"Are you married?" asked the detective, abruptly:
+
+"No," came the answer, in a quick, decisive tone.
+
+"Will you tell me your name?"
+
+"They call me Renie."
+
+"And your father's name?"
+
+"Tom Pearce."
+
+"The boat-keeper?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you informed the men who I was?" repeated the detective.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How did you find out that I was a Government officer?"
+
+"I will not tell you."
+
+"How did you find out that the men intended to go for me
+to-night?"
+
+"I overheard them arranging their plans."
+
+"Do they know that you overheard them?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then when they discover that I am up to their plans, will
+they not accuse you of having betrayed them?"
+
+"That is a question I cannot answer."
+
+"I am astonished that you should put me in this peril, and
+then come and warn me!"
+
+"I tell you I did not think my information would be followed
+by anything serious."
+
+"But you tell me that three other officers have suffered by
+them."
+
+"I did not know that until after I had told them who you
+were."
+
+"Did you tell them directly?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Well, Renie, I am much obliged to you."
+
+"And you will not go off in the yacht to-night?"
+
+"I will think the matter over."
+
+"Promise me that you will not go!" pleaded the girl, in an
+earnest tone.
+
+"I will not promise; but if I do go, you need have no fear. I
+can take care of myself, forewarned, you know, is forearmed.
+Good-night, Renie."
+
+"I shall never forgive myself if you are injured!"
+
+"Thank you for your interest; but you need have no fear. I
+can take care of myself; the crew of the yacht 'Nancy' will
+not toss me to the fishes to-night."
+
+The girl turned and walked away under the moonlight, and a
+strange impulse caused the detective to follow her.
+
+The girl moved along like an uncouth apparition over the
+yielding sand, and had traversed fully a quarter of a mile
+along the shore, when suddenly a man leaped down from the bank
+and confronted her.
+
+The detective, in shadowing the strange girl, had kept well in
+under the shadow of the bluff, and could not have been seen;
+and when he saw the man confront the girl, he moved rapidly
+forward, and gained a point near enough to overhear the talk
+that passed between them.
+
+The man was a rough, villainous-looking fellow, and his voice
+was coarse and his manners vulgar. It was evident that the
+girl was annoyed at meeting him, as was immediately betrayed
+by her manner.
+
+"Hello, Renie, I've been waiting a long time for a chance to
+have a talk with you."
+
+"I do not wish to have a talk with you, though, Sol Burton; so
+good-night!"
+
+"Not so fast, my pretty bird; I've something to tell you."
+
+"And I don't wish to stop and listen to you."
+
+"You would if you knew all I had to tell."
+
+"Well, as I don't know all you've got to tell, and as I don't
+desire to listen to you, I'll bid you good-night."
+
+"You always were down on me, Renie, but I'm a friend of your'n
+arter all, and I've collared the secret of your life, and I'd
+tell it to you, only you're so darn uppish when I go to speak
+to you."
+
+The detective saw the girl advance toward the rough-looking
+man, and overheard her say:
+
+"You know the secret of my life?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What secret is there of my life?"
+
+"Tom Pearce is not your daddy, but I know how you came to be
+his adopted child."
+
+The girl trembled from head to foot.
+
+"Sol Burton, tell me all you know."
+
+"Ah! you will listen to me, my pretty bird?"
+
+"Yes, I will."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+The man chuckled as he said:
+
+"I thought you would listen to me when I let on what I
+know'd."
+
+"Tell me the secret!" commanded the girl.
+
+"Oh, yes, Renie! but I've a condition."
+
+"A condition? What condition would you exact?"
+
+"You must become my wife. There, the thing's out; so now,
+what have you got to say?"
+
+"I say, no!"
+
+"That's your decision?"
+
+"That's my decision."
+
+"Be careful, gal. I only asked you to marry a me to give you
+a chance; remember you're nobody's child, and I've hooked on
+to the secret."
+
+"You're a mean man, Sol Burton, to threaten me!"
+
+"Well, the fact is, Renie, I like you! I'm dead in love with
+you, and I'm willing to marry yer, and that's more than most
+of the fellows round here would do, knowing all I know."
+
+"Good-night, Sol Burton, I'll not stop to talk with you, nor
+will I tell my father that you said insulting words to me."
+
+"What do you suppose I care about Tom Pearce? I can whisper a
+few words in his ear that will take some of the starch out of
+him! He's been mighty uppish about you, although he's let you
+run round the beach barefoot these sixteen years."
+
+"Go talk to Tom Pearce, and do not be the coward to repeat
+your threats to me!"
+
+The girl started to move away, when the man suddenly leaped
+forward and grasped her in his arms, but the same instant he
+received a blow which sent him reeling, as the girl was
+snatched from his rude grasp.
+
+A curse fell from the man's lips, and he arose to his feet and
+advanced toward the man who had struck him.
+
+"Run home, little girl!" whispered the detective; "I will take
+care of this brute!"
+
+"Thank you!" said the girl, and she glided away along the
+beach.
+
+"See here, you're the man who struck me?"
+
+"Yes; I'm the man."
+
+"I think I've seen you before."
+
+"I think we've met before."
+
+"What did you hit me for?"
+
+"I struck you because you put your hands rudely upon the
+girl."
+
+"Yer did, eh?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+The man leaned toward the detective with the remark:
+
+"Well, it's my turn now!"
+
+And his turn it proved to be, as he received a rap, which
+caused him to turn clean over.
+
+Sol Burton was raving mad when he once more regained his feet;
+the fellow was an ugly chap, a great bully ashore, and a cruel
+heartless man afloat. As he arose he exclaimed:
+
+"All right, you're fixed for me to-night; but my time will
+come! I'll get square with you before you're much older!"
+
+Sol Burton turned and walked away a baffled man.
+
+Spencer Vance walked to the point on the beach where he had
+stood when the girl had come to him with the strange warning.
+
+The young man was a Government officer, a special detective,
+and had been assigned to the collector at the port of New
+York to run down an organized gang of smugglers who were known
+to be doing a large business off the Long Island coast.
+
+Several detectives had been detailed to work up the matter,
+and one after another they had mysteriously disappeared, and
+the Government had never succeeded in solving the mystery of
+their taking off; and further, none of the officers had ever
+been able to locate the head-quarters of the gang.
+
+One fact had been established: large quantities of smuggled
+goods had been carried into New York, and each week the
+Government was swindled out of thousands of dollars of
+revenue; and the illicit traffic had grown to such an extent
+that a number of honest merchants had subscribed a large sum
+of money which had been placed at the disposal of the
+collector to be used as a fund for the breaking up of the
+gang, who were ruining regular importers in certain branches
+of trade and commerce.
+
+Spencer Vance, although but a young man, had quite a
+reputation as a detective. He had done some daring work in
+running down a gang of forgers, and in the employ of a State
+Government, he had been very successful in breaking up several
+gangs of illicit whisky distillers. He was a resolute, cool,
+experienced man, an officer who had faced death a hundred
+times under the most perilous circumstances. And when
+summoned upon the new duty he accepted the position readily.
+
+By methods of his own he got upon the track of the workers;
+the men who did the actual work of landing the contraband
+goods.
+
+The latter were not the really guilty men. They were not the
+principals, the capitalists; but they were the employees who
+for large pay ran off the coast, intercepted the steamers
+carrying the contraband goods, and landed them within certain
+assigned limits.
+
+The men ostensibly were fishermen, and honest people among
+whom they associated never "tumbled" to their real calling.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+The necessities of our narrative do not demand that we should
+locate the exact quarter where the smugglers operated; and,
+besides, as there were numerous gangs covering a space of
+fifty miles along the coast, it would be almost impossible to
+indicate intelligibly the field of their operations, were we
+so inclined.
+
+Spencer Vance, as stated, had adopted his own measures for
+locating the men; in his earlier life he had been a sailor,
+and had worked his way up until at the age of nineteen he held
+the position of second mate on a large schooner; and when he
+was assigned to the special duty of "piping" the smugglers,
+his sea experience came in good play, and was of great aid to
+kiln in his perilous duty.
+
+The officer started out on his work by taking passage to the
+Island of Cuba, and one day in the port of Havana a ragged
+sailor dropped into a groggery kept by a Frenchman and made
+himself acquainted with a number of sailors, who were having a
+good time ashore.
+
+The ragged Jack told his own tale, won upon the good-will of
+the jolly fellows who were in for a good time, and in the end
+was shipped for New York on a fast-sailing schooner.
+
+The detective had an eye on the schooner, and well knew, when
+as a sea-tramp he shipped on the vessel, he had struck a
+smuggler.
+
+It was a clear starry night when the vessel sighted the Long
+Island shore after having slipped inward past Fire Island.
+
+The detective lay low and watched for some hours.
+
+He had known that something unusual was in progress on board
+the schooner. The captain was below, and one of the mates had
+charge of the deck; a light shone in the distance, like a red
+star dancing over the waves, and the men on the schooner moved
+about in a stealthy manner to and fro across the deck.
+
+It was a strange thing to do; why should they tread thus
+lightly the deck of a ship ten miles off shore, as though
+their footsteps might be heard? Alas! it was a case of
+involuntary stealth, a sign of the nervous, trepidation which
+attends conscious guilt.
+
+It did not seem that there could be any danger near; the
+heavens were clear, the bosom of the deep unruffled even by an
+evening breeze. Nature called not for the coward tread, and
+the gleaming eye, the pale face, and the anxious glance hither
+and thither. No, no; but the smugglers feared another peril.
+Revenue cutters were known to be cruising along the coast;
+more than ordinary vigilance was being exercised by a robbed
+Government.
+
+The men upon the schooner knew that the revenue officers were
+up to many of their tricks and were posted as to many of their
+signals; false lights might gleam across the waters like an
+ignis fatuus luring on a famished traveler in the desert, and
+within the hour after their calling had been betrayed, every
+man might be in irons, and the cargo and the vessel would be
+confiscated.
+
+A fortune was at stake, and the shadow of a prison loomed out
+over across the waters and threatened to close in behind them.
+
+Spencer Vance, the disguised detective, the supposed sea-tramp,
+moved about with the smugglers, acting as they acted, stepping
+on tiptoe, and looking pale and anxious, and it did not require
+that he should assume the pale excited look, for it was a
+momentous crisis. He had hit the vessel the first clip, and he
+had struck the trail which had baffled men who claimed a larger
+experience in that particular branch of the detective service.
+He had "piped" down to a critical moment, but he carried his
+life in his hands. He was not watched, but one false move
+might draw attention toward him, and but a mere suspicion at
+that particular moment would cost him his life; these men would
+not have stopped to bandy, words or make inquiries.
+
+As stated, there came the gleam of a light flashing across the
+calm waters, and the men who were not on ship duty strained
+their eyes. Soon there followed a succession of lights,
+signal lights telling their story, and then the schooner men
+let out answering lights, and the sails were lowered and the
+schooner merely drifted upon the bosom of the deep.
+
+Spencer Vance was speechless with excitement as the little
+game proceeded.
+
+At this period in our story we will not describe the modus
+operandi, as later on we propose to fully depict the
+smugglers' methods under more exciting circumstances, when
+Spencer Vance was better prepared to checkmate the game. We
+have here only indicated in an introductory form the
+detective's keen plan for running down and locating the haunts
+of the pirates.
+
+Three days following the maneuvers of the schooner off the
+coast, the detective appeared at a fishing village, and at
+once he set to locating his shore men.
+
+It was not the poor sailors, who were mere instruments in the
+robbery scheme, whom the detective was seeking to "pipe" down.
+His game was to follow certain clews until he trailed up to
+the capitalists, the really guilty parties, the rich men who
+flaunted in New York in elegance and luxury on their ill-gotten
+gains.
+
+The detective had got an good terms with one of the gangs. He
+had been off several times with them an a cruise, and considered
+that he was fast working down to a dead open-and-shut, and the
+really guilty parties, when he received the strange wanting at
+the hands of the weird, but beautiful girl who called herself
+Renie Pearce.
+
+That same night the detective had engaged to go off in the
+yacht; it was understood that a smuggler was expected off the
+coast that night, and he was looking to strike on a big "lay."
+
+We must explain to our readers that the arrival of expected
+vessels is an uncertain event, and the shore watchers were
+sometimes compelled to go off night after night, even for
+weeks, before the vessel, sending out the long-looked-for
+signals, hove in sight off the horizon; and it was on these
+vigil nights the detective had sailed out with the men. He
+had thought his game well played, his disguise perfect, his
+victory sure, when, as stated, at the last moment, a strange,
+beautiful girl came along and whispered in his ear the
+terrible warning that danger awaited him if he went off in the
+boat that night.
+
+Spencer Vance, however, was undaunted; the warning was not
+sufficient to deter him going off and braving death in the way
+of duty, and he would have gone had not an incident occurred
+that caused him to await another opportunity.
+
+As recorded, after his encounter with Sol Burton, he returned
+to where his boat lay, determined to go off to the yacht, when
+a second time an apparition glided to his side and whispered a
+few startling words in his ear.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+The detective stood by his boat thinking over the thrilling
+position of affairs, when Renie Pearce once more appeared
+before him.
+
+"Hello! you've come back, eh?" called the detective.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, what now?"
+
+"You are determined to go off to-night."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"You must not go, there's better game for you ashore!"
+
+The detective was thrown off; he could not understand the
+girl. Renie had confessed that she had originally betrayed
+him to the smugglers, and then, when danger threatened, she
+came and warned him, and her warning failing, she came
+tripping to him once more, barefooted, ragged, and beautiful,
+and held out to him an alluring bait.
+
+There was no misunderstanding the purport of her words. She
+betrayed the fact that she knew his full purpose, and her
+words implied that she was ready to throw him a larger and
+more certain game. Her words were, "There's better game for
+you ashore!"
+
+"Are you, my friend, Renie?"
+
+"Yes; I am your friend."
+
+"If you are my friend, why did you betray me to the
+smugglers?"
+
+"I was not your friend then, I am your friend now. I can
+serve you and you can serve me! Your life is in danger. You
+will never return if you go out in the yacht to-night. I had
+prepared you for your doom, but now I will save you, and again
+I tell you that there's better game ashore."
+
+"Why should I trust you! do you not confess to having betrayed
+me?"
+
+"I only knew you then as a government detective; now I know
+you are a man."
+
+"You must have made the latter discovery very suddenly."
+
+"I did."
+
+"When?"
+
+"When you knocked Sol Burton down; that man meant me harm. I
+could have defended myself against him, but a greater peril
+menaces me to-night."
+
+"What peril menaces you?"
+
+"I have no confidant in the world; shall I make one of you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"My confidence may get you into trouble."
+
+"How sad."
+
+"You are a brave, noble man; you will desire to act as my
+champion."
+
+"You are a strange girl."
+
+"Yes; mine is a hard lot; I am a waif; I am nothing; I am all
+outcast; a thing, and yet--"
+
+The girl ceased. She had spoken with a wild energy, and she
+had looked ravishingly beautiful while talking.
+
+"And yet, what?" said the detective interrogatively.
+
+"My heart is full of all the ambitions that might fill the
+heart of a girl born in the midst of splendor and luxury; and
+although the companion of smugglers, I love only what is pure
+and beautiful; I cherish the fondest dreams, and yet--"
+
+Again the detective supplemented:
+
+"Well, go on."
+
+"I am a poor, ragged, barefooted girl, the daughter of a
+boat-keeper, and that is not all!"
+
+"Tell me all."
+
+"Shall I?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I had reason to suppose that my pretended father was my
+friend; one thing is certain no millionaire ever guarded a
+fair daughter with more tenderness than he has guarded me. He
+has sent me to school, and has permitted me to become educated
+far above my station. You know in this land that is an easy
+thing for a poor man to do, but within a few days strange
+suspicions have crossed my mind; no man even among the
+roughest of them ever dared insult me. Tom Pearce would have
+killed the man who dared bring one faint flush to my cheek
+with his vile tongue! but alas! I fear--fear."
+
+"What do you fear?"
+
+"Shall I say it?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"I fear his tender care of me has been a speculation."
+
+"You do not believe he is your friend?"
+
+"I fear he is not."
+
+"Some enemy may have traduced Tom Pearce."
+
+"No; the words that aroused my suspicions fell from his own
+lips."
+
+"And what do you fear?"
+
+"You must learn from other lips."
+
+"Who will tell me?"
+
+"If you are to know at all, you must learn my fears from the
+lips of my enemies."
+
+"How shall I do that?"
+
+"Are you willing to serve me?"
+
+The detective was silent. He was certainly charmed and lured
+by this beautiful child of the shore, but could he afford to
+undertake to be the champion of a barefooted girl, though she
+did own a strangely beautiful face?
+
+"If you serve me I will serve you."
+
+"What can you do for me?"
+
+The girl's eyes gleamed as she answered:
+
+"Let me but know that these men are my foes, that I owe them
+no gratitude, and I can give you information for which the
+government would pay thousands! and even to-night in serving
+me you would also serve yourself."
+
+"Will you tell me how?"
+
+"One of the bosses is to visit the shore to-night."
+
+"Aha! there is where the whale blows."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who does he visit?"
+
+"Tom Pearce."
+
+"What is his purpose?"
+
+"I only guess."
+
+"What do you guess?"
+
+"Am I to speak more plainly to you, or can you not discern?"
+
+"Have you ever met the man?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You fear him?"
+
+"I do not know yet; you may find out."
+
+"What do you suspect?"
+
+A moment the girl was silent, but at length she said:
+
+"I suspect I am to be sent away!"
+
+"You mistrust your reputed father?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"And this man comes to-night?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You would offer a suggestion?"
+
+"Are you prepared to take advantage of my information?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"Watch them: learn their purpose!"
+
+"Where do they meet?"
+
+"In my father's cabin."
+
+"Lead me there."
+
+"I will."
+
+The detective decided not to go off in the yacht that night.
+He preferred to be "taken in tow" by beautiful little
+barefoot, and strange adventures were the outcome of his
+change of plans.
+
+The detective and the girl traversed a mile and a half of the
+beach and then struck inland, and soon came in sight of the
+glimmer of lights gleaming forth from a fisherman's shanty.
+
+"They meet there. You know how to act, and I can give you no
+'points' when it comes to 'piping.' Good-bye for the
+present."
+
+The girl glided away and the detective proceeded toward the
+cabin only to encounter a series of thrilling, extraordinary,
+and startling adventures.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+Spencer Vance had become greatly interested in the beautiful
+Renie during the walk along the beach. He had become deeply
+impressed with the purity, yet weirdness of her character. He
+had pressed the girl for some reminiscence of her early
+childhood, but she had no recollections beyond the sea and the
+fisherman's cabin where she had lived with old Tom Pearce and
+his wife.
+
+Her supposed father had for years rowed her every morning
+across the bay to the mainland, where she had attended the
+village school, from whence she had passed to the high school,
+at which her reputed father had supported her for a couple of
+years.
+
+Mrs. Pearce died suddenly one day after a few hours' illness.
+Just before her death Renie was alone with her in the room.
+The woman had been unconscious, but she momentarily recovered
+consciousness and summoned the girl to her bedside and
+attempted to communicate some parting intelligence, but alas!
+she only succeeded in uttering a few disjointed exclamations,
+suggestive, but not directly and fully intelligible. The
+half-uttered exclamations only served to confirm certain
+suspicions that had long floated unsuggested through the
+girl's mind, and her disappointment was bitter when the icy
+hand of death strangled the communications which the dying
+woman was seeking to make.
+
+The girl had formed a sort of attachment for Tom Pearce. The
+man was a good-natured, jolly sailor sort of a fellow, and, as
+intimated, had always treated the girl with the utmost
+kindness and consideration.
+
+It was thus matters stood up to the time of the detective's
+strange meeting with the girl upon the beach.
+
+As the girl pointed to the house and concluded the words which
+close our preceding chapter, she glided away, and left the
+detective to "work his own passage".
+
+During the walk along the beach Renie had been a little more
+explicit in explaining her immediate peril, and our hero was
+prepared to more intelligently enact the role of the
+eavesdropper.
+
+The cabin of Tom Pearce, the boatman, was an ordinary
+fisherman's hut, built in the midst of white sand-hills, with
+a few willows planted on a little patch of made earth, and
+serving as protectors against the fierce summer blaze of the
+sun.
+
+The detective crept up to the cabin, and climbing upon a rear
+shed which served as a cover to several boats and a large
+quantity of nets, he covered himself with a fragment of old
+sailcloth, and secured a position from where, through a little
+opening which in the summer was left unclosed, he could see
+into the main room of the cottage. He could not only see, but
+could as readily overhear any conversation that might occur.
+
+Glancing into the room, he saw Tom Pearce, whom he had seen
+many times before on board several of the boats that sail over
+the bay. The fisherman, or rather smuggler, was seated before
+a table on which stood a ship's lamp, reading what appeared to
+be an old time-stained letter, and after an interval he
+muttered aloud:
+
+"Well, well, I don't know what to do! That girl is dear to my
+old heart, and I'd rather die than any harm should come to
+her; and again I don't like to stand in her way; while
+according to this letter from the old woman, written nigh on
+to thirteen years ago, I've no right to let her pass from my
+possession."
+
+The mutterings of the old man were interrupted by a loud rap
+at his rickety door.
+
+"Come in!" called the old smuggler.
+
+The door opened, and a roughly dressed man strode into the
+cabin.
+
+"Hello, Pearce! I see you are here to meet me."
+
+"Yes, Mr. Garcia, I'm waiting for you."
+
+Mr. Garcia took a seat by the table opposite the old smuggler,
+and saw the latter crumple the letter, and put it in his
+pocket.
+
+"Eh, old man, what's that your hiding?"
+
+"Nothing that will interest you, sir; it's only an old
+letter from my dead wife, sent to me many years ago
+when she was visiting some of her friends over in
+Connecticut."
+
+"How about this Government officer who has been prowling
+around here?" was the next question which fell from Garcia's
+lips.
+
+"Well, that's more than I can tell you, but he'll be fixed
+to-night, whoever he is! Yes, sir, he'll not cause the lads
+any trouble, they've 'tumbled' to him! too soon."
+
+"They've tumbled, eh?"
+
+"Yes; and they got up a false cruise to-night on purpose to
+carry him out to sea."
+
+"How was it the boys chanced to 'drop' to him?"
+
+"Renie did the business."
+
+"Renie did the business?" ejaculated the man.
+
+"Yes, sir; she went through him. She is a wonderful girl, she
+is, but I don't think she really meant to give the fellow
+away, but we caught her in a trap."
+
+"You caught her in a trap?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Well, she was sending a message to warn the detective of his
+danger, and the letter was intercepted, and so we got into the
+whole business. I tell you the fellows were mad, and had it
+been anybody but Renie they'd never have sent another
+message."
+
+"Does Renie know her letter was intercepted?"
+
+"I don't think she does."
+
+"Why would she want to give the Government officer the 'tip'?"
+
+"No telling about these women, sir, no telling about them; you
+see this man is a good-looking chap, a very handsome fellow,
+and he's a daring man, too, and a splendid sailor! It's a pity
+he wasn't one of the crew. I tell you he saved the lives of
+all the lads one night off the coast; but he's doomed! He'll
+never save nobody again!"
+
+"Has he been making love to the girl?"
+
+"No; I reckon he's never seen her, but she's seen him; you see
+Renie goes under cover sometimes, and she wanders along the
+shore for hours, and one night she came upon the detective
+when he was holding a parley with a pal from the city; the gal
+'laid low' and overheard all that was said, and at the same
+time she 'nipped' a letter which the man dropped from his
+jacket, and thus got down on the whole business; but somehow
+her heart went ag'in giving the man away, and she writes a
+letter ready to deliver to him; and by ginger, she mislaid her
+letter, and my nephew, a rattling little chap, 'nipped' it and
+gave it to the Cap, and the whole business was out!"
+
+"You are sure there has been no acquaintance between the
+detective and your daughter?"
+
+"Yes; I am sure of that."
+
+"Why are you sure?"
+
+"Well, I've Renie's word, and that gal would die before she
+would tell a lie; no, sir, she's never spoke to him, and as
+she never has, she never will, for his accounts will all be
+cleared to-night! the lads will have a dead open and shut on
+him."
+
+"I reckon you've been deceived," said Garcia.
+
+"How so?"
+
+"That gal has known more of this man than you think. She
+would not warn a stranger that his life, was in peril,
+especially when that stranger was her father's foe."
+
+"Well, it don't make any difference. She will never see him
+again!"
+
+"We can't tell about that."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I'll bet a thousand dollars the man didn't go off on the
+cruise to-night!"
+
+"Yes, he did."
+
+"Did you see him aboard?"
+
+"No: but I know he went."
+
+"That girl would know that the letter was lost."
+
+"Yes, very likely."
+
+"Well, she'd take some other measures to warn the man; you've
+been deceived, old man!"
+
+"I hope you're mistaken, or it will be bad for Renie. I tell
+you the men will be raging mad if the detective slips through
+their nets to-night."
+
+"They will be, and now you recognize the necessity of turning
+the girl over to me."
+
+"I've been thinking over that matter."
+
+"You remember what I promised you?"
+
+"Yes, yes; but suppose he should come?"
+
+"Who should come?"
+
+The old smuggler had spoken the words in a thoughtful manner,
+and the question was really addressed to himself. The old
+smuggler recognised that he had made a startling admission and
+remained silent.
+
+Garcia said:
+
+"I suppose you mean the day might come when someone will
+appear to claim the girl, and you will lose a large sum of
+money?"
+
+"No; no; you do not know what I mean, you have never heard the
+girl's strange history."
+
+"I know she is not your child."
+
+"Yes; you forced that confession from me a long time ago."
+
+"Tell me the girl's history."
+
+"I dare not."
+
+"Does she know the tale?"
+
+"No."
+
+"She believes herself your child?"
+
+"I think she has a suspicion that she is not my child, but she
+loves me."
+
+"Has she ever asked you whether or not she is your child?"
+
+"Never!"
+
+"Nor hinted?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then why do you say she suspects that she is not your child?"
+
+"Well, from many little things I have been led to suspect
+that. She herself has a suspicion of the real truth."
+
+"You must then tell me her history."
+
+"I dare not."
+
+"Listen old man, I am her friend and your friend; this is no
+place for Renie; when she was a mere child it was all right,
+but now it is not safe. You must give her to me! and listen;
+should anyone ever come to claim her, she shall be
+surrendered, and you will receive any reward that may be
+paid!"
+
+"I do not think anyone will ever come for her, but could I
+solve one mystery I know where to look."
+
+"For what?"
+
+"Her friends."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+Garcia was evidently, as the listening detective discerned, a
+very shrewd, quick-witted man.
+
+He fixed his keen dark eyes on the old smuggler, and said:
+
+"There is something you are keeping back from me; come now, I
+will pay you one hundred dollars to tell me Renie's history."
+
+"You will give a hundred dollars?" Pearce exclaimed, in an
+eager tone.
+
+"Yes, I will."
+
+"You will pay the money right down?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I will show the letter."
+
+The old man went down in his pocket, and drew forth the
+time-stained letter he had been reading when the detective
+first looked in upon him, and drawing closer to the light,
+said:
+
+"I won't show you the whole letter, but I will read just one
+portion to you," and he read as follows:
+
+"DEAR Tom,--There has been one thing on my mind for a long
+time. I am getting old, and at any time might die, and I have
+a secret which I feet I should share with you in order to
+guard against accidents. Upon that terrible night when Renie
+was placed in my care, there was also consigned to my keeping
+a box--a sealed box--which I was never to open until Renie
+should reach the age of twenty-one, or be called for by
+parties claiming her as their child. I was given to
+understand that the box contained proofs of the dear child's
+birth and parentage, and it was hinted that some day she would
+inherit an immense fortune. I never told you about the box,
+but when I return I will confide to you the place where it is
+concealed, so that you will be prepared to carry out the trust
+in case anything should happen to me before Renie becomes of
+age, or is claimed by those who placed her in my charge."
+
+The remainder of the letter had no bearing upon the case of
+Renie, but was devoted to general matters.
+
+After Tom Pearce had concluded the reading there followed a
+momentary silence. The man Garcia appeared to be lost in deep
+thought. The old smuggler also appeared to be lost in deep
+meditation.
+
+After an interval Garcia said:
+
+"From that letter it would appear that the proofs of the
+girl's identity were in your wife's possession?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Did she keep her promise to you?"
+
+"You mean did she inform me' where the box was hidden?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"She did not."
+
+"And she died without making the revelation?"
+
+"Yes, she died very suddenly."
+
+"Did you ever search over her papers?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"And never came across the slightest clew?"
+
+"Never!"
+
+"Why was it she did not make a confidant of you?"
+
+"Well, I was a pretty wild sort of man in those days, and it's
+my idea that many precious jewels are hidden in that box."
+
+The eyes of the man Garcia glistened as he asked:
+
+"What makes you think so?"
+
+"Well, my old woman let fall many strange hints now and then,
+and always said that Renie would be rich some day--immensely
+rich."
+
+"She meant when claimed by her friends?"
+
+"Yes; but she once said that Renie would be rich whether her
+friends claimed her or not; and what is more, money was always
+ready when anything was needed for the girl."
+
+"But the girl has been allowed to run loose."
+
+"Not altogether; no, sir, not altogether; Renie has received
+an expensive education, and my wife always found the money to
+pay the bills; the girl thinks she was educated out of my hard
+earnings, but never a dollar or my money went for her support
+until after the old woman died!"
+
+"Have you ever searched for the box?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"Do you suppose your wife ever opened it?"
+
+"That I cannot tell, but once when she and I were in the City
+of New York, we read about a great singer who had some
+magnificent jewels, and my wife said to me: 'I'll wager I
+could-show jewels handsomer and richer than that critter's
+got, and they claim hers are valued at a hundred thousand
+dollars.'"
+
+The detective heard all these strange revelations, and he made
+up his mind that there was a big job falling into his hands.
+
+"You say you have searched for the box?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And never found it or gained any clew as to its whereabouts?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"Has Renie any knowledge of the box?"
+
+"I don't know whether my wife ever made a confidant of the
+child."
+
+"Has the girl ever spoken of it?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"And you have never mentioned it to her?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"Who was with your wife when she died?"
+
+"Renie."
+
+"She may have made a final revelation to the girl!"
+
+"I think not."
+
+"How long has your wife been dead?"
+
+"Three years."
+
+"Tom Pearce, all you tell me makes me anxious to take
+charge of the girl; but tell me all the circumstances under
+which she came to be placed in your charge."
+
+After a moment's thought the old man said:
+
+"I will.
+
+"One calm winter's day, the boating men hereabouts were
+surprised to see a handsome and trim-built yacht come sailing
+through the channel; and running up the bay to a good
+anchorage, she let go her iron and lay like a great swan on
+the water.
+
+"A short time afterward, a foreign-looking man was landed on
+the beach, and he strolled around among the fishermen's buts
+and only spoke when addressed by some of the fishermen; but I
+tell you his great black eyes were busy glancing around. No
+one knew at the time what he was looking for, but it was
+evident he was searching for something, and my wife and I
+later on were the only ones who fell into the mystery."
+
+"The man was studying the faces of the people hereabouts?"
+suggested Garcia.
+
+"That was just what he was doing, and later on he made
+inquiries here and there, and as events proved, my wife was
+the woman who struck his fancy."
+
+"And did he bring her the child?"
+
+"Hold on! let me tell the story just as the events happened.
+I told you it was in the winter when the yacht hove to in the
+bay; well, one bitter and blustering night about three days
+after the arrival of the yacht, I was over on the mainland
+having a carouse, and toward morning took the chances of
+crossing the bay in a catboat to my home. How I ever reached
+here in safety I'll never tell, but I ran on to the beach all
+right, and footed to my shanty! Well, sir, as I neared the
+house pretty well sobered, the first thing I heard was the
+wail of an infant; and I tell you I was surprised, and
+entering the house I saw my wife with a lovely child in her
+arms, which she was feeding with a spoon.
+
+"'Hello, Betsy,' I yelled, 'where did you get that little
+squealer from?'
+
+"Well, sir, my wife raised her finger to her lips, and warned
+me to be silent, and in a low tone told me that on the
+following day she would tell me all about it. Well, you see
+I was pretty well fagged out, and I always had an idea that
+what my wife said and done was right. So I tumbled into bed
+without making any further inquiries.
+
+"Well, the next morning my good wife told me as how amidst the
+storm when it was at its greatest fury, the strange man who
+had come ashore from the yacht, entered our cabin having a
+bundle wrapped in his arms, and she told me how surprised she
+was when he opened his bundle and discovered a beautiful
+little child about a year old."
+
+"Renie was only a year old when placed in your charge."
+
+"That's all, sir."
+
+"Well, proceed."
+
+"There ain't much more to tell; my wife told me that the man,
+had left the child in her charge, and that we were to be well
+paid for its keep; and as long as Betsy thought it as all
+right, I made no objections."
+
+"Did the man ever come again?"
+
+"No, sir; the day following the bringing of the child ashore
+the yacht sailed away and never since has her prow plowed the
+waters of the bay. Nor has anyone belonging to her ever been
+seen in these parts."
+
+"And how long ago did this occur?"
+
+"Nigh onto seventeen years ago, sir."
+
+"And Renie is about eighteen years old?"
+
+"Thereabouts, sir."
+
+"It is not likely that she will ever be claimed."
+
+"Hardly, sir."
+
+"It is not likely that the box will ever be found."
+
+"Hardly, sir."
+
+There was one man, however, who dissented from the latter
+opinion; the detective in his own mind resolved that he would
+find that box, if it took him years to trace it; meantime the
+man Garcia opened his scheme.
+
+"Tom, you must let me have the girl."
+
+"I am willing; but the girl herself objects."
+
+"She does?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You have spoken to her?"
+
+"Yes; I told her a rich gentleman in New York, wished to adopt
+her, a man who would bring her up as his own child; but she
+answered that she did not wish to go to New York; did not
+desire to be adopted, and would not leave me."
+
+"She must be compelled to go with me!"
+
+"I wouldn't like to do that."
+
+"Listen, Tom, let me have the girl, and I will pay, you two
+thousand dollars down in gold!"
+
+"But she will not go with you."
+
+"We can manage that."
+
+"How do you mean to manage it?"
+
+"We'll play a trick on her, and I tell you when once I get her
+in my house, she will find things so pleasant and delightful
+she will never wish to return to this place again!"
+
+"I can't play no tricks on the gal! no, no, she's got perfect
+confidence in me, and I would not betray her confidence, not
+even for two thousand dollars in gold! And I'm a poor man,
+sir, very poor, and I'm old and getting feeble!"
+
+"I'll tell you what we can do, Tom; you can bring her to New
+York to visit me."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And then we may be able to persuade her to remain."
+
+"I'll think it over; but see here, why is it you are so
+anxious to get possession of the girl?"
+
+"I do not wish to see one so lovely and beautiful living in
+such a miserable condition."
+
+"See here, Garcia, do you mean that girl harm?"
+
+"Why, old man, what could prompt you to ask that question?"
+
+"Well, I'll tell you, you're so anxious; 'tis just come over
+my mind that you don't mean just what's right. Now, see here;
+it wouldn't do for you to mean any harm to Renie. I'd follow,
+any man who would harm her to the very death!"
+
+As the old smuggler spoke he drew his knife front his belt and
+laid it on the table in a suggestive manner.
+
+"You can trust the girl with me; but where is she, to-night?"
+
+"Can't tell, sir; nights like these she likes to roam the
+beach; she's a strange girl, sir, but I'd never have any harm
+come to her!"
+
+"Will you consent to bring her to New York on a Visit?"
+
+"I'll think the matter over, and--"
+
+The further remarks of the old smuggler were cut short by a
+shrill scream of agony which broke the stillness of the night.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+The two men stopped and listened a moment, when Tom Pearce
+started to go toward the door, exclaiming:
+
+"Something has scared Renie!"
+
+"Hold on! Nothing is the matter with the girl," said Garcia.
+
+"How do you know?" retorted the old smuggler; and he made
+another step toward the door, when the man Garcia suddenly
+dealt him a blow with a club.
+
+The blow was a powerful one, and it brought the old man to the
+floor, which laid him insensible upon the broad of his back.
+
+Meantime, the detective had overheard the scream; and had slid
+away from his hiding-place, and started to run toward the
+point from whence the cry had come.
+
+Spencer Vance was convinced that the scream had been uttered
+by Renie, and, remembering Sol Burton's attack upon the girl,
+he suspected the man had renewed his attempt.
+
+The detective ran for some distance, and saw no one; and his
+anxiety became intense lest some real harm had befallen the
+helpless girl. He could not understand what had become of
+her. When he first heard the cry, it did not appear as though
+the screamer could be more than a few hundred feet distant
+from where he lay ensconced; but he had covered thousands of
+square feet, and could see nothing of the girl, or, indeed,
+was there a living soul visible.
+
+The detective was straining his eyes in glances in every
+direction when he caught sight of the figure of a man moving
+stealthily across the sand.
+
+The detective started to follow the man, and speedily
+discerned that the stealthy prowler was the man Garcia.
+
+The latter had not seen the detective, and our hero kept upon
+his track, following him to the shore. On the beach were
+gathered a group of men, and in their midst Vance beheld the
+girl Renie.
+
+At a glance the detective took in the situation, Garcia,
+despairing of success with the old smuggler, had determined to
+kidnap the girl.
+
+There were three men besides the man Garcia, and four to one
+was pretty good odds; besides, the detective knew the men to
+be desperate and well prepared to fight. What should he do?
+He could not stand by and see the fair, helpless girl carried
+oft; and yet he was alone, and had no one to call upon for
+assistance.
+
+Lying off the shore was a sloop-yacht, and on the beach was a
+boat; the intention of the men was apparent. It was their
+purpose to carry the girl off to the yacht.
+
+Spencer Vance was an experienced officer, well posted in all
+the tricks and devices of his craft, and he at once began to
+carry out a scheme.
+
+He took up a position behind a sand-rift, and commenced to
+shriek and scream like a woman; and a moment later he became
+aware that his ruse was successful; two men came running
+toward the place where he lay concealed and as they approached
+the detective leaped to his feet. He had the men at a
+disadvantage; they were not expecting an attack, and were
+unprepared.
+
+The detective, however, was ready to receive them as they ran
+down the incline, and quick as lightning sprung upon the two
+men. The men were both stunned, and were down before they had
+a chance to make an outcry.
+
+Having disposed of the two men, the detective advanced toward
+the point on the beach where the two remaining men stood. He
+walled straight up to the kidnappers, who stood and gazed at
+him in amazement.
+
+"Heh, Renie!" he called, "are you going willingly with these
+men?"
+
+The men answered for the girl:
+
+"Yes; she is going with us. Who are you, and what have you
+got to say about it?"
+
+"When I speak, it will be from these; you fellows get in your
+boat or I fire!"
+
+"Who are you?" came the question.
+
+"Get in your boat, and leave, or down you go! The other two
+chaps are settled."
+
+"But give us an explanation."
+
+One of the men made a movement to draw his weapon, but the
+detective called:
+
+"Hold on there, my friend! And now, you fellows, get in your
+boat, or at the call of three it will be too late!"
+
+"One!" called the detective, and he made one step nearer the
+men.
+
+"Two!" he called a second later, and he advanced another step.
+
+The men did not wait for the third call, but leaped into their
+boat.
+
+The detective advanced to the spot where Renie stood, and in a
+low voice, he said:
+
+"Am I right?"
+
+The girl made no reply.
+
+A suspicion of the truth flashed through the detective's mind,
+and he said:
+
+"Renie, run to your father's cabin, the road is clear!"
+
+The girl, who had stood speechless during the whole time that
+the exciting incidents we have described were transpiring,
+suddenly bounded away, but without speaking one word.
+
+The detective called to the two men in the boat:
+
+"Don't you fellows land again, or it will cost you your
+lives!"
+
+The men made no reply, and the detective moved away in the
+same direction that had been pursued by Renie. He had gone
+less than a hundred feet, when he met the girl coming toward
+him.
+
+The detective was both amused and pleased. He realized that
+in case of an emergency the girl would be of great help.
+
+"Never mind, my child, I've settled 'em!" he said:
+
+Still the girl made no reply, and it was then the detective
+discovered that she had been gagged. He also discovered that
+her arms had been secured, so she could not raise them to her
+head.
+
+It took him but a moment to release her with his knife, when
+she exclaimed:
+
+"I thank you for coming to my aid; but where are the villains?"
+
+"I reckon they've gone off to their boat; but come, we will
+see. With such a noble and brave ally I would not hesitate to
+invite a scrimmage with half a dozen of them."
+
+The detective's guess proved correct. The two men whom he had
+first dropped had evidently recovered their senses, and had
+joined their pals on the beach, as a boat bearing four persons
+could be seen moving off toward the yacht.
+
+As our readers can well imagine, it was not because of the
+detective's warning that the men pulled away to their boat.
+Garcia remembered that he had stricken down the old smuggler,
+and it was the consequences of that act which made him anxious
+to get away.
+
+"There they go, Renie!"
+
+"Yes; thanks to you, I am not going with them;" answered the
+girl.
+
+"Why was the assault made upon you, my child?"
+
+"You are my friend; I will tell you all now. That man Garcia
+is a villain! He has made all manner of propositions to me to
+induce me to leave the coast and go to the city with him, but
+I knew the man to be a villain, a murderer, and criminal of
+the worst sort, and I refused all his offers."
+
+"On what pretense did he make offers to you, my child?"
+
+"Oh, he told me I was fitted to adorn a mansion, that this
+life with these rough fishermen was no life for me, and that
+he would take me to live as his child in luxury and splendor."
+
+"In one respect, Renie, the man told you truly. You are not
+fitted to dwell among these rough men around here."
+
+"I know that well enough, but I will not leave my father, and
+when I do I shall not place myself under the protection of a
+man like Garcia."
+
+"Who is this man Garcia?"
+
+"He is a Cuban, or rather his father was a Cuban, and his
+mother, as I've heard him say, was an Irish lady. I think he
+is one of the capitalists engaged in the smuggling trade; and
+that he is a villain and scoundrel I know!"
+
+"He had a long interview with Tom Pearce to-night."
+
+"Yes; I requested you to be a listener to their talk. What
+did you overhear?"
+
+"Tom Pearce is an honest and good man, as far as you are
+concerned; the fellow Garcia was seeking with the offer of
+bribes to induce the old man to take you to New York and
+surrender you to his keeping. He used the same arguments with
+your father that he used with you."
+
+"And what did my father say to his propositions?"
+
+"He gave no decided answer; but one thing is certain, the old
+man would never surrender you to that fellow if he had the
+least suspicion that any harm would come to you."
+
+"What has occurred this night will convince him, I reckon."
+
+"Yes, I should say so," responded the detective.
+
+"I would not have gone to that man's house even had my father
+consented. I have a mind and will of my own; and now that I
+am on my guard I will take care of myself against any such
+attacks in future."
+
+"I don't know, Renie; I do not think you will be safe here."
+
+"The men around here will protect me."
+
+At that moment a diminutive shadow was cast on the sand in
+front of Renie and the detective, and a moment later a little
+fellow, a mere child seemingly in years, appeared before them.
+
+"Hello, Tommy, where did you come from?" demanded Renie.
+
+"I want to speak to you, Renie."
+
+"Well, speak out, Tommy."
+
+"I won't speak before anyone. I've awful news to tell you."
+
+"Go and hear what the lad has to say to you," suggested Vance.
+
+Renie stepped aside with the lad, when the latter whispered in
+a low tone:
+
+"Sol Burton has made trouble."
+
+"What has he done?"
+
+"He told the men that you gave that man warning, and they're
+awful mad at you, and they've put up a job to get the man into
+a quarrel."
+
+"Where are the men now?"
+
+"Down to Rigby's."
+
+"They expect the detective down there to-night?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And Sol Burton was the man who told them I gave the detective
+warning?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You go down to Rigby's and listen to what goes on, and in
+about an hour come up and report to me."
+
+"Where will you be?"
+
+"At the cabin."
+
+Tom Pearce's house was generally called the cabin, as the
+timbers and other materials of which it was constructed were
+portions of a wreck that had come ashore many years
+previously.
+
+Tommy bid the girl good-night, and the latter returned to the
+detective.
+
+"Well, is the communication confidential?"
+
+"You are in great peril."
+
+"Am I?"
+
+"You are."
+
+"From which quarter does the danger threaten me?"
+
+"Sol Burton has reported against me."
+
+"What has he reported?"
+
+"He has told the men that I warned you, and that is the reason
+you did not go off in the yacht."
+
+"The men will not harm you, I reckon."
+
+"No, they will not harm me."
+
+"Then I reckon no harm is done."
+
+"The men have sworn to get square with you to-night!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+The detective laughed in a quiet way, and said:
+
+"My dear child, I have been in hotter danger than any that
+threatens me at this moment. I know now in which quarter the
+danger lies, and I would be a poor man were I to be frightened
+off when holding that 'lead.'"
+
+"But those men are set to catch you to-night. They have sworn
+to assault you, and there are twenty of them, all told; you
+may treat the danger lightly, but I tell you they are a
+desperate lot. They will make good their threat unless you
+go. It will be impossible for you to stand against them all."
+
+"Never you fear for me, Renie; I'll go off in the yacht to-night.
+She catches a 'liner,' and don't you forget."
+
+"You will go off in the yacht with those men?" exclaimed the
+girl.
+
+"Yes, I will."
+
+"Never! they will go for you at sight! They know now that you
+have been warned."
+
+"I will look out for myself; it is not my peril we must
+consider, but yours."
+
+"I am safe. I shall tell all to my father, and after that it
+will be a dangerous thing for Garcia to show his face around
+our cabin."
+
+"The man has money, he will operate by trick and device. He
+will bribe someone whom you consider your best friend to aid
+him, and already you have an enemy."
+
+"Sol Burton?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I do not fear him. I'll scare that man over to the mainland,
+to remain there, before to-morrow's sunset. No, no! I am not
+in danger, but you are."
+
+"You need have no fear for me."
+
+"You will not go to Rigby's to-night?"
+
+"I may go down there."
+
+"And invite your doom?"
+
+The detective smiled as he answered:
+
+"I can depend upon you?"
+
+"How depend upon me?"
+
+"You will not give any information against me!"
+
+"I certainly will not."
+
+"You must not know anything about me when you are questioned,
+but you can suggest that, possibly, I have become seared, and
+slid away."
+
+"Why do you not go?"
+
+"Go! why, my child, I'm getting right down to the business
+that brought me here; in a few days I'll have matters dead to
+rights; and, while I think of it, let me warn you, do not let
+Tom Pearce go off any more."
+
+"He does not go off nowadays. He has not been off in the
+yacht for a year. He is getting too old."
+
+"Give him a warning."
+
+"How warn him?"
+
+"Tell him to lay low, that the officers have got all the
+points down good, and are about to close in; tell him he'll be
+safe if he lies quiet close from this time out."
+
+"I will warn him; but, alas! it's you who should take warning.
+You know not your peril?"
+
+"We will drop that matter for the present. I have only one
+more word to say: You must know nothing about me, under any
+circumstances whatever; you must never seek to communicate
+with me, unless I first address you."
+
+"I do not understand."
+
+"It is not necessary for you to understand; you are a girl of
+ready wit; a general command to you is sufficient. I have
+good reasons for my request. I am amply able to take care of
+myself under all circumstances; my fear, as I told you, is for
+you. And now, to change the subject, have you any intimate
+friend, save your father?"
+
+"Not one."
+
+"Can I claim to be a friend of yours?"
+
+The girl answered promptly:
+
+"You have already proven yourself a friend."
+
+"You remember the words addressed to you by Sol Burton?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That fellow, I am satisfied, has no information for you."
+
+"I have so decided in my own mind."
+
+"Will you confide in me as a friend?"
+
+"I will!" came the ready reply.
+
+"I have reason to know that there is a mystery connected with
+your committal, years ago, to the care of Mrs. Pearce."
+
+"I know that myself."
+
+"I can solve that mystery if you permit me to do so."
+
+"I believe you can aid me; but if you go to Rigby's to-night
+you can never do service for me; these men will make good
+their threat!"
+
+"We will not talk about me now; we will talk about you, and I
+wish to ask you one question: Were you with Mrs. Pearce when
+she died."
+
+"I was."
+
+"Did she succeed in making any communication."
+
+"She did not."
+
+"Not even one word?"
+
+"She only succeeded in saying, 'Renie, I have something
+important to tell you;' then her tongue became paralyzed, and
+she never spoke again."
+
+"Upon no former occasion did she ever give you hint?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"She never told you of the circumstances under which you were
+confided to her care?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"And she never spoke of a mysterious box or any relics that
+might some day serve as identification tokens."
+
+"Never. She always gave me to understand that she was my real
+mother."
+
+"Well, now, Renie, I wish to ask you some very, important
+questions, and I desire that you will think and consider well
+before you make a reply."
+
+"I have a good memory; but, first, tell me what was the
+purport of the conversation between my father and the man
+Garcia?"
+
+"We will not speak of that now."
+
+"There were revelations made."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you will repeat them to me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"When?"
+
+"Some day."
+
+"Why not now?"
+
+"I will answer you frankly. I have determined, as I told you,
+to solve the mystery connected with your consignment to the
+care of Mrs. Pearce, and I do not wish to tell you anything
+that will start any suggestions in your mind, until I have
+collected and considered all the little memories you may have
+retained of the habits of your supposed mother."
+
+"Her habits were ordinary and commonplace enough. She was
+merely a good, hard-working fisherman's wife."
+
+"But did she not act like a woman who possessed: a secret?"
+
+The girl was thoughtful for some moments.
+
+"I do remember a strange incident that once occurred when I
+was quite a girl."
+
+"Ah! now we are getting down to it. Relate the incident."
+
+"My reputed mother is buried in the graveyard on the mainland,
+beside the grave of her son."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, once she visited his grave with me, and as she stood
+weeping, she said, after focusing her eyes on me in a strange
+manner:
+
+"'Renie, some day from that grave may come forth a strange
+secret; the day may come when I will tell you about it.'"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+The detective was keenly interested at once.
+
+"Were you old enough to consider her remark seriously?"
+
+"Yes; I formed an idea as to her meaning."
+
+"What was your idea?"
+
+"She alluded to the resurrection of the dead. She was what
+they called a Millerite."
+
+"Yes; I have heard of those people--a strange sect, who
+believed the world was coming to an end about every three
+months. So you thought she alluded to the resurrection?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Did she visit her son's grave often?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Did you ever notice that her mind took any particular line of
+thought after these visits?"
+
+"No."
+
+The detective was thoughtful a moment, but his meditations
+were rudely disturbed by the reappearance of the boy Tommy.
+The little fellow had been running hard, and was almost
+breathless as he called to Renie: "Come quick! I've something
+to tell you."
+
+The girl stepped aside with the lad, when the latter laid:
+
+"They're coming for him."
+
+"For whom?"
+
+"That man."
+
+The lad, pointed toward the detective.
+
+"Who is coming?"
+
+"The crew of the 'Nancy.' They're all wild drunk, and they're
+sure to try to hurt him."
+
+"How do they know he is here?"
+
+"Someone ran in the tavern and told 'em."
+
+"Who was it?"
+
+"I don't know. I was down there 'laying around' on the watch,
+when a man ran in and whispered something to the big mate, and
+then the men all took a 'stiff tin' and with oaths and curses
+started to go to your daddy's cabin. I ran ahead of them to
+warn you."
+
+"They will not harm me."
+
+"No, but they are after him sure!" again the lad pointed
+toward the detective.
+
+"All right, Tommy, you go and watch them, we'll look out."
+
+Renie returned to where the detective stood, and said:
+
+"Come with me, we've not a moment to spare."
+
+"What's the matter now?"
+
+"The gang have learned that you are still on the coast; they
+are all mad drunk, and they're coming for you!"
+
+"Which way are the men coming?"
+
+"They are going to my father's cabin, and if they do not find
+you there they will commence a search for you; they're all mad
+with liquor, and should they find you, no power on earth can
+save you!"
+
+"Nonsense! they cannot harm me. I only fear for you; and now
+listen, I've other work around here beyond the duty of
+breaking up the gang of smugglers. I'm going to solve the
+mystery of your life, fathom the secret of Betsy Pearce, and
+mark my, words, I'll succeed!"
+
+"Oh, do not remain here to-night! listen, they are almost upon
+us! fly with me! I can place you in a hiding-place!"
+
+"If I lose my life to-night, it will be your fault, Renie."
+
+"My fault?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How so?"
+
+"Because you will not do as I say."
+
+"What shall I do?"
+
+"Go to your father's cabin, and deny any knowledge of me."
+
+"You demand that I shall leave you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I go at your command!"
+
+The girl glided away.
+
+Meantime the detective heard loud voices and signs of intense
+excitement over at the boatman's cabin, which was not more
+than six hundred feet distant from where the detective and
+Renie stood, while the conversation which we have repeated was
+in progress.
+
+Strange feelings were raging in the detective's bosom at that
+moment. He had known the beautiful barefooted girl but a few
+hours, and he had come to feel more interest in her than he
+had ever cherished for any other human being since the day he
+had laid his widowed mother to rest in the church-yard.
+
+When he had first glanced at the girl under the exciting
+circumstances of that truly eventful night, he had considered
+her a rustic beauty, handsome, but ignorant; but alas! a
+better knowledge of her taught him that she was a refined and
+educated girl, despite the fact of the bare feet, her unkempt
+hair, and long residence among the fishermen and smugglers of
+the coast.
+
+She was a true child of romance, a wonderful prodigy of a
+strange and weird fate, and he could not but picture to
+himself what a ravishingly lovely creature she would be under
+different auspices; and he wondered not that the Cuban
+villain, Garcia, was anxious to secure possession of her.
+
+The detective quickly thought over the whole matter. He
+discerned the Cuban's purpose; the man meant to take the girl
+to Cuba, perchance, to make her his wife, and why not? She
+was beautiful, and there was a possibility that she might
+develop into a great heiress.
+
+The detective, however, did not have much time to meditate on
+his strange meeting with the girl and the stranger incidents
+that followed that meeting. He was warned that it was
+necessary for him to take measures for the safety of his life.
+
+Spencer Vane was a thoroughly experienced detective. He was
+no tyro at the business, and he was up to all the tricks and
+devices of the modern science of criminal detection. He was
+as good at the art of disguise as any in the profession, and
+it was his skill in the latter particular which make him so
+indifferent as to the approach of the gang of madly drunken
+smugglers.
+
+Our hero walked over behind a high sand drift, and in a few
+minutes had worked a most startling and extraordinary
+"transform;" no living man, unless posted as to his disguise,
+could ever have recognised in the dark-faced, rough-looking
+man who issued from behind the drift, the same light-haired,
+dashing-looking fellow who had a moment before disappeared
+behind it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+The detective had just completed his change in appearance,
+when he was startled by hearing a shrill piercing scream in a
+female voice from the direction of Tom Pearce's cabin.
+
+"As I feared!" he muttered, and he walked rapidly toward the
+cabin, and approaching, he saw an excited group of men
+standing outside, while something of a more ordinary character
+appeared to be transpiring beneath the humble roof.
+
+The detective approached the group of men standing outside and
+inquired:
+
+"Hello, what's going on here?"
+
+The men crowded around the new-comer, and glared in his face,
+and one of the men called out,
+
+"Ahoy there, bring a glim here, quick! Here's stranger, and
+by all that's fatal, I believe Tom's enemy!"
+
+The detective was perfectly cool as he answered;
+
+"Will you tell me what's going on here."
+
+"Who are you, anyhow?" came the query in a rough tone.
+
+Meantime one of the men had brought out a ship's lantern, and
+it was held up in front of the detective's face, and the men
+glared at him.
+
+"Do any of you know this fellow?" came the question.
+
+One man after another declared his utter ignorance of the
+identity of the stranger.
+
+"Who are you, my man?" again came the question;
+
+"My name is Ballard, but I reckon no one around here knows
+me."
+
+"I reckon you're right, you villain! and now what brings you
+here?"
+
+"I came here to see a woman named Betsy Pearce."
+
+"You came here to see a woman named Betsy Pearce?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What brought you here to see Betsy Pearce?"
+
+"That's my business."
+
+"You've been here before, to-night, old man!"
+
+"Who says so?"
+
+"We all do."
+
+"Then you are all mistaken!"
+
+"We are, eh? Well, my friend, it stands you in hand to give
+an account of yourself, and explain your presence here, or
+to-morrow's sun will never rise before your eyes!"
+
+"Will you men explain why I am assailed this way?"
+
+"My friend, Tom Pearce, has been found in his cabin
+unconscious!"
+
+The detective gave a start, and a shudder passed over his
+stalwart frame. The start and shudder were the result of far
+different causes than the men around him supposed, but they
+noticed his momentary agitation, and one of them exclaimed:
+
+"We've got the right man! And now, boys, get a rope; there'll
+be no foolin' in this case!"
+
+Meantime one of the men entered the cabin and whispered to
+Renie, who was weeping over the body of her murdered father.
+
+"They've caught the rascal, miss, and they're going to hang
+him!"
+
+The girl uttered a scream, a wild piercing wail of anguish and
+terror! At that terrible moment it flashed across her mind
+that the men had caught Spencer Vance, and had concluded that
+the detective was the assailant of her father.
+
+The girl rushed from the cabin screaming:
+
+"Hold! Hold! do not harm that man! He is innocent! Hold!
+Hold, I say!"
+
+The girl advanced to the center of the group of men that
+surrounded the detective, still exclaiming:
+
+"Do not harm that man! he is innocent! He is innocent!"
+
+She approached close to the prisoner; one of the men held the
+the lantern so its gleam shone full in the detective's face,
+and he inquired:
+
+"Do you know him, Renie?"
+
+The girl fixed her eyes on the prisoner and recoiling,
+exclaimed:
+
+"No, no, I do not know him! I thought it was another man! He
+must be the one!"
+
+As the excited girl spoke she pointed toward the detective.
+
+The latter still stood, the coolest party amidst all there
+assembled.
+
+Renie had taken but a cursory glance at the prisoner. One
+glance had been sufficient to prove to her that it was not the
+detective, and observing the man's swarthy complexion she
+connected him with the Cuban Garcia, and it was the latter
+fact which in the excitement of the moment caused her to
+exclaim,
+
+"He must be the one!"
+
+As stated, the detective was perfectly cool, but he realized
+his position in all its terribleness, and more fully, when one
+of the men said:
+
+"Now, then, stranger, give an account of yourself."
+
+"I tell you I came here to see Betsy Pearce."
+
+"You were not at this cabin before to-night."
+
+"I was not."
+
+"Where do you hail from?"
+
+"That's my business."
+
+"That means you won't tell."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You may be sorry anon, good man; and now answer! What was
+your business with Betsy Pearce?"
+
+"I will not answer."
+
+"You had no business with Tom Pearce?"
+
+"I did not."
+
+"Stranger, your story don't work. Betsy Pearce has been dead
+and in her grave these two years."
+
+"I know that!"
+
+"Ah, you knew it?"
+
+"Yes, I learned so since my arrival on the coast."
+
+Renie had returned to the interior of the cabin, and one of
+the men said:
+
+"Is the rope ready?"
+
+"Yes," came the answer.
+
+"Do you hear that, stranger?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Rig a swing cross, boys. We'll fix this fellow, and teach
+all comers that this is the wrong coast for such scoundrels!"
+
+The detective fully realized the men were in earnest, and
+that, unless some fortunate accident intervened. It would
+indeed be an "up you go" with him.
+
+It would be hard to conceive a more embarrassing and critical
+position. The detective could not appeal to Renie openly as
+the appeal would reveal his real identity; and no opportunity
+appeared for a quiet revelation of himself to the girl.
+
+He was led to the place of execution; the rope was thrown over
+his head, when Renie came forth from the cabin. She ran
+forward to where the victim stood.
+
+"Hold! Hold!" she said, "what are you about to do?"
+
+"Hang your father's assailant!"
+
+"Does the man confess his guilt?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Let me speak to him."
+
+The girl pressed forward close to the doomed man, and
+addressing him, said:
+
+"Are you innocent or guilty?"
+
+"It makes no difference now; but tell me are you Renie
+Pearce?"
+
+"I am Renie Pearce."
+
+"I have an important communication to make to you before I
+die."
+
+"To me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, speak!"
+
+"What I communicate must be spoken in your ear alone, as it
+concerns you only."
+
+"Go and see what he has to say," commanded the leader of the
+lynching party.
+
+The girl stepped close to the man and the lyncher stepped
+back.
+
+In a low tone the detective said:
+
+"Be calm and do not betray that you know me!"
+
+The girl felt her heart stand still, and a cry rose to her
+lips.
+
+"Hold," whispered the officer, "or you will destroy all
+chances for escape."
+
+The girl's face assumed the hue of death, a thrilling
+suspicion flashed through her mind.
+
+"You can save me, Renie, but if you betray my real identity I
+am doomed!"
+
+"Are you Spencer Vance?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Heavens! what does this mean?"
+
+"It is no time for explanations now; tell me, is your father
+dead?"
+
+"He shows signs of life."
+
+"Then you can save my life."
+
+"You shall not die!"
+
+"Listen, tell the men I have made certain revelations to you;
+tell them your father is reviving; bid them wait and let the
+old man identify me as the assailant, or proclaim my innocence."
+
+"I see! I see!" said the girl.
+
+"Remember, under no circumstances, even though I die, must my
+identity be betrayed!"
+
+"You can trust me."
+
+The girl stepped toward the men, and addressing them, said:
+
+"You must not hang that man!"
+
+"Is the man your friend?" came the question in a jeering tone.
+
+"The man is a stranger; but I am satisfied he did not strike
+down my father. He has told me important things; my father
+revives, let my father see this man!"
+
+At the moment there came a fortunate diversion in favor of the
+policy of delay; a voice called in from the house,
+
+"Come here, Renie, your father is reviving. He has called for
+you!"
+
+"Bring the man to my father," said the girl.
+
+"Yes," came the answer from several.
+
+"Throw the rope off from around his neck."
+
+A young man stepped forward and did as commanded.
+
+The sentiment was turning in favor of the seemingly doomed
+man.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+It was an exciting moment when the detective was led into the
+cabin; as many as could get in, crowded into the low-ceiled
+room.
+
+The old man had rapidly revived, his only attendant being an
+old man-of-war's-man, who had had a large experience with
+wounded men.
+
+The detective meantime was quite confident; conscious of his
+innocence he welcomed the inspection.
+
+The wounded man opened his eyes and gazed around the room.
+
+"Where am I?" he demanded.
+
+Renie stepped to his side and said:
+
+"You are in your own cabin, father."
+
+The old man gazed around wildly at the pale faces gathered
+around his bed; the detective was led forward and the old
+smuggler's glance fell upon the stark face. Suddenly the
+wounded man uttered a thrilling cry, rose up in the bed to a
+sitting position, end pointing his finger at the detective,
+demanded in a hoarse voice,
+
+"Why is he here? take him away!"
+
+The group gathered around the bed were paralyzed to silence,
+but after a moment the silence was broken by the voice of the
+leader of the gang of lynchers who asked:
+
+"Who is he, Tom?"
+
+In clear distinct tones the answer came:
+
+"The villain who struck me down!"
+
+Renie uttered a scream, and oaths fell from the lips of the
+men.
+
+"Out with him! out with him!" came the cry, and oaths and
+curses and shouts of vengeance filled the air.
+
+The men started to turn the detective toward the door,
+determined to hang him without further hindrance or delay.
+
+The wounded man as he uttered the fatal words had fallen back,
+seemingly into a dead faint.
+
+It was a terrible moment; the maddened men had reached the
+door with their prisoner when Renie called out in a frantic
+voice:
+
+"Hold! do not take him away, my father has a word to say to
+him."
+
+The girl's quick wit and readiness of expedient were
+wonderful.
+
+At first, when the fatal words fell from her father's lips,
+her blood ran cold with horror; but quickly came the
+recollection that the detective had changed his appearance,
+and that she herself had failed to recognize him. Garcia was
+a dark-complexioned man, and the thought came to her that here
+was a possibility that, in a moment of excitement and
+bewilderment, the injured old smuggler had mistaken the
+detective for Garcia.
+
+Her device to stay the maddened men was a rare example of
+quickness of thought at a critical moment; indeed, it was the
+only appeal that would have caused the men to delay their fell
+purpose.
+
+Tom Pearce was still unconscious, and Renie threw herself upon
+the old man, pretending to caress him, so as to hide the fact
+of his unconsciousness and to gain time until he should
+revive.
+
+At length, the old smuggler did revive, and Renie whispered
+the inquiry in his ear:
+
+"Father, who was it struck you down?"
+
+"Garcia!" came the response in a husky voice.
+
+Gladness gleamed in the girl's eyes.
+
+The men brought the detective to the bedside.
+
+"Wait, wait a moment!" commanded Renie.
+
+"What does the old man wish to say to the villain?"
+
+"Wait, wait until he more fully revives."
+
+Some of the men who were outside, not understanding the cause
+of the delay, called out:
+
+"Bring the man out!"
+
+Meantime, the old man more fully revived, when Renie whispered
+to him:
+
+"Father, do you know me?"
+
+"Yes; it is Renie, my child."
+
+"Do you remember pointing out the man who assailed you?"
+
+"Yes; it was that villain Garcia."
+
+"The man whom you denounced was not Garcia."
+
+"Was it not Garcia whom they brought before me."
+
+"No."
+
+"Who was it?"
+
+"A stranger."
+
+"I made a mistake!"
+
+"Yes; you made a mistake. Will you not look again at the
+man?"
+
+"Certainly I will."
+
+"Will you rise up in bed?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Renie assisted the old man to rise, and beckoned the men to
+lead the detective forward.
+
+"Now, father," she said, "look upon this man."
+
+The old smuggler looked the detective all over, and a change
+came over his face as he said:
+
+"Is that the man I denounced?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"My friends, that is not the man who assailed me!"
+
+The gang of lynchers stood gazing in amazement, and there was
+a suspicious look upon the faces of many of them as their
+leader remarked:
+
+"The girl has cajoled him."
+
+The men suspected that the girl had induced her Father to
+recall his words.
+
+"Would you know the man who assailed you, Tom?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then why did you accuse this man?"
+
+"I had not fully recovered my senses when I denounced him."
+
+"Do you know the right man?"
+
+"Yes," came the answer.
+
+"Are you sure you have your senses now?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"This man is really innocent?"
+
+"He is."
+
+"That settles it, stranger. We owe you an apology; but you
+had a narrow 'squeak' of it, and but for the gal, you'd have
+been dangling now from yonder spar."
+
+Turning to the wounded man, the fellow continued:
+
+"Tom, who was the man who assailed you?"
+
+"I know him."
+
+"You're going to die; tell us, old man, who did the deed?"
+
+The old man-of-war's-man, who had been attending the wounded
+smuggler, exclaimed:
+
+"Die, is it? Not he! Tom Pearce is good for a three-years'
+cruise yet; and he'd a mind to take it!"
+
+"Well, tell us who the man was, Tom?"
+
+"No, boys, not now; it was a private quarrel. I'm coming
+around all right, and I'm much obliged for the good feeling
+you men have shown toward me; but I'll settle with the man who
+downed me--settle with him good, and no mistake!"
+
+"All right, you have your own way, but when you're around
+again, we want to have a talk with you; and, meantime, Renie,
+I've a few words to say to you in private."
+
+"You want to talk to me, Ike Denman!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, speak out."
+
+"Clear out, boys; you know what business you have on hand; get
+down to work, and if you fail, I'll meet you at Rigby's later
+on."
+
+The men moved away, the detective going with them; and a few
+moments later Renie, Denman, and the old smuggler were alone.
+
+"Renie," said Denman, "haven't we always treated you well?"
+
+"I've never complained of the treatment I've received on the
+coast."
+
+"Then, why have you turned against us?"
+
+"I've not turned against you."
+
+"Go slow, girl, go slow! Don't say anything you'll have to
+take back."
+
+"I know just what I'm saying."
+
+"There's been an enemy on the coast."
+
+"A Government officer?"
+
+"Yes; a Government officer."
+
+"Who warned him he was in danger?"
+
+"Who first learned he was a Government officer?"
+
+"That's neither here nor there. Who warned him not to go off
+in the yacht this night?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"You did?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why did you do so?"
+
+"I did not want to see the man murdered."
+
+"Who told you the man would be murdered?"
+
+Ike Denman fixed his keen eyes sharply on the girl when he
+asked the question.
+
+"No one told me."
+
+"See here, girl, do not tell me that!"
+
+"You have my answer."
+
+"Renie, before to-night I would have taken your word for
+anything; but now I doubt you!"
+
+"I can't help it, I have told you the truth."
+
+"Someone must have told you our plans?"
+
+"No one told me."
+
+"And what did you tell the detective?"
+
+"I told him not to go off in the yacht to-night."
+
+"What more did you tell him?"
+
+"I told him to leave the coast."
+
+"What reason did you give him for warning hunt rot to go off
+in the yacht?"
+
+"I told him he'd never return alive."
+
+"That's frank and straight."
+
+"I always tell the truth."
+
+"And now, girl, we have something, worse than a Government
+officer on the coast."
+
+The girl remained silent, and Denman continued:
+
+"A traitor is worse than a Government officer, and, we have a
+traitor in our midst."
+
+The girl still remained silent. She supposed the fellow was
+alluding to her.
+
+"Renie, you must tell me who told you our plans?"
+
+"No one told me your plans."
+
+"Listen, girl, I want to keep you out of trouble; let me tell
+you something; the men are very much incensed against you, and
+have uttered terrible threats."
+
+"I can't help it."
+
+"Why did you warn the detective?"
+
+"I did not wish to see the man murdered."
+
+"And you turned against your father and us all?"
+
+"I have turned against no one. I only sought to save a man's
+life."
+
+"The man is a friend of yours?"
+
+"I never spoke to him before in my life, until I warned him of
+his danger."
+
+"Where is the man?"
+
+"If he is wise, he has left the coast."
+
+"Will you tell me how you have learned of our plans?"
+
+"I overheard you discuss them."
+
+"And you are the traitor
+
+"I am the traitor!"
+
+"Girl, never confess to anyone else what you have confessed
+to me!"
+
+The old smuggler was a listener to the foregoing conversation,
+and he said:
+
+"Renie is tender-hearted."
+
+"Yes; but, Tom, Renie must go away."
+
+"Yes; she is going away."
+
+"Have you a place for her?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Will you tell me who assailed you?"
+
+"Ike, I can't tell you all; but I was assailed on Renie's
+account."
+
+"You were assailed on Renie's account?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"This is a strange story!"
+
+"Some day you will know why I was assailed."
+
+"Was it one of our people?"
+
+"No."
+
+"A stranger?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who?"
+
+"A man you know."
+
+"Name him."
+
+"Not to-night."
+
+"When will Renie go away?"
+
+"As soon as possible."
+
+"Tom, I am a friend of yours, and your daughter's; but I tell
+you the girl is in a bad fix."
+
+"She shall go away."
+
+"To-morrow?"
+
+"We shall see."
+
+Ike Denman remained to exchange a few more words, and went
+away; the father and daughter were alone.
+
+The girl told of the attempt to kidnap her.
+
+"I see it all, Renie, I see it all! But you are safe, and you
+shall not come to harm; but tell me, who, is the man who was
+brought before me?"
+
+The girl was saved an answer, for the man walked in to answer
+for himself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+Renie was surprised to see the detective enter the cabin.
+
+"Tom Pearce," said our hero, "I am a stranger to you and
+yours, but I am your friend. I cannot tell you who I am at
+present, but in good time you shall know all!"
+
+"How was it you were suspected of having assailed me?" asked
+the old smuggler.
+
+"I was coming to your cabin to ask some questions, when, as a
+stranger, who could give no satisfactory account of himself, I
+was arrested."
+
+Renie had told her father that the detective had rescued her
+from the hands of Garcia and his men.
+
+The old smuggler was not altogether satisfied with the young
+man's statement, as a suspicion ran through his mind that he
+was, after all, a secret emissary of the Cuban.
+
+"You were coming to see me?" said the old smuggler.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What is your business with me?"
+
+"I can defer my business to some other time; the fact of your
+injury prevents me from troubling you now."
+
+"Never mind my injury, I am all right now. I received many a
+worse thump when I was a younger man, but I am an old one now,
+and I tell you age will tell; but you can open your business."
+
+"I am your friend, Tom Pearce."
+
+"Many an enemy claims to be a man's friend."
+
+"Had I known what I do now, you would never have been stricken
+down."
+
+"I can tell you that had I known myself what I do now, I would
+never have been stricken down."
+
+"The man Garcia is your enemy!"
+
+"Eh? What's that you are saying?"
+
+"I am telling you the man Garcia is your enemy!"
+
+"What do you know about the man Garcia?"
+
+"I know he is a villain!"
+
+The old smuggler fixed his eyes on the young man, and said:
+
+"Who sent you here?"
+
+"No one."
+
+"Why did you come here?"
+
+"To warn you against Garcia."
+
+The statement in various ways, as our readers will recognize,
+was the truth.
+
+"You came here to warn me against Garcia?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why should you come to warn me?"
+
+"Because I know the man who assailed you to be a villain."
+
+"The man who assailed me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How do you know who assailed me?"
+
+"I know him."
+
+"How comes it that you are any friend? Why should you warn
+me? Have you known me before?"
+
+"I never saw you until this night to my recollection."
+
+"Then how is it you take such an interest in me?"
+
+"My interest in you is because of Garcia's designs, I hate
+that man. I am on his track, and I am the friend of any man
+whom he is against!"
+
+"Are you acquainted with my daughter?" asked the old smuggler
+in a suspicious tone.
+
+"I never saw your daughter before to-night."
+
+"How did you know Garcia was coming here?"
+
+"I tracked him."
+
+"Why did you track him?"
+
+"Because I knew he was up to some villainy."
+
+"You say the man is my enemy?"
+
+"Would a friend assail you as you have been assailed sailed
+this night?"
+
+"How do you know Garcia assailed me?"
+
+"I tracked him to this house, and a few moments after he left
+the house you were found lying unconscious in this room."
+
+"Where were you when I was assaulted?"
+
+"I was down at the bay shore."
+
+"What were you doing there?"
+
+"Watching the men whom Garcia brought with him to aid him in
+his design."
+
+"This is a strange story you are telling me, young man. How
+do I know but you are an enemy?"
+
+"I am not an enemy!"
+
+"But are you an enemy to Garcia?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"That is a private matter."
+
+"Why is he my enemy?"
+
+The young man was silent, but looked toward Renie.
+
+The old smuggler followed the direction of his glance end
+said:
+
+"Come, speak out plainly, do not fear!"
+
+"I fear nothing."
+
+"Then speak."
+
+The young man reached over the bed and whispered in the old
+man's ear:
+
+"I do not wish to speak in your daughter's presence."
+
+"Renie, go from the cabin a few moments, this man has
+something to tell me."
+
+The detective signaled to the girl to obey, but the latter
+showed some hesitancy and said:
+
+"Father, I do not wish to leave you alone with stranger."
+
+"You need not fear, child, and you can remain within call."
+
+"Are you sure this is not the man who assaulted you?"
+
+"Yes, child. I know well enough who assaulted me; go away,
+I will call you when I wish you to return."
+
+The girl went from the room, but at the same time exhibited
+considerable reluctance.
+
+The detective's admiration for the girl increased. He
+recognized that she was playing a part, and really aiding
+him in impressing the old man as intended.
+
+When alone, the old smoggier said:
+
+"Now, speak out, young man!"
+
+"Do you suspect Garcia's purpose?"
+
+"We are not talking about what I suspect, whale have you to
+tell me?"
+
+"Garcia has designs against your daughter, all his pretensions
+about desiring to benefit her are a part of his scheme. He is
+a deep dyed villain, a man capable of any crime."
+
+"How do I know you are not one of his agents?"
+
+"It wouldn't stand to reason that, if I were his Agent, I
+would denounce him."
+
+"That might be a part of his purpose."
+
+"I warn you against the man; take nobody's advice; keep your
+daughter under your own special care."
+
+"Why have you such an interest in my daughter?" demanded the
+old smuggler, abruptly, and again he fixed his eyes keenly on
+the detective.
+
+"I am against Garcia, whatever his schemes may be; and now
+that I've warned you, I've nothing more to say; do as you
+choose, I owe you nothing, nor do you owe me anything; you can
+believe what I have told you, or doubt it, just as you choose,
+but remember I have warned you!"
+
+The detective started to leave the cabin, when the old man
+called him back and asked:
+
+"What is your name?"
+
+"My name is Ballard."
+
+"Where are you from?"
+
+"Cuba."
+
+"Will I see you again?"
+
+"You may; but let me tell you one thing, if you wish me to
+remain your friend, tell no man that I warned you against
+Garcia. I propose to hang around the coast for awhile."
+
+"For what purpose?"
+
+"To circumvent the villain Garcia. I may stand you in good
+need when you least expect it, if you permit me to be your
+friend."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+Without another word the detective departed from the cabin;
+a little distance across the sand he saw a figure. He
+recognized Renie and went toward her.
+
+"I did not know you," said the girl.
+
+"You may not know me the next time we meet."
+
+"This is wonderful."
+
+"I am a detective, I have made a study of the art of disguise;
+my success and my safety ofttimes depend upon my skill in
+changing my appearance at a moment's notice; but now, let me
+thank you for saving my life!"
+
+"Saving your life!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"It was for me you put your life in jeopardy."
+
+"No, no, I am carrying out my own designs."
+
+"You saved me from that man Garcia!"
+
+"And you saved me from being hanged by those men."
+
+"You will leave the coast now?"
+
+"Leave the coast?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, I reckon not. I've just got down to business."
+
+"You will be discovered; you will be in worse peril as the
+Government detective than you were as the supposed assailant
+of my father."
+
+"I can take care of myself."
+
+"And you will remain?"
+
+"I will remain."
+
+"You invite your doom."
+
+"Well, well, I've often done the same thing before; I am in
+the way of duty. Renie, understand me, I am your friend. I
+will risk anything to guard you from evil, but it is my duty
+to break up this gang of smugglers, and I shall do my duty at
+any cost!"
+
+"But I have betrayed you."
+
+"Yes, I know all about it; your betrayal was not intentional;
+you are a brave noble girl! tell me, are you in any way
+connected with the smugglers?"
+
+"I am not."
+
+"Then fear nothing."
+
+"But my father?"
+
+"Your father is not actively engaged as a smuggler now, and I
+will not get him into trouble, but I must do my duty, and now
+answer me frankly, are you against me?"
+
+"How against you?"
+
+"I have decided to remain and do my duty, I am the enemy of
+the gang! Are you their friend? Will you stand between me
+and them?"
+
+"Never! but I know you will never leave the coast alive!
+those men will not rest day or night until they run you down,
+and I cannot aid you, as I have already earned their enmity,
+and they have demanded that I be sent away!"
+
+"That is all right."
+
+"The girl laughed and said:
+
+"It is easy enough to say 'that is all right,' but where shall
+I go?"
+
+"Go with Tom Pearce."
+
+"Tom Pearce will not leave the coast."
+
+"Yes, he will."
+
+"Did he tell you so?"
+
+"No, but I will persuade him. I will show him very soon that
+it is best for him to go. He will go, never fear!"
+
+"You will never persuade him."
+
+"I will use an argument you do not dream of, my, girl; and
+now, mark me, I am your friend. I have promised to solve the
+mystery surrounding your commission to the care of the Pearces
+many years ago. I will learn all about you, I will find the
+box."
+
+"What box?"
+
+The detective smiled as he remembered that the girl knew
+nothing about the box, and he said:
+
+"Ah, that is a way we detectives have of speaking! the secret
+of your life is boxed somewhere, we would say, and I will
+unravel the mystery."
+
+"Why should you take such an interest in me?"
+
+"Did you not save my life?"
+
+"But did you not imperil your life in my behalf?"
+
+"No; I was in the way of duty when I fell into the hands of
+the smugglers under such peculiar circumstances; but never
+mind, we will not discuss that matter. I have seen fit to
+make you a promise, and I will make my promise good."
+
+"Never! if you decide to remain on the coast."
+
+"I shall remain! and now, Renie, as we are friends, let us
+arrange so as to guard against future perils. I may appear
+here under many disguises, it is necessary for both of us that
+you should always know and recognize me; but you must never
+betray your recognition; to you in the presence of others I
+must always be a stranger; your safety and my own demands it,
+but all will come out right in the end."
+
+"Never! Never! those men will kill you!"
+
+"I shall go to sea with those men before to-morrow's sunset."
+
+"You will never return."
+
+"Oh, yes I will; and now listen."
+
+The detective proceeded and arranged a number of secret signs
+and signals with the girl. He instructed her in a private
+finger code, and found her a ready and apt scholar. He gave
+her also a written chart for future study, telling her that if
+she mastered it, they could converse in the presence of
+others, and none would be the wiser.
+
+Having concluded his instructions, he said:
+
+"Go now to your father. I may not see you for two or three
+days, but always be on your guard."
+
+"Against whom?"
+
+"Garcia."
+
+"Do you think he will dare return?"
+
+"That man may have secret agents among the smugglers."
+
+"None of the men would betray me to him."
+
+"We cannot tell what money may accomplish; but I do not
+anticipate danger for a few days, or I would not leave, you;
+still you must be on your guard."
+
+"Where go you now?"
+
+"To Rigby's."
+
+"To Rigby's?" ejaculated the girl.
+
+"Yes; why not?"
+
+"You go at your peril!"
+
+The detective laughed and said:
+
+"Never fear for me; good-night!"
+
+Without waiting to listen to further words of warning the
+detective walked rapidly away.
+
+Renie returned to the cabin; the girl was disturbed and
+thoughtful. The dream of her lonely life was opening up to
+her, but alas! the picture was fringed with dark surroundings.
+
+Upon entering the cabin the girl was addressed by her father,
+who asked:
+
+"Renie, what do you think of that fellow?"
+
+"He is a mysterious man, father, but he appears to be friendly
+to us."
+
+"He has spoken nothing but the truth, so far, my child.
+Garcia is a villain! it was he who assailed me."
+
+"How was it he came to assail you, father?"
+
+"My child, that man has designs against you; it is time that I
+told you all I know concerning yourself!"
+
+"Do so, father."
+
+The old smuggler proceeded and related to Renie all that he
+had told to Garcia, and also stated the Cuban's proposition.
+
+The girl was silent, but deeply interested, and the one
+thought that ran through her mind was the knowledge that
+Spencer Vance had overheard the revelation when made to
+Garcia.
+
+The old man had just concluded his narrative when an intruder
+walked into the cabin.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+A reckless gang of men were assembled in the low tavern kept
+my a man named Rigby.
+
+The latter was a remarkable man. He kept a low seashore
+resort, a place where fishermen and the roughest sort of men
+gathered, and yet he was a man of considerable education and a
+great deal of cunning, and coined more good money in this
+little seaside tavern then did other rumsellers who occupied
+saloons in the great city, that cost thousands to fit up and
+decorate.
+
+Rigby was too cunning and careful to be a smuggler himself,
+but he was also cunning enough to "scoop in" the major portion
+of the earnings of the men engaged in the perilous trade.
+
+It was only when the business had grown to large proportions
+that the Government organized a regular plan for its
+suppression; and at the time our story opens, the play between
+the smugglers and the Government agents was at its finest
+point. It was well known that there were parties in New York
+who had, and were still realizing immense sums of money by
+cheating the Government of its legitimate revenue.
+
+The Collector of the Port did not care so much about the crews
+of the vessels, it was the owners and capitalists he was
+seeking to trail down.
+
+The smugglers had given over the search for Spencer Vance, and
+in parties of twos and threes, had gathered at Rigby's, until
+at least fifteen or twenty men were assembled. They were all
+smugglers and members of the crew of the smuggler yacht
+"Nancy."
+
+As intimated in our opening chapters, the men ostensibly were
+fishermen, and their boat was stated to be a fishing-boat; and
+to lend color to the claim, the men did go off between times
+on fishing expeditions, and the latter little trick had been
+their best "blind" and "throw off."
+
+Again, as intimated in our former chapters, three Government
+officers had mysteriously disappeared, and the duty had
+devolved upon the Government officials not only to stay the
+illegal traffic, but to ferret out and bring to punishment the
+murderers of the missing detectives.
+
+There was no actual proof, however, that the men were
+murdered; as far as the Government officials were advisedly
+concerned, the detectives were merely missing. It was
+reported by some "Smart Alec" that the detectives had been put
+on outgoing vessels bound for some distant port, and that in
+good season they would turn up, and then again there was the
+chance that the officers might have met with accidents in
+their perilous undertaking.
+
+Spencer Vance, however, was fully satisfied in his own mind
+that his brother officers had been murdered. He knew too well
+that tragic events are of constant occurrence which never come
+to light; tragedies so terrible that were the details to be
+known, a thrill of horror would go throughout the whole land.
+
+There are horrors enough that do become public, but there are
+as many more that never come to the surface.
+
+The men, as stated, gathered at Rigby's; they had just
+returned from a search for Spencer Vance.
+
+There was no doubt in their minds as to the truth of the
+report that he was a spy in their midst. The fact that he had
+declined to go out on the yacht that night was to them proof
+as clear as "Holy Writ" that he was a Government officer.
+
+It was important to catch him and put him out of the way as
+soon as possible, as there were several very valuable
+shipments on the way to New York, and chances favored the men
+for making quite large sums of money.
+
+Our readers must not understand that the vessel engaged in the
+smuggling business carried no other freight; the goods
+intended to be smuggled in was but a small part of their
+cargo, but amounted on each vessel to enough to yield enormous
+profits to the capitalists as well as to the actual smuggler
+crews.
+
+One of the men, as he drunk off a glass of grog, remarked:
+
+"Boys, it's a cold day for us that the fellow should have
+received a warning; it's money out of our pockets!"
+
+There was a one-eyed, ugly visaged fellow sitting off in a
+corner of the room, who remarked:
+
+"You lads will see colder days yet; you may say the business
+is all up, and we'd better take the 'Nancy' over to the
+mackerel banks and work for a few honest pennies."
+
+"What makes you say that, Jake?"
+
+"I'm only telling yer the truth; yer a chicken-hearted lot,
+and losing all yer game; for what? the pretty face of a
+she-devil!"
+
+Too well the men all understood one-eyed Jake's savage
+suggestion.
+
+"You don't think," said one of them, "that the gal is dead
+against us?"
+
+"Well, I think she is as dead against us as a few dollars in
+gold can make a female who's fond of gewgaws, and ambitious to
+be a fine lady."
+
+"Do you mean to say Renie receives money?"
+
+"Well, I don't think bad enough of the gal to say she'd go
+agin us for fun. I tell you, boys, the thing is dead agin us
+unless the gal is silenced!"
+
+The men all entered loud protests; the girl was a great
+favorite yet with most of them, as she had grown up in their
+midst.
+
+"Oh, I expected you'd growl when you learned the truth, and
+it's the gal or us--, as you all think so much of the gal, I
+propose we lay provision in the 'Nancy,' and go off after
+mackerel.
+
+"What would you propose, Jake?"
+
+"I propose sending the gal away."
+
+"You would do her no harm?"
+
+"I wouldn't harm a hair of her head; but she's doing us a good
+deal of harm all the same."
+
+"It's already been suggested to Tom Pearce to send the gal
+away."
+
+"He'll never do it!"
+
+"But he must."
+
+"It's all right to say he must; but who'll make old Tom Pearce
+do a thing when he's made up his mind that he won't?"
+
+"What would you propose?"
+
+"I'd propose that we smuggle the gal."
+
+"How smuggle her?"
+
+"Take her out on the 'Nancy,' and put her aboard some outgoing
+vessel as a passenger."
+
+"That wouldn't do, Jake."
+
+"Then let's go mackerel-fishing, for the other trade is
+knocked dead in the head."
+
+The men were all drinking, and became more or less excited
+under the influence of the liquor.
+
+Jake was a bad fellow at heart, but he was one of the most
+daring men in the crew of jolly smugglers and the men had
+great confidence in his judgment.
+
+"I tell you, boys, the gal must be disposed of, or she'll give
+information right; just see how we stand now; there's a boat
+due, there's a big haul for us, and this man has been in our
+midst for two weeks or more, and he's got all the points and--"
+The man's further speech was interrupted by the entrance of
+a stranger.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+The man who suddenly entered in the midst of the speech of
+one-eyed Jake was Ballard, the man whom an hour or two
+previously that very gang of men had set to hang.
+
+The crew of the "Nancy" gazed at the new-comer in astonishment,
+and a wicked gleam shone in the single eye of Jake.
+
+"You're cheeky, stranger, to walk in here after what's just
+happened!"
+
+The disguised detective laughed in a pleasant manner, and
+answered:
+
+"That's just why I'm here; you fellows ought to be glad to see
+me knocking around alive, when you think how bad you would
+have felt had you swung me over the spar."
+
+"We've no fancy for strangers around here!"
+
+"We'll a man who's been following the sea all his life should
+not be a stranger among you fellows."
+
+"Where have you sailed, stranger?"
+
+"Better ask where I haven't sailed, and it won't take so long
+to pay out the information."
+
+There was an off hand, jolly sort of style about the stranger
+which rather pleased the gang of smugglers.
+
+"What brought you down this way?"
+
+"I've been off for five years, and when I'm off on a voyage I'm
+clean gone; all the doors are closed behind me. I never get
+any letters, and I never send any, so it's all news to me when
+I come in from the sea; and I came down here to see my
+mother's cousin."
+
+"Who is your mother's cousin, stranger?"
+
+"Well, you fellows are running down close into a strange
+craft; my relative was old Aunt Betsy, Tom Pearce's wife."
+
+"She's dead!"
+
+"Well, so I know now; and I came near being sent after her;
+but all's well that ends well, so come, all hands, and have a
+little throat burner with me."
+
+The men were all glad enough to step up and take a snifter
+with the stranger, who after so long a voyage they reckoned
+must have a pocketful of the wherewithal.
+
+We will not go further into the details of the methods pursued
+by the detective to worm himself into the confidence of the
+smugglers; it is sufficient to say that within two hours after
+his appearance in their midst he had won all their hearts.
+
+Our readers can form some idea of the wonderful skill,
+coolness, and daring of the detective, who within twenty-four
+hours walked under a new disguise right into the midst of a
+gang of desperate men, who, had they recognized him as he was
+known but a few hours previously, would have killed him as
+they would have slain a venomous serpent.
+
+A number of the men fell into a regular carouse with the
+detective; among them was Ike Denman, the captain of the yacht
+"Nancy." Indeed, the men got into a game of cards, and
+Ballard lost like a little man and stood his ill luck with
+such marvelous good nature, the men fell right to him.
+
+When it was well into the morning, the game broke up, and
+Denman invited the detective to go aboard the yacht and bunk
+for the night.
+
+Our hero gladly accepted the invitation; and when once aboard,
+as it was a pleasant morning, the two even lay out upon the
+deck, and Denman became quite confidential. He let the
+detective into the secret of the real business of the crew of
+the yacht, and told him that daily they were expecting a
+schooner from the West Indies with a big cargo for them.
+
+"How do you run it ashore?" asked the detective, innocently.
+
+"Make a trip with us and we'll show you how the thing is done;
+the fact is I'm a man or two short, and if you want to take a
+rake in with us you're welcome."
+
+"That's just the ticket for me!" answered Spencer Vance.
+
+Our readers must understand that the detective had been
+wonderfully diplomatic and cute to so readily, worm himself
+into the confidence of Ike Denman.
+
+The men at length went to sleep and slept far into the
+morning. Ike Denman was the first to awake, seemingly, but in
+reality the detective had been on the alert all the time.
+
+The master of the "Nancy" was quite a different man in the
+morning when burning under the after-effects of liquor than he
+was when in the full fever of a jolly spell. As he opened his
+eyes and saw our hero stretched upon the deck, he gave him a
+lunge in the ribs, and as Vance opened his eyes, Denman
+exclaimed:
+
+"Hello! what are you snoozing there for, old man?"
+
+The detective was on his feet in a moment.
+
+"Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
+
+Denman appeared to have forgotten who our hero was, but in
+reality he was only pretending to forget.
+
+Denman was a good sailor, and a very cunning man; but at heart
+he was a very ugly and desperate fellow, and not at all
+distinguished by any of the generous traits usually
+characteristic of jolly tars.
+
+"What's the matter, captain?"
+
+"What's the matter? I'm asking you who you are, and what you
+are doing here?"
+
+The detective came a little nearer, and assumed a surprised
+air.
+
+"Don't stand there, making sober faces. Who are you, and what
+are you doing here?"
+
+Denman was conscious that he was given to talking too much
+when in his cups, and he was leading the new hand on to betray
+just how much had been revealed to him.
+
+"You shipped me last night, captain."
+
+"I shipped you last night?"
+
+"Yes; but if you don't want me as one of your crew, I'm
+willing."
+
+"Who are you, anyhow?"
+
+"My name is Ballard. I told you who I was last night."
+
+"What did you tell me?"
+
+"See here, captain, it ain't necessary to go over all that
+passed between us last night. If you don't wart to take me on
+with you, say so, and I'll get ashore."
+
+Denman laughed in a merry manner, and said:
+
+"I reckon it's all right."
+
+"I can prove it's all right, captain."
+
+"How so?"
+
+Ballard ran his eye over the yacht's rigging, and said:
+
+"Would you take any suggestions from a man who had plenty of
+experience in crafts of this sort?"
+
+"I would; yes."
+
+The detective who really was a splendid seaman, made some very
+pertinent and useful suggestions, and Denman was just sailor
+enough to appreciate that he had secured a useful man; and he
+said:
+
+"It's all right. Consider yourself shipped. You're just the
+man I want; and we'll get to work at once on your
+alterations."
+
+The suggestions were such as could easily be carried out by
+the master and his crew, and soon all hands were busy.
+
+It had been decided that the yacht would go to sea that night,
+and our hero was booked for the trip.
+
+Spencer Vance had played his cards well. He improved every
+moment in making himself popular with the crew, and late in
+the afternoon, when all hands went ashore, he was the hero of
+the gang. In an offhand manner the detective remarked, as the
+boat was run on the beach:
+
+"I'll see you later, boys; I'm going over for a bit to look
+after Tom Pearce."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+Spencer Vance had proceeded but a short distance, when he saw
+the figure of a girl coming across the sand, and his
+astonishment was great, when, upon a nearer approach, he
+recognized Renie.
+
+The girl was neatly dressed, and her feet were covered with
+dainty slippers, while her hair was tastefully arranged.
+
+Our hero had been impressed with the girl's rare beauty upon
+beholding her barefooted in her loose gown and unkempt hair;
+but, as he gazed upon her face when arrayed in neat and
+well-fitting attire, his admiration was increased.
+
+Renie was indeed a rarely lovely girl--yes, upon those sands
+he had come upon one of the most beautiful girls he had ever
+beheld--classically beautiful; not pretty, but, as we write
+it, rarely beautiful, and she had been reared in a fisherman's
+cabin.
+
+There was a certain suggestion in the girl's appearance before
+him in her best attire, that caused a glow of satisfaction
+around the detective's heart.
+
+There was nothing rich nor elegant in her apparel, but she was
+so exquisitely lovely her beauty could not be hidden by
+clothing, no matter how plain. The girl greeted the detective
+in a frank, open manner, and appeared greatly pleased to meet
+him. "I expected you to return to the cabin," she said.
+
+"No; I spent the evening with the crew."
+
+"You did not go in the yacht?"
+
+"Yes, I did."
+
+"Oh, why do you take such risks?"
+
+"Never mind about the risk; how is your father?"
+
+"He appears to be all right. He is up and around."
+
+"What does he say about the assault?"
+
+"He has said nothing since last night."
+
+"Has he expressed any determination as to his course?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Well, you must be on your guard, and when I return from my
+trip, I will have a proposition to make."
+
+"When you return from your trip?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Where are you going?"
+
+"I am going off in the yacht."
+
+"This must not be. No, no, you must not go off in the yacht,
+it will be certain death!"
+
+"I have spent the night with the crew of the 'Nancy,' and they
+all think me a splendid fellow, and none of them has the least
+suspicion of my real identity."
+
+"Was Sol Burton present?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then you must not go on the yacht."
+
+"What has the presence of Sol Burton to do with my going or
+staying?"
+
+"I believe that man has penetrated your disguise."
+
+"Impossible!"
+
+"I saw him this morning."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"He asked eked me some strange questions. He was very curious
+concerning your identity."
+
+A shadow fell over the detective's face.
+
+"He spoke about me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"But he was speaking of the Government detective?"
+
+"No; he was speaking of you as you have appeared among them in
+your present guise."
+
+"Does he suspect my real identity."
+
+"I do not know, but he was very inquisitive concerning you."
+
+"What did he say?"
+
+"He lay in wait for me this morning, and when he got an
+opportunity he asked: 'Renie, who is that man the boys were
+going to hang last night?'"
+
+"What answer slid you make?"
+
+"I answered: 'You know as well as I do;' when he exclaimed:
+'You can't fool me, Renie, you have met that man before.'"
+
+The detective was thoughtful a moment, but at length said:
+
+"I reckon that fellow would be jealous of anyone whom you
+might address."
+
+"There was a deeper significance in his declaration, and as he
+went away he said: 'I would not be surprised Renie, if that
+fellow were to be hanged yet, before another sunrise!'"
+
+"His talk is all buncome, Renie, you need not attach any
+importance to anything he may say."
+
+"But you will not go off in the yacht?"
+
+"Yes; I shall go!"
+
+A pallor overspread the girl's face, and a look of expressive
+sadness shone in her eyes as she murmured,
+
+"It is my fate!"
+
+"What do you mean, child?"
+
+"I mean that you are a real friend; you are he of whom I
+dreamed."
+
+The detective glanced at the girl with an expression of
+aroused curiousness as he said:
+
+"You dreamed of me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"This is very strange. What could have suggested such a
+dream?"
+
+"I have dreamed all my life that some good friend would come
+some day and unravel the mystery of my parentage. It was
+accident that brought you and me together; but I had come to
+believe, although I have only known you for a few hours, that
+you were the good angel who would open the sealed book."
+
+The detective advanced close to the girl, fixed his eyes upon
+her, and, while a bright flush reddened his cheek, he said, in
+an earnest tone:
+
+"And so I will, Renie!"
+
+"No, no; you have only come to raise a false hope."
+
+"You are a strange girl, Renie."
+
+"Yes, I am a strange girl in your eyes; but there is nothing
+strange about me. Mv surroundings make me appear so. Listen:
+I long for other scenes and associations; there is nothing
+that holds me to my present life. I know there is someone
+somewhere who longs for me as I yearn for her."
+
+"Your mother?"
+
+"Yes, my mother."
+
+"If your mother be alive, it shall be my good office to bring
+mother and child together."
+
+"Never."
+
+"Why do you say never?"
+
+"You are determined to go off on the yacht?"
+
+"Yes, I shall go off on the yacht."
+
+"We will never meet again."
+
+"You take too gloomy a view of the situation."
+
+"I know well the character of the crew of the 'Nancy.'"
+
+"So do I."
+
+A deeper pallor overspread the girl's face, as in a low,
+husky voice she whispered:
+
+"I believe they are leading you on."
+
+"Leading me on?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I do not understand."
+
+"You say you are going off with them?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"They would not take a stranger off with them unless they had
+a purpose."
+
+The girl had offered a most startling suggestion.
+
+"The circumstances are peculiar, Renie, and I am a good
+seaman. I have already proved myself of service to them."
+
+"That does not alter my idea."
+
+"What's your idea?"
+
+"I have a suspicion."
+
+A moment's silence followed, when the detective asked:
+
+"What do you suspect!"
+
+"They have recognized you!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+
+The few sharp quick words of the girl betrayed volumes. Her
+suggestion was indeed startling; and, what was more; there was
+not only a possibility, but a probability that her suspicion
+was correct.
+
+A silence followed her words, but at length the detective said:
+
+"I shall go off on the yacht, Renie."
+
+"And you will never return!"
+
+"Yes, I shall return."
+
+"Suppose my suspicion is correct, and those men are leading
+you on?"
+
+"It matters not, Renie, I shall go!"
+
+"Are you madly seeking death?"
+
+"No."
+
+"If those men have recognized you, and are playing a part,
+there will be no chance for you the moment that yacht crosses
+the bar on her way out to sea."
+
+The detective on the impulse of the moment, was prompted to
+ask:
+
+"Suppose they kill me, what will you do, Renie?"
+
+The girl was silent until the detective repeated his question.
+
+"I know what I shall do!"
+
+"What will you do?"
+
+"Roam the beach until all hope of the recovery of your body is
+passed and then I shall lie down and die." She spoke in a
+weird, despairing tone.
+
+"And you have known me but a few hours."
+
+"Yes, I have known you to speak to you but a few hours, and
+yet I have come to believe that all the dreams of my life
+center in you."
+
+The young man advanced and seized the girl's hand; the latter
+made no effort to withdraw it from his firm grasp.
+
+"Renie," he said, "you need have no fear, I am not destined to
+die at the hands of the smugglers. I am assigned to a certain
+duty, the opportunity to fulfill my mission is now presented.
+I shall go on the yacht to-night, but when she returns I will
+return with her!"
+
+"You are determined to go?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"I shall say no more, but I shall watch."
+
+"Yes, Renie, do so; and when the yacht comes sailing up the
+bay, you may know that I come on her."
+
+"I shall not watch for the return of the yacht," said the girl
+in a sad, despairing tone.
+
+"What will you do?"
+
+"Wait on the beach to see what the waves will bring me. If,
+when the deed is done, the tide be flowing in, I may gain
+something from the waves; but if the tide is on the ebb, I
+shall never gaze on your face again."
+
+There was no mistaking the girl's weird meaning, and her words
+were practical, as she well knew the results which under
+certain circumstances might follow the tidal conditions.
+
+Spencer Vance saw that it was useless to waste further words
+with Renie and he said,
+
+"A few hours will tell the tale, Renie, and--"
+
+The detective did not complete the sentence; voices were heard
+and Renie exclaimed:
+
+"You and I must not be seen talking together; farewell, and if
+we never meet again on earth, may we meet where there are no
+clouds, no shadows, no mysteries." The girl moved away and
+left the detective standing alone on the beach. The sun had
+gone down, the moon was just rising out of the sea, and the
+whole surrounding scene was impressive and one of solemn
+grandeur.
+
+The detective stood motionless, and the ceaseless murmur of
+the waves, as they broke upon the shore sounded like a requiem
+in his ears; but not once did he waver in his purpose. It
+might be that Renie would prove a true prophet, and if the
+tide served right those very waves, or rather their
+successors, might cast his body upon the shore; but despite
+all, he was determined to sail on the "Nancy" that night to
+win or die.
+
+Two hours later there was quite a bustle on board the yacht as
+she was being prepared to sail away.
+
+The trip of the "Nancy" did not as a rule, exceed ten or
+fifteen hours, as she only ran twenty or thirty miles directly
+off the coast, where she cruised around waiting for the signal
+to flash across the water front some incoming vessel, said
+signal being an intimation as to the character of the craft.
+
+Ike Denman, as commander of the "Nancy," was a different man
+from Ike Denman carousing with the crew ashore.
+
+The "Nancy" was what nautical men would call a magnificent
+craft, and landsmen would naturally dub her a "daisy." She
+had been built as a sea-going boat, in the most substantial
+manner, and was indeed a stanch little mistress of the sea.
+
+It was a beautiful evening as the mainsail was hoisted away
+and the gallant boat glided over the waters of the bay across
+the bar, and through the ruffled channel out to sea.
+
+The detective had weighed well the words of the beautiful
+Renie, and was on the watch. Her suggestion was apt, and, as
+the detective thought over matters, he came to think that
+certain little indexes pointed toward a confirmation of her
+suspicions.
+
+Indeed, it was an awful peril he was facing, were it really a
+fact that the men had "tumbled" to his identity, and were
+giving him a "blind," leading him, only waiting for the proper
+moment to cast off their masks and throw him into the sea.
+
+There was one incident in his favor: the men were not at all
+reserved in the discussion of the business on hand. They
+talked over the purpose of the night, and opened up their
+expectations in the most unreserved manner.
+
+The master of the craft, in his orders, made no distinction
+between our hero and the other members of the crew.
+
+Meantime the boat danced over the waves, and, after an hour or
+two, was cruising across the track of inward-bound vessels.
+
+Soon there came the announcement of the lights of a vessel,
+and the "Nancy" was cautiously run on a course which would
+enable her captain to take observations.
+
+The lights proved to be those of an ocean steamer, and the
+great leviathan, with its precious freight of human souls,
+plowed past the taut little yacht distant only half a mile.
+
+When the lights were first seen, the detective was standing
+forward of the mainmast, and suddenly a pallor overspread his
+face. If it should prove that the lights were those of an
+incoming smuggler, the critical moment had arrived for him.
+
+Our hero was intently watching the lights, as were the balance
+of the crew, waiting for a signal, and so absorbed was he as
+not to observe the presence of Sol Burton close by his side.
+
+A few moments passed, and the lights were made out, and the
+word was passed around, "It's a steamer!"
+
+The detective turned to go aft, when he found himself face to
+face with Sol Burton.
+
+The two men had met as comrades once or twice before, during
+the two or three hours the boat had been out on the sea, but
+not a word had passed between them; but as they met after the
+distinguishing of the lights, Burton addressed our hero and
+said:
+
+"You're the new man?"
+
+"Yes," was the short answer.
+
+"Your first trip on the 'Nancy?'"
+
+"Yes."
+
+There was a premonition, of danger in the next words of Sol
+Burton.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+"I think I've seen you before, Ballard!"
+
+Sol Burton spoke in slow and very distinct tones, and his
+manner betrayed that there was a deep significance in his
+declaration.
+
+"If you remember having seen me before, you have the
+advantage, my good friend."
+
+"I think I've seen you before. I met you on board the
+'Nancy.'"
+
+"Where?"
+
+"I cannot recall, but there is something in your face that
+strikes me as very familiar."
+
+The detective laughed in an easy manner, and answered
+
+"Well, you'll have to depend upon your own recollections, I
+can't aid you to a recognition."
+
+As the detective spoke he remembered Renie's warning words,
+"Sol Burton, I fear, has his suspicions aroused."
+
+"I noticed you turn pale when we first sighted the lights,
+Ballard."
+
+"Did you?"
+
+"I did."
+
+Ballard stepped close to Sol Burton, and demanded in a
+determined tone,
+
+"What are you getting at? I don't like this cross-questioning."
+
+"That's my idea, Ballard. I don't think you like this
+cross-questioning, and I think further there is a good reason
+for you not liking it."
+
+"If you've anything to say to me, spit it."
+
+"When did you first show up on the coast?"
+
+"Who are you? What's your name?" retorted Ballard.
+
+"My name is Sol Burton."
+
+"Ah, you are Burton; yes, I've heard about you!"
+
+The detective used the words, "I've heard about you," in a
+very meaning tone.
+
+"You've heard about me?"
+
+"Yes, I've heard about you," came the response.
+
+"What have you heard about me?"
+
+"Oh, that's all right; your name is Sol Burton. Yes, yes,
+I've heard about you."
+
+The declaration was reiterated in a tone of more aggravating
+significance.
+
+"See here, Ballard, I want you to tell me what you mean."
+
+"I've heard about you."
+
+"What have you heard about me?"
+
+"It's all right; I tell you I've heard about you. Yes, yes,
+your name is Burton; that's the man; I've heard about you."
+
+Our readers can readily understand that the constant
+repetition of the declaration in a meaning tone was, under the
+circumstances, very aggravating, and Sol Burton lost his
+temper, his eyes flashed with anger, and his face became
+white, as he said:
+
+"If you do not tell me what you mean, I'll knock you down!"
+
+"I reckon you won't knock me down!"
+
+"Will you tell me what you mean?"
+
+"I'll tell you I've heard about you, and so I have; that is
+enough."
+
+"See here, Ballard, it won't do for you to quarrel with me!"
+
+"I don't care who I quarrel with!"
+
+Burton advanced and whispered:
+
+"I might come 'Quaker' on you, and give you a bad name."
+
+"You can do just as you choose. I am not asking odds of you."
+
+"I've my suspicions of you, Ballard."
+
+Burton spoke in a hoarse whisper; the man was excited and
+trembling with rage and irritation.
+
+It is possible a tragic denouement might have followed the
+dialogue, had there not come just at that moment a startling
+interruption to the impending quarrel.
+
+Again there came the signal cry: "Lights ahead!" and all hands
+ran eagerly to the rail to study the character of the distant
+craft.
+
+All was silent watchfulness and expectancy as the two boats
+approached nearer and nearer across the dark waters. Suddenly
+there shot up high into the air a rocket and when far toward
+the clouds, a "bomb burst in air," and there followed a shower
+of many colored lights.
+
+At once there was great excitement on board the "Nancy." Sol
+Burton had not stopped to finish his threatening talk with our
+hero, but all was bustle and excitement and work.
+
+The boats were prepared for launching, and the ship's course
+was changed, and our hero knew that the, long-expected
+smuggler had arrived.
+
+Soon the two vessels approached each other; additional signals
+were exchanged, and the real purpose of the voyage was
+unfolded.
+
+The smuggler kept upon her course, under close reefed sails,
+but her crew was busy casting certain curious looking packages
+into the sea.
+
+The boats from the "Nancy" were launched and manned, and were
+pulled away toward floating objects that had been cast upon
+the water.
+
+Our hero was in one of the boats, and soon his crew came upon
+one of the floating objects and it was hauled into the boat.
+
+One of the methods and mysteries was explained; the floating
+objects were large rubber and guttapercha bags, water-tight
+and unsinkable, and in these waterproof sacks was packed the
+contraband merchandise.
+
+Four boats were at work, and within a couple of hours no less
+than thirty-three of these sacks were put on board the
+"Nancy," containing thousands and thousands of dollars worth
+of goods that were never intended to pay duty to good old
+Uncle Sam.
+
+All the bags were put on board, and the "Nancy" was ready to
+run into the bay and land her contraband cargo.
+
+The detective expected she would run back on the course over
+which she had come out, but such was not the fact; on the
+contrary she lay to until all the goods were stowed below.
+
+Spencer Vance had worked like a trooper, and for the time
+being, was the most active smuggler of them all, but later on
+he was brought face to face with his peril.
+
+Our hero had finished all he had been called upon to do, and
+was standing leaning against the mast, when Ike Denman
+approached and said:
+
+"Come aft, Ballard, I've a few words to exchange with you."
+
+The detective obeyed with alacrity; coming to a halt near the
+cabin-way, Denman said:
+
+"Ballard, you have proved yourself a good hand. I like you,
+but I've a statement to make; you can't share in the profits
+of to-night's work unless you become one of us."
+
+"How's that, sir?"
+
+"We are a regular organization; the crew of this boat is bound
+to secrecy by oaths and obligations, and I am about to give
+you the privilege of becoming one of us."
+
+"The detective realized his peril. He saw that the game had
+opened, that Renie's warnings were about to be fulfilled but
+he was cool and easy and determined. It was a terrible
+moment, but he was as resolute as ever and replied:
+
+"That wasn't in the programme, captain."
+
+"What wasn't in the programme?"
+
+"It wasn't stated that I was to take any oaths or obligations."
+
+"I'll admit that, but it's necessary."
+
+"You ought to have told me before I came with you on this
+trip."
+
+"That is so, but I didn't; but you have come with us; you are
+here in our midst, you are posted as to our game, and now what
+are you going to do about it, Ballard?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+
+"I am not prepared to answer at present. I must have time to
+think," was the answer made by our hero.
+
+"What at do you want to think about?" demanded Denman.
+
+"I wish to consider whether or not it will pay me to become a
+permanent member of your crew."
+
+"You disappoint me, Ballard."
+
+"How so?"
+
+"I've given you a good chance, and I expected you would say
+all right at a jump. I've something to tell you; suspicions
+are aroused concerning you. I don't believe, myself, they are
+just, and I hope you will make good my conclusions."
+
+"Suspicions concerning me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who suspects me?"
+
+"One of the crew says you are a spy."
+
+"Will you bring the man face to face with me?"
+
+"What would you do?"
+
+"When I meet my accuser I will tell you."
+
+"You can save yourself the trouble."
+
+"How?"
+
+"By becoming one of us. I will deal fairly with you. Our
+obligations are as binding as blood and oaths can make them;
+but, once one of us, you'll make heaps of money, and be
+companion to as jolly a set of men as ever took chances for a
+good livelihood."
+
+"I must bind myself by oaths?"
+
+"Yes; oaths as solemn as mortal lips ever uttered."
+
+"I can't do it now."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I must have time to consider."
+
+"Why do you need time to consider?"
+
+"I've a reason."
+
+"Will you name your reason?"
+
+"Yes, I will, captain; you have been frank with me, I will be
+equally frank with you. I can't join your crew as long as one
+man is a member of it. I learn that I've an enemy on board.
+I never can take an obligation that would compel me to be
+friendly with that man!"
+
+"Who is the man?"
+
+"The villain who has accused me of being a Government spy!"
+
+"How do you know which is the man?"
+
+"I know."
+
+"I am sorry, Ballard, I know I am to blame. I should have
+mentioned before what I am telling you, but there is no
+alternative now; you must join our crew in regular form."
+
+"Never as long as one particular man is one of them."
+
+"Mine is an unpleasant duty, Ballard, you have got all the
+points down on us, you must become one of us."
+
+"What do you mean?" demanded the detective.
+
+"The men demand that you join us."
+
+"I will not. You will give me a chance for my life?"
+
+"What chance do you want?"
+
+"I wish to prove that my accuser is a liar."
+
+"That would not help you, unless you become one of us; the
+fact that you have learned our methods settles the business,
+whether you are an informer or not. We run from here to the
+place where our goods are landed; you would have all the
+points down on us, and were you my own brother, it would be
+necessary for you to join us or be silenced. Now what will
+you do?"
+
+"Give me half an hour to think the matter over."
+
+"I've no right to give you any time."
+
+"I can't run away, captain."
+
+"I know, but I'd like to go back and make good my declaration
+in your favor. I'd like to tell the men it's all right, and
+that you will become one of us."
+
+"On one condition I will take your oaths and obligations."
+
+"What is your condition?"
+
+"Let me settle my quarrel with the man who is my enemy."
+
+"I never could consent to that; and besides, I must say that
+the fact of your suspecting a certain man as having informed
+against you, lends color to the charge. Ballard, you must
+join us or die."
+
+Spencer Vance was still calm, and did not betray one particle
+of trepidation as he answered:
+
+"I should have been informed of your requirements before I was
+permitted to ship with you."
+
+"I made a mistake. I admit that I am responsible!"
+
+"Are you willing to take the responsibility?"
+
+"How can I?"
+
+"Give me a chance for my life."
+
+"How can I?"
+
+"Make it a gauge of life or death between you and me."
+
+Ike Denman laughed, and answered: "Why, man, you are crazy!"
+
+"Not crazy enough to pay the penalty of your mistakes with my
+life!"
+
+There was a threat in the tones of the detective.
+
+"What do you demand?"
+
+"Your word of honor."
+
+"To bind a promise?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What shall I promise?"
+
+"That I shall meet my accuser face to face on this deck; let
+us decide who is the spy and the traitor!"
+
+"That wouldn't do, Ballard, and I am wasting time. Your
+chances are easy enough. All I ask is that you become one of
+us. Refuse, and I will be compelled to pass you over to the
+crew."
+
+"And what will they do?"
+
+"Try you."
+
+"Try me for what?"
+
+"Try you as a traitor."
+
+"But I am no traitor."
+
+"You are in our midst, and not one of us; that fact alone will
+be accepted as proof of your guilt."
+
+"And I can escape by joining your crew?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I refuse."
+
+"Have you considered well?"
+
+"I am resolved not to join while my enemy is one of your
+number."
+
+"You are throwing your life away."
+
+"SO be it, but you go first!"
+
+Ike was taken all aback, but did not lose his head. He raised
+his hands toward his lips intending to sound a whistle, but he
+was restrained by Vance, who said:
+
+"Move or make the least signal and you are a goner."
+
+"Aha! the charge is true," said Denman in a low tone.
+
+"You inveigled me on board this craft. You are in collusion
+with a man who wishes to get rid of me. There is no chance
+for me and there is none for you!"
+
+"What do you mean by your statement that I am in collusion
+with your enemy?"
+
+"I see it all. I was invited on this boat by you. Well, let
+it go so, but, Denman, you will not live to triumph over me.
+Nothing on land or sea can save you. I've got the bead on you
+dead!"
+
+"What do you demand?"
+
+"Your word that I shall stand face to face with my accuser."
+
+"And then?"
+
+"If he sticks to his charge, let him be my executioner."
+
+"This is your demand?"
+
+"Yes, this is my demand."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+
+It was a critical moment; both men were cool and spoke in
+deliberate tones.
+
+They stood alone: well toward the after-deck, while the men
+were all busy forward and below handling the contraband cargo.
+
+The night was calm; the sea was unruffled; not a cloud
+intervened between sea and moon and stars, and yet two human
+lives hung in the balance--the lives of two brave men.
+
+The detective was greatly disappointed. He had not
+accomplished all he desired. He had hoped not to be
+discovered until the schooner landed her cargo, and he had
+fallen upon the rendezvous and the mode of transport to the
+city. Still he had obtained a large amount of information,
+facts which he could work up; and could he only get ashore
+alive, he would be able to run down close on the real backers
+of the contraband business, who were a band of foreigners who
+only made their money by illicit traffic in New York, to spend
+it abroad.
+
+The chances, however, for getting ashore were very slim. He
+had dared a little too much, and yet at that very moment the
+undaunted officer was playing a deep game.
+
+Under a close reef the boat was heading in toward shore, and
+the detective was operating to gain time, as every ten minutes
+increased his chances of eventual escape.
+
+After the detective's declaration, "Your own life will pay the
+forfeit!" there followed a moment's silence Vance would not
+break; time to him was precious while the yacht lay upon her
+inward course.
+
+"You are a traitor, Ballard, you are a Government spy!"
+
+"Who says so?"
+
+"The charge has been made."
+
+"Let me meet the man who makes the charge."
+
+"And then?"
+
+"I have made my demand. I am to receive your word that. I
+shall have a fair chance to settle the matter with him."
+
+"Your request is reasonable."
+
+"It is."
+
+"Why not join us and then make your demand?"
+
+"I will never join a crew with that man; this is a trumped-up
+charge against me to satisfy private malice."
+
+"Why does your accuser seek to accuse you falsely?"
+
+"I am too much of a man to bring my private quarrel to public
+notice; captain, the matter stands here; you know I'm no tyro;
+as matters stand, I am doomed; against you and your crew out
+here at sea I've no chance for my life; but as the chances
+have turned, I can guarantee fair play ashore."
+
+"You shall meet your accuser."
+
+"And have a fair show?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I have your word, captain?"
+
+"You have my word."
+
+"Good enough, you have saved your life! I'll trust your word;
+if you go back on me, may the sharks soon crunch your living
+bones."
+
+"You stand here, I'll bring the man aft."
+
+"Good enough."
+
+The captain went forward; the detective stood calm and
+patient, but his eyes were upon the master of the "Nancy." He
+saw Denman speak to the men, and then he saw the crew start in
+a body toward the afterdeck. Denman had proved false, the
+smuggler had forfeited his word.
+
+"It's now or never," muttered the detective, and he sprung
+beside the rudder port and stood upon the stern rail. His
+form towered up through the night like an apparition, as he
+called in a loud tone:
+
+"You and I will meet again, Denman. Sol Burton is a liar."
+
+Head first the intrepid detective dove from the vessel down
+into the water, and when he came to the surface he was beyond
+range, as the yacht was moving along with moderate speed in
+one direction, while our hero was swimming under water in an
+opposite course.
+
+"Lower away the boat!" shouted Sol Burton.
+
+The men ran to obey, but at that moment lights were seen, and
+one of the men shouted:
+
+"It's a cutter!"
+
+Ike Denman heard the latter shout, and commanded:
+
+"Hold fast there the boats!"
+
+The crew had not time to take up a boat when the cutter was
+bearing down upon them.
+
+"That man can never get ashore," said an old tar; "No living
+man in full toggery can go over the side of this boat and ever
+come unaided out of the sea!"
+
+"The cutter may pick him up," suggested Sol Burton.
+
+"More likely to pick us up! No, no, he'll be down on the
+bottom before the cutter gets around, and she will not run
+within five miles of where he went over, if she heads her
+course to overhaul us."
+
+"It's not a cutter," said Sol Burton.
+
+"Well, let it go so; that man Ballard is with the angels by
+this time," came the response.
+
+Meantime the detective was moving like a fish through the calm
+waters toward the shore.
+
+It was a smooth sea, and only a fifteen-mile swim, and he had
+gone aboard the yacht prepared for the venture.
+
+When Spencer Vance sprung overboard, he was oiled from his
+ears to his heels, and his clothing was ready to be peeled
+down to an oil-skin under-suit, lined in the inner side with
+soft wool.
+
+Like a fish he cut through the waters, and his heart was as
+brave as his sweeping stroke, as he propelled himself forward
+toward she shore.
+
+"It's all right, Johnny," he muttered, as he spurted some sea
+water from between his lips. "I'll keep my word. I'll
+interview Ike Denman when he is not looking for me; and, as to
+Sol Burton, I'll catch that man some day!"
+
+The detective swam along merrily, and, in less than four hours
+after having leaped from the yacht, he crawled upon the beach,
+and lay down in the warm sand to rest, burying himself like a
+mole; and there he lay for over an hour, when he rose to his
+feet, and started to walk down the coast. He was not sure of
+the distance he would be compelled to travel, but was assured
+as to the direction he was to take.
+
+Our hero was quite proud of his achievement, but felt a little
+blue when he observed a storm coming in rapidly from the sea;
+but his luck did not desert him. He saw a deserted cabin,
+toward which he made his way, and it didn't take him long to
+gather a lot of twigs and drift, and, upon reaching the cabin,
+he made a fire, and sat down before the cheerful blaze, as
+comfortable an individual as ever took a long chance in the
+way of duty.
+
+Once in the cabin, the brave man betrayed the ingenuity of his
+preparations for his perilous Venture, and verified ed his
+confident statement to Renie, that she need have no fear, as
+in good time he would come ashore again to tell the tale of
+his adventure.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+
+The detective had a thin rubber belt stretched under his arms;
+the latter served as a buoy and as a receptacle for the
+necessary articles which he knew he would require when he
+washed shore.
+
+Within the belt he had found matches, and weapons, and
+clothing, the latter of thin material wound as tightly as
+cotton on a spool; and, as stated, as the fire burned and
+blazed and crackled, he felt quite comfortable; and, as the
+storm broke over his cabin, a warm glow of satisfaction
+circulated through his frame.
+
+"This is just jolly!" he muttered, as he ate away at a good
+sandwich, and, later on, from his treasure belt he drew forth
+pipe and tobacco and settled down for a smoke.
+
+The whole face of the sea, meantime, had changed; a fierce
+storm had arisen; the wind howled and the rain beat clown
+against his refuge, and the noise of the storm but sent a
+warmer glow to his heart.
+
+Our hero realized that he had reached shore just in time. The
+tempest had held back for him, as it were, as, had it come
+upon him while in the sea, no power on earth could have saved
+him.
+
+Ensconced in his deserted cabin with a glowing fire, his
+pipe, and a wee drop of whisky, the roar of the tempest was
+music in his ears, and lulled him to a peaceful slumber from
+which he was rudely aroused, later on, by a punch in the ribs.
+The detective awoke, leaped to his feet, and confronted a
+powerful-looking man in an oil-skin suit.
+
+"Hello! who are you, and what are you doing here?" came the
+inquiry from the stranger.
+
+"These are just the questions I'm putting to you," answered
+our hero.
+
+"Well, stranger, my questions are first, I reckon."
+
+"You're right; but tell me, am I in your quarters?"
+
+"No, not exactly; this shanty was built for common use; but
+where did you come from?"
+
+"I came from the sea."
+
+"You're a man, you're not a fish; how did you come in from the
+sea?"
+
+"I swam in."
+
+"Has there been a wreck?"
+
+"Not to my knowledge."
+
+"Well, you're talking riddles; suppose you get down to plain
+United States lingo."
+
+"I fell overboard and was compelled to swim or sink."
+
+"What sort of a craft did you come over from?"
+
+"A yacht."
+
+"A pleasure yacht?"
+
+"Well, yes."
+
+"And you weren't picked up?"
+
+"If I had been I wouldn't be here."
+
+"That's so. How far were you off shore?"
+
+"Not very far."
+
+"You must have gone over before the storm set in."
+
+"I should say so; and now as I've answered your questions, who
+are you?"
+
+"I am a fisherman. I ran into the cove on account of the
+storm, and came over here to stay until daylight, or later if
+the storm holds."
+
+"I reckon the storm won't hold much longer; it's only a
+passing tempest, and so make yourself comfortable. Will you
+have a bite?"
+
+"Thank you, I had food with me in my boat."
+
+"Will you cover a little whisky."
+
+"I will!" came the hearty acceptance.
+
+The two men had a long, pleasant talk, and our hero soon
+learned that his new acquaintance was a really honest
+fisherman--good, square man; and there are many of them on the
+Long Island coast, and no truer and better men can be found in
+any quarter of the globe.
+
+When fully satisfied that the man was an honest fellow, our
+hero opened up a certain subject with him.
+
+"Taylor, did you run across a gang of smugglers in your
+experience along the coast?"
+
+"You can just bet I have run across them; and, between you and
+me, it is an easy matter to put my hand on the key that locks
+the door of their secret warehouse."
+
+"You can do that?"
+
+"I can."
+
+"How is it you have never communicated with the Government?"
+
+"Well, I'll tell you. I've always been afraid it might get me
+into some sort of a scrape. You see, I am a man of family,
+and couldn't afford to lose any time."
+
+"I'll let you into a secret."
+
+"All right."
+
+"I'm a Government officer."
+
+"Whew! is that so? Well, I might have suspected as much. And
+so you did not come in from the sea, but you're lying around
+here expecting to discover something? You're on the wrong
+part of the coast, however; this is not the spot for you to
+lay. I can give you a better point."
+
+"That's just what I'm looking for."
+
+"I don't know, however; I might get myself into trouble."
+
+"No fear of that; you need only act as a guide to me."
+
+"Well, I'll think it over."
+
+The detective began to grow a little suspicious of his new
+friend; there was a possibility that he had concluded as to
+the fisherman's honesty a little too soon.
+
+"There is no need for you to consider, as a good citizen you
+owe it as a duty to the Government."
+
+"That's so, but I owe more to my family; some of the gang are
+neighbors of mine, and if it were ever known that I betrayed
+their hiding-place, it would go hard with me."
+
+"No one will ever know that you betrayed them; we will go
+secretly to their rendezvous; you will point out the spot to
+me, and I will manage the rest, and you will be well paid for
+your service."
+
+"And you are a Government officer?" I am.
+
+"Tell me the true story of your being here."
+
+"I cannot tell you more than I have already revealed."
+
+"I am to be paid if I point out the rendezvous?"
+
+"Yes, well paid!"
+
+"And I am only to locate the place?"
+
+"That is all."
+
+"I will do it."
+
+"When?"
+
+"At once, or as soon as the tempest ceases."
+
+"The storm is most over now."
+
+"I will sail in my boat to the nearest point, we will have to
+go the balance of the way overland."
+
+"That is all right."
+
+"But remember, no attempt at seizure must be made within
+twenty hours after I have located the warehouse!"
+
+"That is all right; and now tell me, do you know any of the
+principals?"
+
+"How do you mean?"
+
+"I will tell you; no harm will come to the actual smugglers,
+beyond the breaking up of their business; it's the men who
+furnish the capital that I am after."
+
+"I can put you on the track of one or two of them."
+
+"Do so, and you will make a small fortune."
+
+"But I will become a regular informer."
+
+"Did you ever belong to one of the gangs?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"Then it makes no difference to you, as you will never be
+known in the matter. How far is your boat from here?"
+
+"Five minutes' walk."
+
+"When shall we start?"
+
+"It will soon be daylight; we had better wait until dawn."
+
+"All right, and we will improve the hour or two we have
+remaining of darkness by a refreshing sleep."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+
+One adventure had led forward to another, and again to
+another, until the detective was well on his road toward the
+point where he could make a "closing in" attack.
+
+He knew it would be a grand thing for him to run the gang
+clear down to their bottom methods.
+
+The detective had been keeping tireless vigils, and sleep was
+what he most needed, and two good hours of undisturbed sleep
+was as much to him as seven or eight to an ordinary person.
+
+He was aroused by Taylor, and upon awaking and looking out, he
+saw that it was broad daylight, and indeed a bright and
+beautiful morning.
+
+Taylor had been up some time; he had been to his boat, and had
+brought back the necessary articles for a good breakfast, and
+our hero was summoned to as solid a morning meal as he had
+ever enjoyed.
+
+After breakfast the two men went to where Taylor's boat lay, a
+large and stanch little mainsail and jib boat, rough in
+appearance, but a good sea boat and a fast sailer.
+
+The captain of the little craft steered her through the
+channel, and was soon running across the famous Great South
+Bay, and later on our hero found himself in one of those many
+famous Long Island sea-coast towns, where summer boarders made
+merry the passing hours of the July and August months.
+
+Taylor took our hero to his own home, and introduced him to a
+cleanly and interesting family.
+
+"When do we start?" demanded Vance, after indulging in a good,
+and really substantial dinner.
+
+"We will take the two o'clock train," was the reply.
+
+Our readers will observe that we do not name localities, and
+we have a good reason. Within the last few months smuggling
+has been resumed, and the government is adopting measures once
+more to suppress the traffic, and we have decided that the
+interest of our narrative does not demand more specific
+details.
+
+To those of our readers who are acquainted with the Long
+Island coast, it is not necessary to name the several
+localities; as, from passing hints, they will be able to
+locate the several points; and readers who live afar would be
+no wiser were we to name towns, and designate exact
+localities.
+
+It was late in the afternoon when our hero and his friend,
+Taylor, stood on the shore of another one of the several
+famous bays that indent Long Island's sea shore; and, what
+seems still more startling, about half a mile off shore lay
+the yacht "Nancy."
+
+Our hero and his companion were at the point when the taut
+little smuggler ran down from the inlet, and came to an anchor
+oft the shore.
+
+At the time the place had not become as great a resort as at
+present, and the hordes of pleasure-seekers, who now, during
+certain seasons of the year dwell on the coast, little dream
+of the wild scenes, and wilder orgies that occurred
+thereabouts a few years back.
+
+Taylor and the detective had crossed the bay to the island and
+were hidden in the brush that fringed the bluff overlooking
+the shore, when the "Nancy" ran down as described and came to
+an anchor.
+
+"There's the smuggler!" exclaimed Taylor as he first caught
+sight of the yacht.
+
+"Yes, there's the 'Nancy' as sure as you are born," returned
+the detective.
+
+"Ah, you know her?"
+
+"I reckon I do."
+
+"There's a bad lot on that boat."
+
+"There is a bad lot; they are a crew of murderer and bandits."
+
+"They do great harm to our legitimate business, and good
+honest men are constantly annoyed by the cutters who hail and
+search them almost daily."
+
+"We will soon put that crew out of harm's way," remarked the
+detective.
+
+"She's loaded," said Taylor.
+
+"How loaded?"
+
+"She's got contraband cargo beneath her decks."
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"She never runs in here only when she comes to put her goods
+ashore."
+
+"Don't the people over on the mainland know of her business?"
+
+"Well, a few may suspect, but I don't believe they know; you
+see she will put in a load of produce, take a regular cargo
+from here, and the most of the people think she's an honest
+coaster. I've known her to get freight from a regular
+shipping company in New York, and deliver an assorted cargo,
+simply as a blind."
+
+"How is it you chanced to run her down to her real business,
+and get all the points so dead on the crew?"
+
+"My first discovery was accidental, and since then I just
+investigated a little for my own satisfaction."
+
+"How long has she been engaged in this traffic?"
+
+"About two years; previous to that the business was broken up
+and nothing was done for a long time; but about two years ago,
+the 'Nancy' was manned and put under the charge of Denman, who
+is an old smuggler, and I believe that man could be worth
+thousands upon thousands, but they say he goes to New York and
+gambles and sports all his money away; but he must handle a
+good pile in the course of a year."
+
+"I see his crew is made up of all nationalities?"
+
+"Yes; but they are mostly West Indians, not natives, but
+fellows raised down among the Islands."
+
+"When will she run her cargo ashore?"
+
+"To-night, and she will do it so quickly that you'd hardly
+know her crew had been at work."
+
+"It's a wonder they have never been discovered."
+
+"I reckon they have been, but Denman practices the old Captain
+Kidd maxim: 'Dead men tell no tales.'"
+
+"Has he dared to kill anybody?"
+
+"Well, men have been missing around here, and later on, they
+have been found floating in the bay, and the people have
+always concluded they were cases of drowning while drunk; and
+I always thought so myself, until about two months ago, when I
+fell to a suspicion."
+
+"Did you never tell your suspicion?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I was waiting a chance to verify it."
+
+"You think it would cost a man his life to be caught by those
+fellows?"
+
+"That's my idea."
+
+The detective had made some important discoveries, and, among
+others, he had "piped" down to the fact that the crew of the
+"Nancy" were as desperate and blood-thirsty a set of
+scoundrels as ever ran in and out of Long Island even with
+that famous buccaneer, Captain Kidd.
+
+"About how many men have been missing at different time?"
+asked our hero.
+
+"It's hard to tell; but the crew of the 'Nancy' could tell
+some fearful tales if they were to open their mouths."
+
+The detective was destined to go to the bottom of the mystery.
+
+The place selected by the men for their work was one of the
+most lonely and desolate on the whole coast at that time.
+
+Taylor informed our hero that they would not unload from where
+they were anchored; he said:
+
+"They will run down around the point yonder, put their cargo
+ashore, and then sail back and reanchor where you see them
+now. I tell you they make quick work of it."
+
+"But I cannot see how they escape detection."
+
+"Oh, they have plenty of confederates; the gang is not
+composed alone of the men who sail in the 'Nancy'."
+
+"Then we must lay low until night falls."
+
+"Yes."
+
+The detective encountered some thrilling adventures ere
+another sunrise.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+The detective's friend, Taylor, appeared disinclined to
+remain; he said:
+
+"I only promised to point out to you the rendezvous.
+
+"Have you done so?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I do not know where the landing is made."
+
+"Off yonder point."
+
+"Around in the cove?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You can remain with me?"
+
+"No, I cannot."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Well, this is no place for strangers; we are in peril every
+moment we stay here."
+
+"We are all right, so long as the crew of the 'Nancy' remain
+on their boat."
+
+"Not to-night; we are not safe."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because the 'Nancy' is there. Why, sir; we do not know what
+moment someone may spring upon us! All their spies are out
+and on guard to-night; everything is watched as a cat watches
+a mouse-hole!"
+
+"If you leave me, how am I to get over to the mainland?"
+
+Taylor did not make an immediate reply, and the detective
+repeated his question.
+
+"I did not think you intended remaining."
+
+"What did you think?"
+
+"I thought you would mark down the bearings and come here in
+force."
+
+"But, as I've an opportunity to get the whole business down
+fine, I propose to remain."
+
+"Then you will need a boat."
+
+"Yes, I will, surely, in the morning."
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"What are you getting at?"
+
+"I will speak plainly. If you remain here you will never see
+the mainland again. I tell you those men are a desperate
+lot!"
+
+"But they will not find me."
+
+"The chances are ten to one against you, and that they will
+find you. I would not remain here to-night for a hundred
+thousand dollars! The danger begins exactly at nightfall."
+
+"You have got it down as fine as that, eh?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"If you take away the boat, you will take from me what chance
+I might have for escape."
+
+"You must not remain."
+
+"But I shall!"
+
+"You are determined?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"Very well, I will leave you the boat; by walking about four
+miles I can find a way to cross over to the mainland."
+
+"I wish you were a braver man."
+
+"I have a family."
+
+"That settles it!" exclaimed the detective, and he added, "as
+you are going away you had better go now."
+
+It was near sundown, and there lay the "Nancy" on the calm
+waters of the bay, looking to be as harmless a craft as rested
+on a keel.
+
+"Can I not persuade you to go with me?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"You cannot fully realize the danger."
+
+"Hang the danger! I've a duty to perform, and I'll stay here
+and see that cargo put ashore from the 'Nancy,' even if it
+prove the last scene of my life!"
+
+"The chances are that such will prove to be the fact; I warn
+you that the danger cannot be denied."
+
+"Well, you had better go if you have four miles to travel
+before sundown."
+
+"Have you any messages to leave?"
+
+"None."
+
+"Who am I to report to in case you are never seen alive?"
+
+"You are taking a serious view of it."
+
+"I am; I tell you it's certain death for a stranger to remain
+on this island to-night!"
+
+"Suppose the stranger is not discovered, my good friend?"
+
+"You are certain to be discovered. The whole island will be
+patrolled."
+
+"You speak like a man who has had some dire experience."
+
+"I would not remain on this island to-night for the fall value
+of it in dollars."
+
+"Why do you specify to-night?"
+
+"Oh, any other night it would be all right, but as you know,
+it is a business evening to-night, and they will be all on
+guard."
+
+"I must take the chances."
+
+"Well, good-bye; I go now."
+
+"Good-bye; I will call and see you to-morrow and pay you your
+reward."
+
+"I hope you may, but I never expect to see you again. What I
+recommend is that you guide the cutter to this place--"
+
+"I must first know just where to guide them."
+
+"Come here in force, and with all the knowledge you have you
+will soon find the right place."
+
+"I will come here in force in good season, but to-night I take
+points alone."
+
+"Good-bye."
+
+"All right, good-bye."
+
+Taylor spoke in a very solemn tone, and wore a solemn look
+upon his face as he walked away.
+
+The sun was just on the edge of the horizon when our hero
+found himself alone.
+
+"Well, well," he muttered, "I have been a lucky man. I've got
+this business right down to the right point, and with the
+additional information I shall gain I will be king of the
+mystery."
+
+The detective was highly delighted with his prospective
+success, and with wonderful patience under all the
+circumstances, he awaited the approach of night.
+
+From his position on the bluff, he commanded a full view of
+the smuggler yacht, and it was with a sweet unction to his
+soul that he remembered his words to Denman and his crew: "I
+shall see you again!"
+
+He felt that he would come upon the smugglers at the proper
+moment, like an apparition fresh from a new-made grave. The
+men he knew believed him dead, and he well remembered the
+proverbial superstition of sailors, and it struck him that the
+time might come when it would stand him in hand to take
+advantage of the startling shock that would certainly attend
+his reappearance before that murderous crew.
+
+Night fell, and the detective strained his eyes to watch the
+movements on board the "Nancy."
+
+The men, as he discovered, were playing their game well; at
+the proper hour their lights were set, and all the necessary
+precautions taken for a vessel which proposed to lay at anchor
+all night in a water way.
+
+The detective was still on the watch, while the hours slowly
+glided away until near midnight, when he saw certain movements
+on board the boat that warned him she was about to change her
+position.
+
+The detective, who had been lying on the grass rose to his
+feet, prepared to follow the movements of the "Nancy," when he
+was suddenly confronted by an armed man.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+
+The detective was momentarily taken all aback. The stranger
+came upon him suddenly.
+
+One fact was established: the man had been the first to make
+the discovery of the presence of the detective, and his good
+luck gave him, seemingly, the advantage.
+
+For a moment the two men stood gazing at each other under the
+starlight.
+
+The silence was broken by the armed man, who said:
+
+"Well, mister, what are you doing spying around here?"
+
+"Who says I'm spying around here?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Well, you and I won't quarrel."
+
+The stranger had a dead bead on the detective.
+
+"No, stranger, you and I won't quarrel, it's easy for us to
+come to an understanding; just tell me who you are, and what
+you're doing around here, or say, your prayers as quick as you
+can."
+
+"Why, what do you mean, my good man?--this ain't one of the
+South Sea Islands! I haven't fallen in with cannibals right
+here in Suffolk County, New York State!"
+
+The detective was coming the innocent dodge, and his little
+lead off was most excellent, and displayed great quickness and
+readiness of thought.
+
+The smuggler, as later on the stranger proved to be, was set a
+little back by the detective's pretended innocence, but in a
+moment he recovered his ideas, and said:
+
+"I think you're a thief!"
+
+"You think I'm a thief!"
+
+"Yes, I do."
+
+"Well, this is a great idea, that I should be taken for a
+thief!"
+
+"You don't live on the island?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Have you any friends here?"
+
+"No."
+
+"That's just what I thought. And now, give an account of
+yourself--what are you doing prowling around here?"
+
+"This is a free country; a man can go where he pleases, I
+reckon, without giving an account of himself to every man he
+meets."
+
+"If you've got any friends on the island who know you and will
+vouch for you, it's all right; otherwise you will give an
+account of yourself."
+
+"I reckon it's none of your business what I am doing can the
+island. I think you had better give an account of yourself,
+coining upon a stranger, after dark, with pistols in your
+hands!"
+
+"I can give an account of myself. I am one of a citizens'
+committee. Robberies have been frequent on this island of
+late, and we compel every stranger to give an account of
+himself."
+
+"Oh, that's it, eh?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, arrest me, and I will give an account of myself to the
+proper authorities."
+
+"I am the proper authority."
+
+"I don't recognize your authority."
+
+"You are any prisoner!"
+
+"That's all right," said the detective; and, throwing up his
+arms, he walked toward the armed man.
+
+The latter did not know exactly how to act under the
+circumstances, the detective was so cool and acted so
+strangely.
+
+Our hero, however, knew what he was up to well enough, and,
+when within a few feet of the smuggler, he suddenly threw
+himself forward and grappled with the ruffian.
+
+A struggle followed. Both were powerful men, but the
+detective was the most active and the coolest, and better
+prepared to take advantage of all chances.
+
+Exerting himself to almost superhuman efforts, he forced the
+ruffian back to a great bowlder, and threw him down with such
+force that the man lost consciousness.
+
+Half an hour passed.
+
+The man lay silent and motionless like one dead, and no one
+came to the rescue.
+
+The detective moved stealthily from his hiding-place to the
+verge of the bluff and glanced over to the spot where the
+"Nancy" had been riding at anchor. The boat had disappeared.
+
+A moment Vance stood and considered. He knew that he was
+walking upon dangerous ground. He had received an intimation
+of the desperateness of the gang. After a review of the
+situation he walked back to where the smuggler whom he had
+worsted lay. The man was just beginning to show signs of
+returning consciousness.
+
+"I reckon I'll render you harmless for the balance of the
+night," muttered the detective, and he bound the man hand and
+foot.
+
+The man meantime revived, and called for water.
+
+"Ah, you are thirsty, are you?" muttered the detective, who,
+after all, was a humane and merciful fellow, and he proceeded
+to a running rill near by and got some water in a rubber cup
+which he always carried about him.
+
+The man slaked his thirst, and asked:
+
+"Where am I?"
+
+"You are at home, I reckon."
+
+The smuggler, at length, appeared to realize that he had been
+bound, and he said:
+
+"Who tied me up this way?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"You were set to shoot me down, and I got the better of you."
+
+"Ah, I remember."
+
+"Yes, you set on me and I was compelled to serve you out."
+
+"Release me now, it's all right."
+
+"Oh, it's all right, eh? well, I don't think so; it's my idea
+you are a bad character, and I'm going to keep you here until
+I notify the constable or someone else. I think you are a
+highwayman or a robber or something of that sort; you're a bad
+man anyhow."
+
+"Release me, I live upon the island. I am well known. I am
+no burglar or robber. I took you for one."
+
+"Did you? well you were mistaken, and now, Mister Man, what
+have you got to say particular before you go to sleep?"
+
+"Before I go to sleep! what do you mean?"
+
+"I mean you will rest here until morning, until I can notify
+some of the citizens here, so they can come and take you into
+custody; it's my idea you are a bad character."
+
+"You do not mean what you say; you will not leave me here?"
+
+"I will."
+
+"It will cost you your life."
+
+"Will it?"
+
+"I will follow you to the end of the world."
+
+"That's all right, but you won't start out on your journey
+until after to-morrow, my friend."
+
+"You certainly do not mean to leave me here tied in this
+manner."
+
+"Yes, I do, and I'm going to insert this in your jaw, so you
+will rest quiet until morning."
+
+"Hold! release me and I will forgive you."
+
+The detective's answer was the insertion of a gag in the man's
+mouth, and at the, same instant footsteps were heard.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+
+Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened,
+determined to have the drop on the other man in case of
+danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when
+the first smuggler called him to account.
+
+The intruder passed on his way without having come upon our
+hero and his gagged prisoner.
+
+The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely
+a resident of the island who passed by through chance.
+
+Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release
+himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along
+the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the
+unloading of their goods.
+
+The detective traversed about four miles of coast when, far
+ahead of him, he saw the glimmer of dancing lights.
+
+"Aha!" he muttered, "I've got 'em!"
+
+He spoke in an incautiously loud tone, when a man sprung
+toward him.
+
+The smugglers had put out sentinels, and our hero had run
+across one of them.
+
+The sentinel proved to be a resolute fellow, as he did not
+stop to ask questions, but made a stroke at the detective's
+head.
+
+Our hero dodged the blow, and seized the fellow;
+
+The man struggled violently, and made several attempts to sing
+out an alarm, but he was in a grip of iron. The detective,
+however, had no time to spare. He was an overmatch for the
+smuggler, but at any, moment assistance might arrive. It was
+silence the officer needed at that moment, and he buried the
+fellow's head under water.
+
+The poor fellow struggled violently, and it appeared a cruel
+recourse, but our hero knew that the water would render the
+man temporarily harmless. He did not mean to drown him.
+
+The man's struggles finally ceased, when the detective raised
+his head from the water.
+
+The fellow was not dead, but his cries were stopped for the
+time being--a water gag, as our hero termed it.
+
+Vance left the man lying on the beach, and advanced more
+cautiously. He had crossed the line and was in the charmed
+circle.
+
+Like an Indian on a trail he crawled forward, and, regardless
+of peril, approached quite close to the working party.
+
+Just above the water-line was a wall of rock, and built upon
+the rock was a small house, and into this house the goods were
+carried.
+
+The detective saw that the house was not of sufficient
+dimensions to hold all the goods that were carried in, and he
+made up his mind at the proper time to make a survey of the
+place and delve to the secret.
+
+Nothing more was to be done that night. He had ascertained
+all he desired. He had located the rendezvous and the
+store-house; while on the yacht he had marked some of the goods,
+so that he could identify them. He had trailed down the methods,
+noted the active workers, and all that remained was for him to
+get safely off the island and trace down to the backers.
+
+He had taken long chances, but all his risks were amply
+repaid by his wonderful success.
+
+The detective, at the moment he decided to get away, was so
+close to the working party that he could overhear what passed
+between them, and while he watched he saw a figure glide into
+their midst.
+
+"The dead alive!" was the under-toned exclamation that fell
+from his lips as he recognized the half-drowned man whom he
+had so successfully overcome.
+
+At once there followed great excitement. A consultation was
+summoned. The man had evidently told his startling tale.
+
+Our hero recognized Ike Denman, the traitor and falsifier,
+captain of the "Nancy," and he heard Ike say:
+
+"You are sure it was not one of the islanders?"
+
+"I am sure. I tell you I recognized the man!"
+
+"You recognized him?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who was he?"
+
+"Ballard!"
+
+A murmur of incredulousness rose from the men, and Ike Denman
+exclaimed:
+
+"You have been fooled by your fancy; you have been dreaming!"
+
+"No; I wasn't dreaming; I swear I saw Ballard, the man who
+went overboard from the 'Nancy' twenty miles out at sea."
+
+"I tell you, man, you have been dreaming."
+
+The man pointed down to his wet clothes.
+
+"Yes, you scoundrel, you fell asleep and rolled down the bank
+into the water, and you saw a ghost in your dream."
+
+"You fellows may think I saw a ghost, but I can prove I
+didn't. Yes, sir, prove it."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Bring your lanterns and come with me."
+
+"What will you show us?"
+
+"The man's tracks in the sand at the spot where he and I had
+the wrestle."
+
+The man started for the point where our hero had first met the
+smuggler; had the former been less bravo and reckless he would
+have seized the opportunity to get away, but he was curious to
+witness the result of the inquiry, and he moved along to the
+spot where the combat had taken place, and took up a position
+on the bluff near enough to see and overhear.
+
+The men with their lanterns reached the place and an
+examination followed.
+
+The imprints of two pairs of feet were plainly visible.
+Denman made close examination, even measuring the different
+footprints; when he had concluded he said in a hoarse voice:
+
+"Boys, we've been followed; there's an enemy on the island and
+he must never get away alive!"
+
+By the glare of the lanterns our hero could see the men's
+faces, and they were pale and contorted with excitement and
+trepidation.
+
+"I reckon I'll go now," he said, "it's getting rather warm
+around here."
+
+The officer quietly moved away, while Denman divided his men
+into several squads and started them on a hunt for the spy.
+
+The master of the "Nancy" was completely mystified. He could
+not understand how it was possible, under even the most
+extraordinary circumstances, that Ballard could be alive and
+upon the island. He supposed; as a matter of course, the
+detective was dead, and yet his man had positively sworn as to
+the revenue officer's identity.
+
+"This is the most wonderful thing in all my experience!"
+declared the master of the "Nancy," as alone he walked back
+toward the landing-place of the boats.
+
+Meantime the detective had reached a most extraordinary
+determination. He saw that the chances were against him if he
+sought to reach the boat in which he and Taylor had crossed
+from the mainland; and yet it ways absolutely necessary that
+he should have a boat. He reasoned that the smugglers would
+scatter all over the island, and concluded that the safest
+place for him was the starting-point of the searchers.
+It required a cool, level-headed man to decide under all the
+circumstances, and our hero was just the sort of man
+described.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+
+The detective made sure that the men had scattered, and that
+the search was in full blast, when he doubled on his course
+and moved down toward the warehouse. Here again he displayed
+his reckless courage. He approached the small building on the
+bluff, from the rear, and entered it, and one mystery was
+explained--the building was but the cover to the entrance to
+an immense underground warehouse.
+
+A lantern was hanging near by, and the detective seized it and
+descending the stairs entered a great store-house.
+
+A sight met his gaze which filled him with amazement. His
+fortune was made at last; the store-house was filled with
+packages of valuable goods; indeed, an immense fortune lay
+scattered about.
+
+Later on the detective came to learn more particularly the
+methods of the smugglers, but for the present as he stood
+there he realized that he was a wondrously lucky man, unless
+he should prove unlucky enough to be captured.
+
+While standing in the subterranean store-house an idea entered
+his mind and he exclaimed:
+
+"By George, that's just the scheme."
+
+He returned to the upper room and replaced the lantern, and
+immediately redescended to the storehouse.
+
+The detective had a masked lantern with him, having secured it
+while abiding a few hours at the home of his guide, Taylor.
+
+Spencer Vance had determined to hide himself in the smugglers'
+underground warehouse. He had reached the conclusion that he
+could find no safer place.
+
+Spencer Vance had struck a big scheme. Even while in such
+great peril, and while busy, he was revolving in his mind all
+the chances and contingencies; but over all loomed the
+possibility of discovery. There was no friendly sea to
+receive him should those men find him secreted in their
+treasure den.
+
+The detective was like a man walking in a suspected coal mine
+with a lighted torch, who at any moment might strike a chamber
+filled with the fatal gas, which coming in contact with the
+light, would have blown man and mine to smithereens.
+
+Meantime the search continued on the island, and the detective
+was rejoiced as he saw that, after all, the discovery of his
+presence was a most excellent thing, as it would lead to the
+eventual discovery of the real smugglers, through means which
+will be described later on.
+
+Vance had measured every step as he progressed, and knew just
+where he would fetch out, provided he once got away from the
+island; but there, as stated, loomed the chance against him.
+His opportunity would depend largely upon the decision of Ike
+Denman after the return of his searching parties.
+
+One of the searching parties was moving along looking for a
+trail, when a cry from one of their number brought the squad
+together. The man had stumbled upon the strapped and gagged
+smuggler.
+
+There was a circus for a few moments after the discovery, and
+there followed some loud swearing, not low; but deep, fast and
+furious.
+
+The man had been gagged so long it was some minutes before he
+could relate his sad tale.
+
+One of the men said to him:
+
+"Who served you out, Jim?"
+
+When the man found voice he answered:
+
+"The devil or one of his imps."
+
+"Hello! did you see the ghost?"
+
+"What ghost?"
+
+"The ghost of Ballard."
+
+"I don't know anything about the ghost of Ballard, but I had a
+rough scrimmage with the gamest man I ever tackled."
+
+"Didn't you recognize him?"
+
+"No."
+
+"I wonder if there are two of 'em on the island?"
+
+"What's happened, boys?"
+
+"Well, it's looking as though the devil himself were loose
+to-night."
+
+The man proceeded and told how another of their crew had met
+the island mystery, and had been half drowned by him.
+
+"I tell you," said the man, "it's going to stand us in hand to
+get that fellow on; the game is all dead against us, and we'll
+whistle for our share of prize-money."
+
+"Come along with us and we may find our man; you can identify
+him?"
+
+"Identify the devil! let me see him just one second."
+
+The men, as a fact, failed to discover the island mystery, and
+different parties returned and reported to Ike Denman.
+
+When the master of the "Nancy" heard of the laying out of
+another of his sentinels, his rage knew no bounds, and calling
+his men around him he declared;
+
+"We must find out this fellow. He cannot have left the
+island."
+
+One of the men suggested:
+
+"We may never get a sight of him."
+
+"If it is Ballard we can recognize him."
+
+The men were sent away once more, and many of their passive
+confederates on the island were aroused and started out on the
+search; indeed the island became alive with secretly armed
+men.
+
+Ike Denman was satisfied that the detective had not got away,
+and he was determined to find him. Hundreds of thousands of
+dollars were at stake; the fact that the detective had trailed
+down to their rendezvous meant ruin.
+
+The master of the "Nancy" did not for one moment believe in
+his own mind that the mystery was, Ballard; his common sense
+suggested that it was impossible that the fellow could have
+escaped, unless by some strange fatality he had been picked
+up, and as there were no vessels near enough to see him at the
+time he went over from the yacht, the latter chance did not
+seem probable.
+
+It was well toward morning when several of the crew, according
+to orders, returned and joined the captain, and the latter
+went aboard the "Nancy" and sailed her back to where she had
+previously anchored.
+
+One man was left in charge of the yacht, and the balance, with
+the captain, rowed ashore and proceeded afoot to the
+rendezvous, and at length daylight came.
+
+The search had proved a failure, and when it was well on in
+the morning all hands were assembled at the rendezvous.
+
+A majority of the men were sent aboard the "Nancy," while the
+master and some of his most reliable confederates remained
+ashore.
+
+The men had made a thorough search, and all hands were still
+of the opinion that the detective, or whoever it was that had
+been tracking them, still remained secreted somewhere on the
+island.
+
+One of the men, a shrewd fellow, offered several singular
+suggestions. He had accurately measured the tracks of the man
+who had laid out two members of the crew, and he had found
+duplicate foot imprints down around the rendezvous.
+
+A more dazed and bewildered set of men were never engaged in
+an illegal traffic.
+
+Meantime the daring detective was lying low right in their
+very midst.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+
+Spencer Vance had not been idle while in the subterranean
+warehouse; but, with his masked lantern, he had gone about,
+and, in a regular business-like manner, had made an inventory
+of the merchandise scattered about; and he had also copied all
+the shipping-marks and also all the hieroglyphic brush signs.
+He furthermore opened some of the cases, and put
+identification marks on some of the goods indeed, he did his
+work in a thorough and masterly manner. He had accomplished
+wonders; but he was not yet safely off the island.
+
+Later on the detective made some startling and ghastly
+discoveries. He came upon a box containing human bones, and
+he was sufficiently experienced to recognize that, in the case
+of the remains, ordinary, decay had been supplemented by
+artificial processes, and the latter discovery was a prima
+facie testimony in favor of the theory that the bones were
+those of murdered victims.
+
+Our hero was still rummaging around when his attention was
+attracted by human voices, and, closing the slide of his
+lantern, he laid low and watched, and, a moment later, became
+aware that some of the crew of the "Nancy" were in the
+warehouse.
+
+"I wonder," he muttered, "if they have came to look for me
+here? If they have, I reckon I'm in a tight place!"
+
+The detective crawled toward the place where the smugglers
+were gathered, and he overheard their conversation.
+
+One of them remarked.
+
+"It's all nonsense to look for him in here."
+
+"If it is Ballard, or Spencer Vance, I'd look for him in my
+vest pocket; either one of those men would dare to go
+anywhere."
+
+"Well, search," commanded Ike Denman.
+
+"Now I am a goner," was the mental declaration of the intrepid
+revenue officer, while at the same time he was, resolved to
+take all necessary precautions. He found a hiding place and
+passed a full hour of anxiety, indeed, a mental strain that
+would have turned a less nervy man gray.
+
+The agony, however, passed, and he escaped discovery, and
+heard one of the fellows say:
+
+"He is not in here, that is certain."
+
+"You're mistaken, Charley," muttered the detective to himself,
+in a spirit of reckless facetiousness.
+
+Ike Denman appeared to be completely disheartened, and he
+said:
+
+"I tell you, my good fellows, we're in trouble; that man has
+got away."
+
+"What will you do?"
+
+"There is only one thing for me to do; I must go to New York
+and report the situation at headquarters."
+
+"We can get the goods away."
+
+"It's easy to say we can get the goods away, but where will we
+take them?"
+
+"We can load the 'Nancy' down with the most valuable of them."
+
+"That is a good idea, but you cannot get to work until
+to-night."
+
+"We can start in to-night."
+
+"Where will you run her when she's loaded?"
+
+"We can run outside and communicate."
+
+"Do that, and meantime I will go on to New York. There is a
+one o'clock train from the station on the other side. I will
+go on that train."
+
+"And we are to load the 'Nancy' to-night."
+
+"Yes."
+
+The detective overheard the whole of the above conversation,
+and great drops of perspiration came out upon his forehead.
+He was in a bad fix after all. Should Denman get to New York
+ahead of him, he would lose his best grip after all.
+Something must be done. He must get over to the mainland
+before one o'clock, in time to take the train with Denman, at
+all hazards.
+
+Denman and a part of his crew passed from the warehouse while
+one of the men remarked:
+
+"I've some private property in here to look after and I'll see
+to it at once."
+
+A smile flitted over the face of the detective. He thought a
+chance was about to present itself for him to get away.
+
+A moment he lay quiet, and then emerged from his hiding-place.
+
+The warehouse was artificially illuminated by a few swinging
+lamps, and only one was lighted at the time.
+
+The detective cautiously glanced around. He had prepared
+himself for the work he had in hand. He saw a light in a
+distant corner and he cautiously stole toward the light, and
+came upon a man sorting over the contents of a sailor's
+ship-sack.
+
+It was a critical moment; life depended upon success, death
+would follow, sure death, the failure of his plan.
+
+Like a cat creeping toward an unsuspecting bird on a twig, the
+detective crept toward the smuggler, knowing that when he
+sprung upon his prey there must be no mistake.
+
+The critical moment was reached, the officer made his leap
+forward, and seized his man, seized him by the throat, and
+when once Vance got his grip on a man's throat silence
+followed; no man was ever known to make an outcry with those
+powerful fingers grasped around his neck.
+
+The man was, not a very powerful fellow, fortunately, and the
+detective easily bore him to the ground. Having secured the
+man, the detective said:
+
+"I am going to lighten my grip on your throat. I wish to ask
+you a few questions, answer me promptly and truthfully, and
+you will save your life; but seek to make an outcry, and you
+are a dead man. Now wink if you mean to keep quiet and save
+your life?"
+
+The mail winked.
+
+"All right, old fellow, you know the value of your skin, I
+see, and mark you don't make any mistake, for as certain as
+you make the least effort to give an alarm, you are a dead
+man; do you understand? If so, wink."
+
+The man winked:
+
+"That's all right," said the detective; and he released his
+hold on the man's throat.
+
+The man kept his word. He was not a very nervy chap, and was
+terrified almost to death, as it was.
+
+"What is your name?" demanded the detective.
+
+"Why do you wish to know my name?"
+
+The man spoke in a loud tone, when the detective said:
+
+"Speak low, old man--very low, or you'll never speak again.
+Now wink."
+
+The man winked, and the detective said:
+
+"Now tell me your name?"
+
+"My name is Arbella."
+
+"Your name is Arbella?"
+"Yes."
+
+"You are one of the crew of the 'Nancy'?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You are not?"
+
+"I am not."
+
+"What are you?"
+
+"I am the doctor on the vessel. I've nothing to do with their
+business."
+
+"Oh, you're the doctor?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"Well, doctor, you are a lucky man. I did intend to silence
+you, but I'll just shut you up temporarily; and now mind; if
+you make the least noise or attempt to offer resistance, you
+area dead man!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+
+"I will be silent," the man answered.
+
+"I reckon you will, my friend."
+
+As our readers will remember, the detective had arranged to
+carry out a certain plan before he pounced upon the doctor.
+Our hero had the knack of making little necessary articles,
+and he had prepared a gag, which he inserted in the man's
+mouth after having first bound the fellow's hands under him.
+After inserting the gag, the detective released the man's
+hands temporarily, until he had removed the prisoner's outer
+and upper clothing, when a second time he bound him.
+
+Indeed, our readers have already detected the officer's plan.
+He had determined to assume the man's clothes, personate him,
+and risk the chances of an escape. It was a perilous
+undertaking, but the officer had been taking perilous chances
+all along.
+
+The change was made, and our detective fancied he had
+succeeded in making a most excellent "make up" in his
+"transform," and when all ready he moved toward the door.
+
+He had reached a part where the real peril commenced; but,
+with his hand on the butt of a cocked revolver, he ascended to
+the upper room. The apartment was deserted.
+
+"So far, so good," muttered the bold man, and he peeped out of
+the door.
+
+Again fortune favored him.
+
+Two men were stretched out under the bluff asleep, and two
+more were down close to the shore.
+
+"Now or never!" muttered Vance, and he stepped forth.
+
+Had the men on the shore been close enough they might have
+discovered that something was wrong; but, at the distance, as
+they glanced at the detective, they evidently mistook him for
+Arbella.
+
+The detective did not attempt to slink away--he was too cool
+and ready-witted. He calmly lit a pipe and wandered around,
+seemingly in a listless manner; but, at the proper moment, he
+moved away from the beach and soon disappeared behind some
+bushes.
+
+"Well done!" was the glad exclamation that fell from his lips.
+
+Once beyond sight he moved along rapidly, and made for the
+point where he and Taylor had landed the previous night.
+
+Vance reached the spot in safety and stood a moment on the
+bluff looking for the boat, when he saw a man rowing directly
+across the bay.
+
+"I hope that fellow lands here," was the detective's muttered
+exclamation.
+
+The boat Taylor had left for him was gone, and he had made up
+his mind to appropriate the boat of the rower, in case a
+chance offered.
+
+He sat intently watching the boat as it came nearer and
+nearer, and at length a thrill shot through his heart. The
+danger was passed. He recognized the oarsman--Taylor was in
+the boat.
+
+The latter rowed straight to the beach and glanced around in a
+cautious manner, when the detective moved down and hailed him,
+in a low tone.
+
+Taylor did not recognize the detective at the first glance,
+and settled down to his oars as though intending to pull off,
+when our hero called him by name, and an instant later a full
+recognition had taken place.
+
+"Well;" exclaimed Taylor, "you are safe!"
+
+"Yes, I am safe."
+
+"What have you discovered?"
+
+"The whole business."
+
+"And you have not been detected?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I was fallen on several times, but I managed to
+creep out of a hot spot each time; but come, we have no time
+to spare."
+
+"You are a fortunate man."
+
+"I shall count in myself a fortunate man if I reach the other
+side of the bay without accident."
+
+"We will go across easy enough; but do you know the 'Nancy' is
+at her old anchorage?"
+
+"Where she lay last night?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Taylor was a good oarsman, and in less than an hour the
+detective was on the mainland.
+
+"Have you any friends around here?" he asked.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Honest people?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Take me to their house."
+
+"Do you wish to find a hiding place?"
+
+"No; I've other plans than seeking to hide just now."
+
+Taylor led the detective to a friend's house; on the way our
+hero had partially explained his plans, and had related all
+the wonderful adventures that had befallen him during the past
+night.
+
+"You have taken long chances."
+
+"I am used to taking long chances, and I've often done so and
+gained nothing, but last night's work pays me for all the
+risk, and, my good friend, you will come in for a nice bit of
+money."
+
+The two men reached the home of Taylor's friend, and the
+detective set to work and went through the operation of a
+deliberate transform. With the assistance of Taylor's friend
+he secured a complete outfit, and wrought such a marvelous
+change in his appearance that Taylor and his friend could
+hardly convince themselves that the man who came forth from
+the best bedroom was the same man who had entered it a few
+moments previously.
+
+"You are an extraordinary man," exclaimed Taylor.
+
+"It's all a matter of business, my friend."
+
+"I can well see now why it is you are so willing to take long
+chances as you call them."
+
+"Well, yes, I've had some experience; but now, friend Taylor,
+it is not necessary to request you to keep silent concerning
+my movements, but I want you to watch the movements of the
+'Nancy.'"
+
+"She will probably sail away to-day."
+
+"Does she usually go away the day following her night-visit to
+the coast?"
+
+"Usually, yes."
+
+"She will not sail away to-day, and I want you to watch her
+and watch any of her crew that may come ashore."
+
+"I am afraid you will get me in trouble before this affair is
+ended."
+
+"This affair will be ended to-night."
+
+The detective gave Taylor a few instructions and then
+proceeded to the depot.
+
+Spencer Vance, as he appeared at the little frame station, was
+as perfect a specimen of a countryman as ever took train from
+the rural districts for New York.
+
+Ike Denman was at the station. The master of the "Nancy" had
+also wrought a great change in his personal appearance. He
+looked little like the man who had stood on the beach across
+the bay a few hours previously.
+
+It was half an hour previous to the starting of the train when
+the detective reached the depot, and as he stood around with
+his hands in his pockets, the master of the "Nancy" several
+times passed within a few feet of him.
+
+Little did the smuggler captain dream, as he ran his eyes over
+the rustic-looking passenger, that under that clownish hat was
+the busy brain that had trailed him and his crew down to such
+a fine point.
+
+The detective, meantime, was happy, and at the moment little
+dreamed of the terrible tragedy that had occurred, and which,
+strangely enough, but awaited his unraveling.
+
+The half hour glided by, and at length the smuggler captain
+and the detective boarded the train.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+
+The detective acted well his part, and attracted little
+attention from the master of the "Nancy," until the latter,
+for lack of something better to do, took a seat beside our
+hero.
+
+"On your way to the city?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Do you go there often?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You live at G-----?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Where do you live?"
+
+"On the island."
+
+"You live on the island?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I often go to the island; don't remember ever having seen
+you."
+
+"I've been off on a trip."
+
+"A trip?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Where to?"
+
+"Connecticut."
+
+The master of the "Nancy" laughed, and said:
+
+"Do you call that a trip?"
+
+"Yes; I was away from the island two years."
+
+"What's your name?"
+
+The countryman looked the master of the "Nancy" all over,
+winking knowingly, and said:
+
+"You cannot come that over me!"
+
+"Come what over you?"
+
+"Oh, I'm no fool! I know how you Yorkers work the trains."
+
+"You know how we Yorkers work the trains?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What do we work them for?"
+
+"Suckers; but I'm no fool! You can't come any of your smart
+games over me. I've lived a couple of years in Hartford; I'm
+posted!"
+
+"So you think I'm a Yorker?"
+
+"Of coarse I do."
+
+"What makes you think so?"
+
+"You look like one."
+
+"You're a smart Alec, my friend from Connecticut."
+
+"Do you think so?"
+
+"I reckon you think so yourself."
+
+"Mebbe I do; and I'm too smart for you."
+
+"I reckon you are."
+
+"Yes, I am, as you'll find."
+
+"I've found it out already."
+
+"I reckon you have."
+
+"Do you go clean through to the city?"
+
+"Yes, I do."
+
+"Where do you hang out?"
+
+"I haven't made up my mind."
+
+The pretended countryman assumed a very knowing look.
+
+The master of the "Nancy" was amused; he thought he had struck
+a character. Well, he had, but he had no idea of the real
+character of the man; he thought he was joking for amusement.
+
+"Were you ever 'nipped' by a Yorker my friend?"
+
+"No siree, and I don't mean to be."
+
+"So you live on the island?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you won't tell me your name?"
+
+"No, I won't."
+
+"What harm would there be in telling your name?"
+
+"You're too anxious to learn my name. What's your name?"
+
+"My name is King."
+
+"Your name is King, eh?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You live in York?"
+
+"No, I don't."
+
+"You don't?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Where do you live?"
+
+"On the island."
+
+"You live on the island?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Never heard of anyone by the name of King on the island."
+
+"You never did?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"That's strange."
+
+"No, it ain't strange, because no one by the name of King
+ever lived there."
+
+"Do you know a family by the name of Manuels?"
+
+"See here, Mr. King, you can't pump me."
+
+"I am not pumping you, I am only asking you civil questions."
+
+"I am not answering civil questions to-day."
+
+"Well, you are a crank."
+
+"A what?"
+
+"A crank."
+
+"What's a crank?"
+
+"A fool."
+
+"You call me a fool?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+The detective rose to his feet, assumed a fierce expression
+and retorted:
+
+"You're another."
+
+The master of the "Nancy" had expected an assault when the
+countryman assumed such a threatening attitude, and was
+compelled to laugh when the danger simmered down to a mere
+retort.
+
+Ike Denman was amusing himself, and so was the detective.
+
+"I reckon I've met you before," said the disguised officer.
+
+"You think you've met me before?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"Can't recall just now, but the faint remembrance don't bring
+me a pleasant feeling."
+
+"You are a fool," exclaimed Denman, and rising from his seat
+beside the disguised detective he walked to the other end of
+the car.
+
+At length the train ran into the depot at Brooklyn, and the
+few passengers went aboard the boat that was to convey them to
+the city.
+
+The detective was a happy man. He had accomplished a big
+feat, and little dreamed of the terrible discovery he was
+destined to make later on.
+
+Upon reaching the city, Denman started down town and entered a
+building occupied by a foreign importing horse.
+
+The detective was at his wit's end. He was anxious to
+overhear what passed between the master of the "Nancy" and the
+members of the firm. In a moment his decision was made, and
+it was founded on a cunning line of reasoning.
+
+Our hero entered the store just as the private office door
+closed behind Denman.
+
+A gentleman came forward and demanded the seeming countryman's
+business, and the detective asked to see one of the members of
+the firm, calling him by name, leaving learned the same from
+the sign over the door.
+
+"He is busy," was the answer.
+
+That was just the answer the detective had expected, and it
+was in anticipation of such an answer that he boldly walked in
+and ventured the inquiry.
+
+"When will he be at leisure?"
+
+"It is hard to tell."
+
+The clerk knew Denman and suspected that it was private and
+important business that had brought the master of the "Nancy"
+to New York.
+
+"I wish to see him particularly."
+
+"Cam I not attend to the business for Mr. M----?"
+
+"No sir; I must see Mr. M---- personally."
+
+"Can you call again?"
+
+"I will wait."
+
+"He may be engaged a long time."
+
+"I cannot help it, I must see him to-day, and it does not
+make much difference; I am in no hurry, I can wait as well as
+not."
+
+The clerk walked away and our hero edged toward the office
+situated at the rear of the store, and seated himself upon a
+case of goods, resting directly against the office partition.
+
+A glass casing only separated the detective from the members
+of the firm and the master of the "Nancy," and he could
+overhear all that passed.
+
+The clerk meantime was busy in the forward part of the store,
+and paid no heed to the stupid-looking countryman.
+
+Spencer Vance was well repaid for his risks. He overheard the
+names of several firms, and got down facts which made it a
+dead open and shut case.
+
+At length he recognized that the conference was about reaching
+a conclusion, and he came another sharp trick.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+
+As our readers have discerned, the detective had no desire to
+see the member of the firm whom he had asked for; it had been
+merely a game to gain an opportunity to listen to what
+occurred between the capitalists and the master of the
+"Nancy."
+
+When Vance saw that the conference was about terminating, he
+walked to the front of the store, and said:
+
+"I will not wait; I will call in again."
+
+"If your business is important you had better wait. He can
+not be engaged a much longer time."
+
+"I will call again."
+
+"Very well."
+
+The detective walked out. He had "coppered" all he required
+for the time being. He took up his position a short distance
+from the store, and awaited the reappearance of Denman upon
+the street. He was not compelled to wait very long, as the
+master of the "Nancy" soon appeared, and the detective fell
+upon his trail.
+
+Denman walked up town a short distance, and stopped in a
+well-known bar-room, and the detective again got in on a
+little wait. The master of the "Nancy" did not remain long in
+the bar-room, and soon again appeared upon the street, when
+the detective approached him.
+
+"Hello, King," called Vance, "haven't you gone back yet?"
+
+The master of the "Nancy" turned and recognized the countryman
+whom he had called a "crank" on the train.
+
+"Where did you come from?"
+
+"I saw you come out of that place, and I thought I'd like to
+have a few words with you."
+
+"I have no time."
+
+"Oh, yes; you call spare a few moments."
+
+"Probably you know my business better than I do."
+
+"I know you're in no hurry; you're not going out on the island
+to-night."
+
+"I am not going out on the island to-night?"
+
+"Well, you're a 'no-such-thing'!"
+
+"Come and have a beer?"
+
+"I have no time, I tell you."
+
+"It will not take you a minute; and I've something to tell
+you."
+
+"You've something to tell me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What have you to say to me?"
+
+"Something very important."
+
+"What are you giving me now?"
+
+"Facts. Cone along; I've a surprise for you."
+
+The master of the "Nancy" was amused and at the same time
+mystified. He could not dream what the countryman could have
+to say to him.
+
+"Come along," said Vance.
+
+"You have something to tell me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Tell me here."
+
+"No; I want to sit down. It's a long story."
+
+A curious look came over the smuggler's face, and, for the
+first time, a faint suspicion crossed his mind. "Where will
+we go?" he asked.
+
+"Oh, here's a place."
+
+The two men entered a beer saloon, the rear yard of which had
+been converted into a garden, over which an awning was
+stretched. They took a seat and Denman demanded in an
+impatient tone:
+
+"Well, what have you to say to me?"
+
+There was no one in the garden but the two men; the waiter had
+brought the beer and had gone away.
+
+"You asked me what my name was on the train?"
+
+"Yes, I did."
+
+"I wouldn't tell you!"
+
+"No."
+
+"Well, do you know why?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You ought to know my name; you and I have met before; can't
+you tell where?"
+
+The detective all the time had preserved his rustic tones and
+demeanor.
+
+"You and I have met before?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"When and where?"
+
+"Several times."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"Ah, you must guess."
+
+"The master of the "Nancy" studied the detective's face.
+
+"I do not remember ever having seen you before."
+
+"Nonsense."
+
+"You are having some fun at my expense."
+
+"Do you think so?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, I am in dead earnest."
+
+"Where did we meet before?"
+
+"The last time we met I promised you we would meet again."
+
+A fierce look shot into Denman's eyes as he permitted his
+glance to roam around the garden.
+
+He was studying what the chances would be under certain
+contingencies.
+
+"As I don't know you, do you know me?"
+
+"You told me your name was King."
+
+"Is that my name?"
+
+"No."
+
+"What is my name?"
+
+"Denman," came the answer in a low, firm tone. The master of
+the "Nancy" turned deadly pale. Ho realized that something
+was up, and it came to him that the seeming countryman after
+all, was a man as keen and resolute as himself.
+
+"You say my name is Denman?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You are sure?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"What's my business?"
+
+"You're the master of the 'Nancy'."
+
+Denman made a certain significant motion with his hand, when
+the detective whispered:
+
+"Don't!"
+
+There was a world of significance in that little word "Don't!"
+
+"Who are you?"
+
+"Can't you guess?"
+
+"I'm not guessing to-day."
+
+"Sorry."
+
+"What is your business with me?"
+
+"I wanted to tell you that I knew who you were."
+
+"Is that all?"
+
+"No."
+
+"What else?"
+
+"I wanted you to know that I am a man who keeps his word."
+
+"Is your word passed to me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What is your promise?"
+
+"I promised to meet you again."
+
+"I don't recall."
+
+"Don't you perceive?"
+
+"Perceive what?"
+
+"That you are in a bad hole."
+
+Again the master of the "Nancy" made a certain movement, when
+the detective repeated in a peculiar warning tone:
+
+"Don't."
+
+"You are a revenue officer?" said Denman.
+
+"Aha! now you begin to open up!"
+
+"What is your business with me?"
+
+"You are my prisoner!"
+
+"No, no, my friend!"
+
+"Yes, yes, Denman."
+
+Matters were approaching a critical climax. Denman attempted
+to rise from his seat.
+
+"Sit down!" commanded the detective.
+
+"My friend," said Denman, "don't fly your kite too high, your
+string may be cut."
+
+The smuggler spoke in a warning tone.
+
+"Sit down," repeated the detective.
+
+Denman realized that he was facing a man who was well prepared
+at every turn.
+
+"Who are you?" he asked.
+
+"I am your old friend Ballard!" came the reply.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+
+Denman showed signs of great excitement and trepidation.
+
+Our readers will remember that the smuggler had never
+identified Spencer Vance and Ballard as one and the same man;
+and, when suspicions were aroused as to the identity of the
+disguised detective, it never once entered Denman's head that
+he was sitting vis-a-vis with Ballard.
+
+"You are Ballard?"
+
+"I am Ballard."
+
+"Are you man or devil?"
+
+"I suppose you think I ought to be floating on the sea?"
+
+"I thought you were at the bottom of the sea, and how you
+escaped to face me I can't tell."
+
+"I'll tell you all about it some day, Denman, but, in the
+meantime, do you mean fight, or does your flag come down?"
+
+"My flag comes down. The game is up with me."
+
+"Well, sit down."
+
+The smuggler sat down.
+
+"I've got the thing down pretty fine on you, Denman."
+
+"I should say so. You were on the island?"
+
+"I was."
+
+"You are the man who laid out some of the crew?"
+
+"I am the culprit."
+
+"You beat 'em all!"
+
+"Well, I reckon I've run this racket pretty well."
+
+"How did you get ashore?"
+
+"You wouldn't believe."
+
+"I'll take your word for anything."
+
+"I swam ashore."
+
+"You're a good swimmer."
+
+"I am."
+
+"How did you snake us out down at the island?"
+
+"I've been picking up facts for some time."
+
+"Spencer Vance and you were 'laying in' together?"
+
+"Well, yes."
+
+"Where is Vance?"
+
+"He is here."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"I am Vance!"
+
+"What!" ejaculated the smuggler.
+
+"Ballard and Vance both wear the same hats."
+
+"This does get me."
+
+"Yes, I reckon I've got you."
+
+"And now, what's your play?"
+
+"You will go to Ludlow Street."
+
+We will explain to our rural readers that Ludlow Street is the
+location of a prison where all revenue prisoners are confined.
+
+Denman had been in Ludlow Street. He knew well enough what
+the detective's declaration meant.
+
+"How about bail?"
+
+"No bail."
+
+"I've good bondsman."
+
+"That's all right."
+
+A moment Denman was silent and thoughtful, but at length said:
+
+"Are you on the make?"
+
+"What have you to offer?"
+
+"You can drop to a big sum."
+
+"How big?"
+
+"Three or four thousand."
+
+The detective smiled, and answered
+
+"I'm in for more than that; remember the value of what's in
+your storehouse on the island."
+
+"You have that down?"
+
+"I've been in there; your crew know it by this time if they
+have rummaged around any. I was there when you decided to
+come on to New York and notify your principals."
+
+The smuggler gazed at the detective with an expression of
+wonderment upon his face,
+
+"You were there?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Where were you when we searched?"
+
+"I was stowed away."
+
+"And we missed you?"
+
+"If you hadn't I would not be here now."
+
+"You're right. I'm blowed if you don't get me, but you're
+entitled to win. Still we can come to a compromise."
+
+"How will you manage it, Denman?"
+
+"I will take you to the principals."
+
+The detective mentioned the names of several of the firms.
+
+Denman's eyes opened wider and wider,
+
+"You tracked me well."
+
+"Yes, I did."
+
+"Will you open up for negotiation?"
+
+"No."
+
+"What is to be done?"
+
+"You must open up."
+
+The smuggler did not make an immediate reply,
+
+"What have you to say?"
+
+"I can't promise anything."
+
+"I've got everything dead."
+
+"I see you have."
+
+"Then it's for you to lay in for all the favors you can get."
+
+"There's nothing I can give away, you have it all."
+
+"Are you ready?"
+
+"For what!"
+
+"To go to Ludlow Street."
+
+"Is there no chance for a deal?"
+
+"None whatever."
+
+"All right, I'm passive."
+
+"Understand me, Denman, I'll have my eye on you; if you go
+quietly it's all right; if you attempt any capers down you
+go."
+
+"I am passive."
+
+"It's all right then, come."
+
+The two men rose, and any casual customer in that garden would
+never have imagined that a thrilling drama in real life was
+being enacted right then and there, and that two remarkable
+men had played a thrilling part.
+
+The men reached Ludlow Street. Denman was given in charge,
+and the detective called a cab and started down town. Our
+hero was still in the garb of the countryman. He entered the
+United States District Attorney's office and accosted a dandy
+clerk.
+
+"Where is the district attorney?"
+
+"What do you want of him?"
+
+"I'll tell him when I see him."
+
+"Can't see him to-day."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"Can't see him to-day."
+
+"Is he in?"
+
+"You've got your answer."
+
+The detective approached the political dude and said:
+
+"Will you answer my questions?"
+
+"Come, my friend, you get, or--."
+
+"Or what?"
+
+"I'll hustle you."
+
+"You will hustle me, eh?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+The detective suddenly extended his strong, powerful arm and
+quick as a wink caught the political exquisite by the ear and
+he closed his vise-like grip.
+
+The young fellow squealed like a pig.
+
+Vance released him and said:
+
+"Will you answer my questions civilly?"
+
+"Who are you?" demanded the clerk, as he vigorously rubbed his
+ear.
+
+"Go and tell the district attorney I wish to see him."
+
+"What name, sir?"
+
+"Vance."
+
+The clerk entered an inner office and a moment I later
+reappeared, and in the most obsequious manner, possible said:
+
+"This way, sir."
+
+"Ah, you have come to an understanding of your duty."
+
+"I beg your pardon, if you had told me who you were I would
+have notified the district attorney at once."
+
+"You would, eh?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Well, young man, let to-day's experience be a warning to you
+all your life, and from this time out treat every one with
+civility who treats you civilly."
+
+A moment later, Vance the detective stood in the presence of
+the Government attorney.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+
+The two men were intimate. Vance was operating directly under
+the orders of the attorney, and the latter was not surprised
+to see him appear under any guise.
+
+"Well, Vance," exclaimed the district attorney, extending his
+hand, "I'm glad to see you. What news?"
+
+"Good."
+
+"Aha, I'm glad to hear it; you've struck a trail, eh?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"A good one?"
+
+"Pretty good," answered the detective, dryly.
+
+"Well, let's hear all about it."
+
+"I've collared the whole business."
+
+"What?" ejaculated the Government attorney.
+
+Vance repeated his declaration.
+
+"You collared the whole business?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"All that the words imply."
+
+"Tell me all about it."
+
+The detective in a rapid manner related his adventures, and as
+he proceeded the Government attorney opened his eyes wider and
+wider, and when the of officer had concluded the attorney
+exclaimed:
+
+"This is wonderful."
+
+"It's a pretty good thing for us."
+
+"I should say so. But, you must bear a charmed life!"
+
+"No, no, I'm only a little watchful against accidents; and
+sudden surprises."
+
+"And you have the master of the 'Nancy' up in Ludlow Street?"
+
+"He's there sure."
+
+"How does he take the thing?"
+
+"He's all done over."
+
+"Inclined to talk?"
+
+"I reckon you can make him talk."
+
+"I'll visit him at once."
+
+"Not so soon; what you want to do is to capture the 'Nancy'
+and place a guard over the warehouse."
+
+"You're right."
+
+"You will have to secure a special train; and now when will
+you be ready?"
+
+"In two hours."
+
+"All right. I will be at the train."
+
+The attorney went away to make all the arrangements for a
+grand seizure. He had the names of all the principals, who
+were first put under surveillance, under the "shadow" of a
+number of Government officers, and then all the other
+arrangements were completed.
+
+It was seven o'clock in the evening when the special train ran
+out of the depot, carrying twenty armed men besides the United
+States attorney, and our hero, who was in command of the
+party.
+
+Four hours later the party were ready to embark across the bay
+to the island.
+
+Our hero met his friend Taylor.
+
+"Well, old man, what have you to report?"
+
+"The 'Nancy' weighed anchor only half an hour ago.
+
+"Were you on the track of any of the crew to-day?"
+
+"They were around the village."
+
+"Did they drop anything?"
+
+"Not a word."
+
+The party were soon landed on the island. Taylor did not
+accompany them, as the detective did not desire to involve his
+confederate in any future trouble.
+
+The party were marched toward the rendezvous, and had gone but
+a short distance when the detective, in a low tone, ordered a
+halt. He had discovered one of the smuggler sentinels, toward
+whom he advanced.
+
+The man commanded our hero to halt.
+
+The detective came to a halt, and said:
+
+"What do you want?"
+
+"Where do you go?"
+
+"Is there a war round here, that you send out sentinels to
+stop quiet people?"
+
+"Who are you and where do you go?"
+
+"That's none of your business!"
+
+"I give you two minutes to answer."
+
+"Only two minutes?"
+
+"One!" called the man.
+
+"You're crazy!" said the detective.
+
+"Two!" called the man.
+
+The detective uttered a signal-whistle call, and seven or
+eight men sprung forward.
+
+The sentinel stood paralyzed.
+
+"Why don't you call three?" demanded Vance.
+
+The man made no reply.
+
+"I had an idea that war had been declared, so I brought my
+troop this way."
+
+The man made a movement as though about to run away, when
+Vance said:
+
+"Don't move, my friend, or you will be dropped."
+
+The detective advanced toward the fellow, who saw at once that
+resistance was in vain.
+
+The man was disarmed and a pair of handcuffs were slipped on
+his wrists.
+
+"The jig's up," muttered the smuggler.
+
+"Yes, my friend, the jig is up."
+
+The party moved on and soon came in sight of the smugglers,
+who were running out goods to be put on board of the "Nancy."
+
+The detective advanced straight into their midst.
+
+The smugglers were taken all aback, and some of them started
+to move away, when the detective called out:
+
+"The first man that moves will be shot down!"
+
+The men did not move.
+
+If there had been under a leader they might have shown fight,
+but as they did not know exactly what force had been brought
+against them, they were afraid to open a scrimmage.
+
+The Government attorney at a signal stepped forward, and
+announced that all the men were prisoners to the United States
+Government, and the wholesale handcuffing of the crew of the
+"Nancy" followed.
+
+The men did not offer any resistance, but submitted like
+lambs.
+
+A boat load of men pulled out and took possession of the
+"Nancy," and the work of Vance in that direction was at an
+end.
+
+We will not dwell upon the mere formal movements that followed
+the "closing-in" on the smugglers. A guard was placed over
+the warehouse, a guard remained on the "Nancy," and, three
+hours later, the detective and the district attorney were
+returning to New York on a special train.
+
+We will merely state that the whole affair was turned over to
+the Collector of the Port of New York. A revenue cutter was
+dispatched to the island; and, later on, all the goods were
+formally condemned, and removed to the city.
+
+The detective had covered himself with glory, and had ascended
+to the first rank of Government specials; but, after all, the
+hardest part of his duties remained to be accomplished.
+
+Spencer Vance was detained in New York all of the day
+following the seizure at the island; but, upon the following
+evening, he started for the fishing village down on the coast,
+where he had parted from the lovely Renie under such strange
+and startling circumstances.
+
+Our hero had not forgotten the strangely beautiful girl, nor
+the thrilling and romantic incidents attending her career; and
+having performed his whole duty to the Government, and having
+practically made an immense fortune at one stroke, he felt at
+liberty to devote a little time to private detective work.
+
+He was determined to find the missing box which was supposed
+to contain the testimonies and proofs as to the girl's
+parentage. It was a difficult duty, and many thrilling
+adventures attended its performance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+
+All the perils were not removed from the detective's peril
+because of the arrest of the master of the "Nancy" and his
+crew. The men actively engaged on the yacht were not all the
+parties interested directly or indirectly in the contraband
+business.
+
+In going to the coast the detective's peril was even greater
+than upon former visits, as the worst passions of the
+remaining part of the gang were fully aroused.
+
+The detective was to be the principal witness against the
+smugglers, and could he be removed the Government would be
+without the necessary proofs for the conviction of the
+principals and the condemnation of the captured contraband
+goods.
+
+The interest was far reaching, and a powerful body of men were
+comprised, and within twenty-four hours of the public
+knowledge of the arrests, fully twenty ruffians were on the
+lookout for Spencer Vance.
+
+The capitalists had many friends, and they possessed money,
+and besides some had previously borne excellent characters,
+and all their safety depended upon the silencing of the
+detective.
+
+Our hero understood his peril, and although, as our readers
+know, he was a brave, fearless man, still he had requested a
+speedy trial of the guilty, as, after he had sworn to his
+evidence in open court, there would remain no such great
+incentive for getting him out of the way.
+
+Millions in money, and dozens of reputations depended upon his
+testimony, and one of the most powerful and wealthy
+organizations in the United States was arrayed against him;
+not arrayed in open warfare, but secretly arrayed, and their
+purpose was to get rid of him.
+
+As stated, our hero knew his peril and knew when he started in
+just what he would have to face, but he went straight ahead,
+and when the storm broke he was prepared.
+
+We have stated that twenty ruffians were upon his track, and
+the statement was no exaggeration.
+
+Spencer Vance went under cover--immediately assumed a role
+different from any under which he had appeared during any time
+that he was trailing down the smugglers.
+
+Our hero was, "when unadorned," or rather when not under any
+sort of disguise, a really handsome and delicate-featured man,
+and although a man of extraordinary strength, he was not an
+over-sized man, but on the contrary a little under the average
+height; but he was a full-blooded, resolute, athletic fellow
+all the same, and well equal to the duties of his perilous
+profession.
+
+From the very moment that the arrests were publicly known the
+detective was on his guard, and that same night had a genuine
+intimation of his danger.
+
+The detective wanted to see a certain man in the Government
+employ, and went down to a Government building, situated on
+the Battery near South Ferry. He had gotten himself up as a
+night-watchman, hoping in that way to escape observation.
+
+Vance saw his man and left the building, and was proceeding
+across the Battery, when he observed that he was being
+followed. The officer at once suspected that there was a
+possibility that someone of the scoundrels had "tumbled" to
+his identity, and he resolved to "shake" the ruffian at once.
+Changing his course, he walked over toward the sea, on the
+North River side of the park, and stood leaning over the
+hand-rail, when a man sauntered up alongside.
+
+"A pleasant evening," said the new-comer.
+
+It was still early in the evening.
+
+The detective did not make an immediate reply, but, scanned
+the speaker from head to feet. He was seeking to ascertain
+whether or not he recognized the man.
+
+The fellow was a foreigner--an ugly looking chap, and just
+such a villain as could be employed for any sort of desperate
+work for pay.
+
+The detective made up his mind to feel his man; and should he
+discover that the fellow really did not know him, and was
+dogging him, he was resolved to clap the darbies on him.
+
+"Yes, it's a pleasant evening," said the detective, slowly.
+
+"Hard times for poor men now," remarked the stranger.
+
+"So they tell me," answered Vance.
+
+"You're all right," said, the man.
+
+"How am I all right?"
+
+"Oh, you fellows in Government employ always get your money
+and have a good chance for pickings."
+
+The detective eyed the man's face and answered:
+
+"I do not get much of a chance to pick anything."
+
+"I thought you fellows had a good show."
+
+"How do you know I'm in the Government employ?"
+
+"You are, I--reckon."
+
+"Mebbe I am."
+
+"You're a night-watchman."
+
+"Well, suppose I am."
+
+"Don't you fellows get a chance for pickings?"
+
+"Not much."
+
+The man drew closer to the detective; the latter was fully on
+his guard, and had the stranger attempted any funny business
+just at that moment he would have been downed so quick he
+never would have known what struck him.
+
+"You can make some big pickings if you want to, my friend."
+
+"I can?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Do you want to make a few dollars?"
+
+"Well, I don't mind if I do, honestly."
+
+"You can honestly."
+
+"How?"
+
+"You are acquainted with most of the men in the Government
+service?"
+
+"Mebbe I am."
+
+"You've been a long time in the service?"
+
+"Well, yes."
+
+"There's a man I want to become acquainted with, and mebbe you
+know him."
+
+"Mebbe I do."
+
+The detective took to the game at once, and he was prepared to
+let the fellow run out his reels.
+
+"The man can do me a service."
+
+"Why don't you go and tell him so?"
+
+"It won't do for me to approach him openly."
+
+"See here, Johnny, you're on some crooked game."
+
+"My game is straight enough."
+
+"What are you getting at?"
+
+"I've some valuable information for the Government."
+
+"Why don't you take it to the collector of the port?"
+
+"No, no; I did once, and all I got was thanks and those are
+all right in their place, but they don't pay me."
+
+"What is it you are getting at?"
+
+"I want to get paid for my information."
+
+The detective laughed and said:
+
+"I ain't paying anything for my information."
+
+"That's all right, but you can put me on the right track to
+get paid, and I'll pay you."
+
+"How can I help you?"
+
+"I want to lay in with one of the Government detectives. I'm
+told those fellows have a chance at a secret service fund, and
+can give a man money where the collector can't do it."
+
+"That's so."
+
+"And I want to get in with one of the Government detectives."
+
+"That is easy enough, you don't need any help for that, my
+man."
+
+The little game was opening up fast.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+
+The man drew closer to the detective, and said:
+
+"You don't understand how the thing works."
+
+"You want to see one of the detectives?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, it's easy enough; go to any of the deputy collectors or
+any of the inspectors, and they will give you the names of
+several."
+
+"That's neither here nor there; do you want to make a few
+dollars?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"All right, I'm going to give you a chance."
+
+"Go ahead."
+
+"I want to see one particular officer."
+
+"Which particular officer?"
+
+"Vance."
+
+"You want to see Vance?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Go and tell the collector."
+
+"That won't do."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I've been sold once, and this time I'm going to work my
+racket differently; do you know Vance by, sight?"
+
+"Do you mean Spencer Vance?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I know him, and I'll introduce you to him if you want me to
+do so."
+
+"I do not want you to introduce me."
+
+"What do you want?"
+
+"I want you to point him out to me."
+
+"I haven't time to run around to point him out to you."
+
+"I can make it worth your while."
+
+"For how much?"
+
+"Fifty dollars."
+
+"I don't understand what you're getting at."
+
+"I can't explain, but I'll give you fifty dollars to point
+that man out to me."
+
+"You will give me fifty dollars?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I can earn that fifty dollars easy."
+
+"I don't care how easy you earn it."
+
+"But I don't understand your game."
+
+"I've told you. I've got some valuable information--some
+'tips' that Vance will pay big money to 'nip'; but I want my
+own way and time of opening up the subject to him, and I mean
+to make sure that my money is good."
+
+"Why are you so anxious to deal with Vance?"
+
+"I've been told he has got the inside track with the
+Government, and that he is a square man."
+
+"That's the reason you want him?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you will pay me fifty dollars to point him out to you?"
+
+"I will."
+
+"Must I wait for my money until you get your rake?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You will pay me right down?"
+
+"I will pay you the money two minutes after you point the man
+out to me."
+
+
+"Do you want an introduction?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Come along; I will put you on to him right away."
+
+The two men started over toward the ferries.
+
+"Will you stand a carriage?" asked the detective.
+
+"What do you want of a carriage?"
+
+"I must get back to go on duty."
+
+"We don't want any carriage."
+
+The man was struck with a shade of suspicion.
+
+"Where are we to go?"
+
+"To Ludlow Street."
+
+The man started back and turned pale.
+"To Ludlow Street!" he ejaculated.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Come with me to Ludlow Street, and I will point out Vance to
+you."
+
+"See here, Johnny, you are up to a smart trick, you are."
+
+"Am I?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What is it you're up to, my friend?"
+
+The man looked around. No one was near. The detective was
+studying the rascal's movements.
+
+The fellow suddenly drew a club; but he was matched.
+
+"Hold on! What do you mean?" he demanded.
+
+"What do you mean? Drop that club."
+
+"Who are you?"
+
+"I'm the man you're looking for, Johnny."
+
+"The man I'm looking for?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who are you?"
+
+"I'm Vance."
+
+"Oh, go 'long!" exclaimed the ruffian, in a derisive tone.
+
+"I'm your man! Now, what information have you got for me?"
+
+"You can't play me," said the fellow.
+
+"No; nor can you play me. Listen: how much are you to get for
+laying me out?"
+
+The man turned pale and made no answer; he glanced backward;
+it was evident he had reached the conclusion that it was time
+for him to leave.
+
+"Don't think of going, Johnny, I want you to answer my
+question."
+
+"You are not Vance."
+
+"I'll play Vance for you, so sling out your game, Johnny."
+
+The man took a step back.
+
+"Stand where you are," came the command, "or I'll make you."
+
+"Are you really Vance?"
+
+"Come up to Ludlow Street, and I'll prove who I am."
+
+"I ain't going that way."
+
+"Oh yes, you are; you've run right into my grip, and I'm going
+to shut you in with the rest of them, unless--"
+
+The detective stopped.
+
+"Unless what?"
+
+"Unless you open up and tell me the whole story."
+
+The fellow had a wicked eye. He saw that he had run into a
+snap, and he was determined to take a desperate chance to get
+out of it.
+
+"I'm in for it," he remarked.
+
+The detective had been watching the varying changes of
+expression upon the man's face, and dropped to the fact that
+the fellow contemplated some desperate expedient.
+
+"I reckon, old man, the best thing for you to do is to own up,
+make a clean breast of it."
+
+"Are you really Vance, or have I run against some other
+Government dandy?"
+
+"I am Vance."
+
+"I wish I were sure, old man, and I'd put you on the biggest
+lay of your life."
+
+"You're safe to give me any information you possess."
+
+"But if I let on to you I want to make sure of my rake in."
+
+"About as sure as I am for the fifty dollars."
+
+The man laughed, and said:
+
+"Well, this is a nice joke all round."
+
+"Yes, a nice joke," repeated the detective in a peculiarly
+significant tone.
+
+"But," said the man. "I have some valuable information for
+Vance."
+
+"And so have I some valuable information for you, Mister Man,
+and now throw up your hands."
+
+"You are not in earnest," said the man, and he approached a
+step nearer.
+
+"You will find out I am in earnest."
+
+"Do you really intend to take me to Ludlow Street?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Not to-night," exclaimed the man, and he sprung upon the
+detective, but he might as well have leaped head first at a
+hornet's nest.
+
+The detective was ready for the man, and he brought him to his
+knees upon the grass, and an instant later the darbies were on
+him.
+
+The man squealed like a pig, but the conviction was forced
+upon his mind that he had met Vance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+
+Having laid out the scoundrel, Vance bid the fellow follow,
+and taking him to Ludlow Street he left him in charge.
+
+On the way to the jail the man begged like a trooper to be
+released, plead that he was only joking, and that he was
+really only a "crank," but the detective's invariable reply
+was:
+
+"I know you and until you 'open up' and tell who employed you
+to 'shadow' me, you will be kept close."
+
+Our hero learned from the incident the terrible risks that
+threatened him, and he determined to be even more careful.
+
+It was midnight when Spencer Vance arrived on the coast. He
+had crossed the bay alone to the outer coast and proceeded
+toward the cabin of old Tom Pearce.
+
+It was a windy, rainy night, and as disagreeable as could be,
+and, indeed, it was desolate enough without the roar of the
+breakers as they lashed themselves upon the beach.
+
+The detective was proceeding along when he was suddenly
+summoned to a halt.
+
+The detective at once suspected trouble, and his ready hand
+went to his pocket as a man covered with a rubber coat and
+slouch hat approached.
+
+"Good-evening, stranger," said the man in the rubber coat.
+
+"Good-evening," was the response.
+
+"Are you acquainted around here?"
+
+"Well, I should say I was a little."
+
+"Do you know a fisherman around here by the name of Pearce?"
+
+"What do you want of Mr. Pearce?"
+
+"Ah, you know him!"
+
+"I haven't said so."
+
+"But you do."
+
+"Mebbe I do."
+
+"Will you guide me to his house?"
+
+"I don't know whether I will or not."
+
+"I will pay you for your time."
+
+"You will?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Where did you come from, stranger?"
+
+"That's my business."
+
+"Is it? Well, it's my business not to guide you to Tom
+Pearce's cottage."
+
+"Hang it, you are a surly lot around here."
+
+"You are a surly lot yourself."
+
+"I only wish to be guided to a man's cabin."
+
+"Well, if you would give a little information you might
+receive in return a great deal more."
+
+"You cannot expect a stranger to tell his business to every
+man he meets."
+
+"No; but will you tell me how long you have been on the
+coast?"
+
+"Why do you ask?"
+
+"As a good Samaritan."
+
+"I do not understand you, neighbor."
+
+"I wish to discover whether or not you are stranger around
+here."
+
+"What difference does that make?"
+
+"It might make considerable."
+
+"How?"
+
+"This is a dangerous place for strangers just now."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"The people around here are not taking well to strangers.
+They entertained one lately, and he got them into a great deal
+of trouble."
+
+"How so?"
+
+"He proved to be a Government spy, and every stranger that
+comes on the coast is watched."
+
+"This is a strange statement you are making to me."
+
+"I am warning you."
+
+"You are making sport of me, I fear."
+
+"I am not."
+
+"Are you an honest man?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"I should judge so, if what you tell me is true. A rogue
+would not warn me."
+
+"What I tell you is true; and because I am an honest man I
+warn you."
+
+"If you will lead me to the cabin of Tom Pearce all will be
+well."
+
+"Is the old boatman a friend of yours?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Have you seen him lately?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You have not seen him for a long time?"
+
+"I have not seen him for twelve or thirteen years."
+
+A weird suspicion flashed across the detective's mind, and he
+determined to have some further talk with the man in the
+rubber coat before he told him where old Tom Pearce resided.
+
+"Is it Tom Pearce you want to see?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I will take you to where you can find him."
+
+"To his house?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"To a tavern where he resorts."
+
+"I would prefer to see him at his house."
+
+"Do you wish to see him or his daughter?"
+
+The man gave a perceptible start, and demanded:
+
+"Why do you ask that question?"
+
+"I thought it was a good time to put it to you."
+
+"I wish to see Tom Pearce."
+
+"Then you do not care to see his daughter?"
+
+"Has he a daughter?"
+
+"He has a girl living with him."
+
+"Do you know the girl?"
+
+"Well, I should say I did."
+
+"What sort of a girl is she?"
+
+"She's a daisy!"
+
+"A what?" ejaculated the stranger.
+
+"A daisy."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Just what I say--she's a daisy."
+
+"I do not understand you."
+
+"She's a harum-scarum creature, wild as a hawk and as ugly as
+a star-fish."
+
+"She is a handsome girl, I suppose?"
+
+"About as handsome as a flounder."
+
+"She is not a pretty girl?"
+
+"Is a flounder a pretty fish?"
+
+"I should say not."
+
+"Then your question is answered."
+
+"Is she a good girl?"
+
+"Good for nothing."
+
+"I see you do not like the girl," remarked the stranger, but
+he spoke in a sad and disappointed tone.
+
+"I like her well enough."
+
+"Will you lead me to the boatman's cabin?"
+
+"I will on one condition."
+
+"Name your condition."
+
+"You will tell me how long you have been on the coast."
+
+"Half an hour."
+
+"Have you spoken to anyone besides me?"
+
+"No, not since I crossed the bay."
+
+"Why did you say they were a surly people around here?"
+
+"I was speaking of the people across on the mainland."
+
+"And you have not spoken to anyone over here?"
+
+"To no one but yourself."
+
+"Come, I will act as your guide."
+
+"I will pay you well."
+
+"How well?"
+
+"I will give you five dollars."
+
+"All right, come along."
+
+"Have we far to go?"
+
+"Not far."
+
+"We will find the old fisherman abed?"
+
+"I reckon so."
+
+"Will it be well to arouse him?"
+
+"Suppose we arouse the girl?"
+
+"Can you do that?"
+
+"Why, certainly."
+
+The man came to a halt, and for a moment appeared to be lost
+in deep consideration, but, at length, he aroused himself and
+made a startling proposition.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+
+As intimated, a weird suspicion had crossed the detective's
+mind, and he was acting with a purpose.
+
+The man, after indulging in a few moments' silent thought as
+described, said:
+
+"Do you think it possible to communicate with the girl alone?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You say you are an honest man?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"You can make a large sum of money honestly if you choose."
+
+"Row much?"
+
+"Twenty-five dollars."
+
+"What must I do for the money?"
+
+"Can I trust you?"
+
+"You can trust me when I pass my word."
+
+"I would like to talk to the girl alone for a few moments."
+
+"And you want me to bring her here?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you will give me twenty-five dollars?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Will you tell me what you want with the girl?"
+
+"No."
+
+"See here, stranger, I know something about that girl."
+
+"What do you know about her?"
+
+"She is not the daughter of Tom Pearce."
+
+"Is that so?"
+
+"That is the fact."
+
+"Whose daughter is she my friend?"
+
+"She may be your daughter," came the abrupt answer.
+
+"My daughter!" ejaculated the man.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why do you say that, my good friend?"
+
+"Why do you wish to see her alone?"
+
+"I wish to ask her sonic questions."
+
+"Ah, I see; you wish to ask her about the box."
+
+The man leaped to his feet and showed signs of great
+agitation.
+
+"What do you mean?" he demanded, in a trembling tone of voice.
+
+"I mean just what I say."
+
+"You said something about a box."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, what about the box?"
+
+"You wish to ask the girl about it?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"About the box?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Young man, you're crazy. I reckon I do not know anything
+about any box."
+
+"Oh, yes, you do."
+
+"Which box is it?"
+
+"The box filled with jewels and other rare gems and
+valuables."
+
+The man approached close to the detective, and whispered.
+
+"Has my daughter got such a box?"
+
+"Your daughter!" exclaimed the detective.
+
+"My friend, I have a strange story to tell. I suspect that
+the girl is my long-lost daughter."
+
+"You're a fraud," was the idea that ran through the
+detective's mind. He had observed that the man did not claim
+Renie as his daughter until an allusion was made to the box of
+jewels.
+
+"If she is your daughter you ought to know all about the box."
+
+"So I do."
+
+"You know all about it, eh?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You know where it is?"
+
+"No. It was left with the child."
+
+"Ah, you know that much!"
+
+"If it is my child we are talking about, I know, all about it.
+But tell me; is the box in the girl's possession?"
+
+"I reckon we might find it."
+
+"Go and bring the girl to me, and you shall have a hundred
+dollars."
+
+"I don't know about that; I am afraid you are not an honest
+man."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"My words are plain enough. Tell me your story."
+
+"I will tell it to the girl."
+
+"In my presence?"
+
+"Why should I tell it in your presence? It's none of your
+business."
+
+"Oh, yes, it is."
+
+"How?"
+
+"I'm looking after the girl's interests."
+
+"Who are you'?"
+
+"I am her friend."
+
+"Her friend only?"
+
+"That's all."
+
+"Do you wish to earn the hundred dollars"
+
+"I do not care anything about the money; but I wish to see
+justice done the girl."
+
+"She may look for justice at the hands of her father?"
+
+"Not the father who has deserted her for thirteen or fourteen
+years."
+
+"That can all be explained."
+
+"Give me a satisfactory explanation, and I will go and bring
+the girl to you."
+
+"I will explain to her."
+
+"Explain to me."
+
+"No, sir!"
+
+"Very well; clear out, then."
+
+"I think you are a meddlesome young scamp."
+
+"You first addressed me."
+
+"I only asked you a simple question."
+
+"And I've answered you in the most simple manner."
+
+"Take me to the girl's reputed father."
+
+"That is fair; I will do that."
+
+"You are a foolish young, man."
+
+"How so?"
+
+"You might make a large sum of money."
+
+"By bringing the girl to you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I will not do it."
+
+"You will lead me to the fisherman's cabin!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"All right."
+
+The two men started across the sands, and, after half an
+hour's walking, came in sight of the cabin of the old
+fisherman.
+
+"That is the cabin."
+
+"Over there?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"There are no lights in the cabin."
+
+"They have all retired, probably."
+
+"I promised you five dollars."
+
+"For what?"
+
+"For leading me to the cabin."
+
+"Never mind the money."
+
+"Yes, you must take it."
+
+"I will not."
+
+"I go to the cabin alone."
+
+"I go with you."
+
+"Not one step."
+
+"Who will stop me?"
+
+"I will."
+
+"Not to-night."
+
+"Go and bring the girl to me."
+
+"You have changed your mind?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Can I be present during your interview with the girl?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"All right, I will go and see if I can arouse her without
+disturbing her father."
+
+"I will wait here?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You will return at once?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Go."
+
+The detective walked toward the cabin, and as he approached a
+chill passed over his frame. He recognized certain indices
+that aroused the gravest apprehensions, and a moment later
+when he entered the cabin a most terrible and ghastly
+spectacle met his gaze.
+
+As stated in a preceding chapter, no lights gleamed from the
+low cabin windows when Vance and the stranger arrived in sight
+of the home of Tom Pearce.
+
+At the moment it struck the detective as rather strange, as he
+knew it was the fashion of the old boatman to set a light for
+the night, as sailors do on board their vessels as the sun
+goes down at sea, and it was not without some misgivings that
+he advanced alone toward the cottage.
+
+The detective had determined to arouse old Pearce, and in
+collusion with the old boatman send Renie out to interview the
+man in the rubber coat.
+
+As also intimated our hero had reached certain conclusions
+regarding the stranger, and in his own mind he felt assured
+that the man was urged by some ulterior motive.
+
+It was in a cautious manner that Vance pushed open the cabin
+door; all was darkness within; no light had been set, and the
+detective stood but a second, when a cold chill struck to his
+very vitals that caused him to recoil.
+
+An ejaculation of amazement fell from his lips as he quickly
+drew his ever-ready, masked lantern; one moment he stood
+irresolute, and then advanced again to the cabin door. He
+thrust forward his lantern; the sharp ray of light penetrated
+and dispersed the pervading darkness, and, as stated, a sight
+met his gaze that for the moment froze the blood in his veins.
+
+No light had been set, but a light had been extinguished, put
+out forever--the light of life in the body of Tom Pearce.
+
+We say a light had been put out; it had not burned out, as the
+first object that met the gaze of the detective was the body
+of Tom Pearce.
+
+There was not a question as to the fact that crime had been
+done. The method of the deep damnation of the old boatman's
+taking off was plainly apparent.
+
+"Can they both have been murdered" were words which fell in a
+hoarse whisper from the pallid lips of the detective.
+
+Vance at the first glance concluded that Pearce was the victim
+of the vengeance of the smugglers, and if they would kill the
+old man they would not spare the girl.
+
+It was the latter thought that caused the detective's heart to
+stand still, and when he did partially recover his nerve, his
+starting eyes moved round in search of the body of the girl.
+He stepped into the room, and with tottering steps moved over
+to the door of the adjoining room, the chamber of Renie.
+
+The door was closed, and the detective could not muster the
+nerve to open it, and a moan of anguish burst from him.
+
+There he stood, an iron-nerved man, trembling and nerveless in
+expectancy of a revelation of horror; at length he uttered:
+
+"This will not do; I am Vance."
+
+He pushed open the door, thrust forward his lantern and
+glanced in. The room was vacant. A sigh of relief fell from
+his lips. He glanced around and became more and more
+reassured. No ghastly sight of murdered beauty met his gaze,
+and an ejaculation of thankfulness struggled front between his
+lips.
+
+The detective began a careful and thorough examination of the
+room. There were no signs of a struggle, and another
+significant fact was revealed; the girl's bed had not been
+occupied; the tragedy had occurred in the day-time or early in
+the evening, before the old boatman and his family had retired
+to bed.
+
+The detective returned to the main room and examined the body
+of the old man. He also made a note of all the surroundings
+and took possession of several articles that lay scattered
+about the room. He did more; he sought for evidence as to the
+identity of the assassin, and found several little articles
+which he felt certain would aid him in trailing down the
+guilty man.
+
+Vance returned to the girl's chamber and renewed his search,
+and succeeded in making several discoveries cries which, he
+hoped, would serve as valuable clews in the future. He was
+still searching, and deeply intent upon the duty, when he was
+disturbed by hearing a voice.
+
+"Great mercy! what has happened here?"
+
+The detective was cool again. He had recovered all his
+accustomed nerve, and he stepped to the outer room.
+
+A man stood in the door-way. It was the stranger, and he,
+too, held in his hand a masked lantern.
+
+The man's eyes were fixed upon the face of the corpse.
+
+"What has happened here?" he demanded.
+
+"Come in," said the detective.
+
+"Whose body is that?"
+
+"It is the body of old Tom Pearce."
+
+"He was murdered," said the man.
+
+"Come in," again commanded the detective.
+
+"Did you know this body was here when you left me a few
+moments ago?"
+
+"I did not."
+
+In a hoarse voice the stranger asked;
+
+"Has the girl been murdered?"
+
+"I trust not."
+
+"Have you searched for her?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"And cannot find her?"
+
+"No."
+
+"What do you know about this tragedy?"
+
+"As much as you do."
+
+"No doubt at all."
+
+"Do you suspect the assassin?"
+
+"I do! but come in."
+
+"I can stand here."
+
+"Come in, you may attract attention of someone passing."
+
+"What harm if I do?"
+
+"No, harm, but it may prove inconvenient, and may interfere
+with our efforts to learn the fate of the girl."
+
+"One moment; do you know anything concerning this tragedy?"
+
+"All I know is that I came to that door as you did, and my
+eyes fell upon the ghastly sight."
+
+"Then you came here did you expect to find the old man alive?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"And the girl?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then this is a surprise to you?"
+
+"It is."
+
+The stranger entered the room, and in a stern voice he
+demanded.
+
+"Young man, who are you?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+
+Vance did not betray the least trepidation, but said, in a
+calm voice:
+
+"My friend, I was just about to put that same question to
+you."
+
+"My question came first, and I demand an answer."
+
+"I don't care what you demand."
+
+"I hold you at my mercy."
+
+"Do you think so?"
+
+"You are not what you seem," said the stranger.
+
+"Nor are you," was the quick response.
+
+"Who have I claimed to be, sir?"
+
+"Renie's father."
+
+"And you deny that I am her father?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Who am I?"
+
+"That is for you to tell."
+
+"Who do you think I am?"
+
+"I am not giving out my thoughts."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I've nothing as yet whereon to base an opinion."
+
+"What difference does it male to you who I am?"
+
+"Considerable."
+
+"Will you explain how?"
+
+"You are looking for the girl Renie, and so am I."
+
+"You are?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What interest have you in the girl?"
+
+"I am her friend."
+
+"Can you find her--do you know where to look for her?"
+
+"I think I do."
+
+"Will you tell me frankly who you are?"
+
+"No."
+
+"And you demand to know who I am?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I have the same right as yourself to refuse to disclose my
+identity.
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"You have claimed to be the girl's father."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"You are not her father."
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"I know."
+
+"It is to my interest to find the girl, and it is to your
+interest to aid me. I will admit to you that I have not
+disclosed who or what I am."
+
+"You must, if you desire my aid."
+
+"I can pay you for your service. Listen! you claim to be a
+friend of the girl; so am I her friend."
+
+"You know something concerning her real identity?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"And you desire my co-operation in, discovering the
+whereabouts of the girl?"
+
+"Possibly I do."
+
+"If you desire my assistance, you must make a confidant of
+me."
+
+"First tell me; do you believe evil has befallen the girl?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What do you suspect?"
+
+"There is no reason why I should make a confidant of you."
+
+"There is."
+
+"Explain wherein."
+
+"If you will prove yourself an honest man, with honest
+purposes, I will tell you all in good time."
+
+"It will be better to tell me at once."
+
+"I will."
+
+"When?"
+
+"Speedily; but tell me, what has become of her?"
+
+"I do not know."
+
+"Put you admit what you suspect."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Will you tell me what you suspect?"
+
+"I believe she has been abducted."
+
+The stranger betrayed great agitation. He buried his face in
+his hands. He was at the mercy of the detective, had the
+latter been disposed to take advantage of the situation.
+
+A few moments' silence pervaded the room, and a strange scene
+was presented. On the floor lay the corpse of the boatman;
+seated in a chair into which he had retreated was the man in
+the rubber coat, and standing over against him with a stern
+glance in his eye was the detective.
+
+At length the man uncovered his face, and said:
+
+"You think she has been abducted?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Have you any suspicion as to the identity of the abductor?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"And you will know where to look for her?"
+
+"I will know who to look for."
+
+"Do you suspect the motive for the abduction?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What was the motive?"
+
+"Renie is a beautiful girl."
+
+"You told me differently before."
+
+"I did."
+
+"Now you admit she is beautiful?"
+
+"Yes; one of the most beautiful girls I ever beheld."
+
+"Will you describe her appearance?"
+
+The detective hesitated a moment, but at length did describe
+the appearance of Renie.
+
+A detective can better describe a missing person's appearance
+than any other party, as it is a part of their trade to
+accustom themselves to the art, and our hero's description was
+vivid and accurate.
+
+"Yes, yes, it is she," muttered the stranger, involuntarily.
+
+"From the description you are satisfied that the adopted
+daughter of Tom Pearce is the girl you are looking for, my
+friend?"
+
+"Yes; there is no doubt."
+
+"You recognize the description?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then you have seen the girl?"
+
+"Not since she was a year old."
+
+"Not since she was a year old?" exclaimed the detective.
+
+"How can you know what she would look like now?"
+
+"I knew her mother."
+
+"I wish I were assured that you are her friend."
+
+"I am her friend."
+
+The real agitation the stranger had betrayed, had modified the
+detective's original opinion concerning the man.
+
+"Answer me, are you really the girl's father?"
+
+"I am her friend."
+
+"You were at first ready to proclaim yourself her father; now
+you only claim to be a friend."
+
+"I am her friend, and you must aid me to find her, young man;
+your service, if successful, will bring you more money than
+you have previously earned during your whole life."
+
+"Oh, no."
+
+"Yes, sir; I will pay you a fortune if you will find the
+girl."
+
+"I already possess a fortune."
+
+"You are rich?"
+
+"I am rich."
+
+"Your appearance would not indicate that you were a rich man."
+
+"But you said a moment ago that I was not what I seemed."
+
+"And I was correct?"
+
+"You were right."
+
+"Who are you?"
+
+"Never mind; I am a friend to the girl."
+
+"Why are you her friend?"
+
+"I cannot tell you now, but I will admit that I am under deep
+obligations to her, and when I met you first to-night I was on
+my way to the cottage."
+
+"How long a time since you saw the girl?"
+
+"It is more than a week."
+
+Strange revelations were to follow.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+
+The detective was beginning to take a more favorable view of
+the character of the man in the rubber coat.
+
+"It is over a week since you saw Renie?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"When you saw her last had you reason to fear any special
+danger she was likely to encounter?"
+
+"Why do you ask that question?"
+
+"You were on the way to this cottage, as you admit, after a
+week's absence, and when you reach here and find the old
+boatman murdered and the girl gone, you claim you have an idea
+as to what has befallen her."
+
+"You reason well, my friend, and the time has arrived when
+absolute frankness must exist between you and me; the girl's
+immediate safety demands that you and I should perfectly
+understand each other. I will admit that I had a suspicion
+concerning you."
+
+"A suspicion concerning me!" exclaimed the stranger.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What suspicion did you indulge?"
+
+"I looked upon you as an enemy of the girl."
+
+"And that is why you first deceived me as to her appearance?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I am not her enemy."
+
+"I trust you are not, and I must be convinced that you are
+not."
+
+"What first led you to set me down as an enemy?"
+
+"Shall I speak plainly?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"The strange anxiety you showed concerning a certain
+mysterious box, especially after I had spoken of jewels and
+gems."
+
+A peculiar smile flitted over the stranger's face, and after a
+moment's thoughtfulness, he said:
+
+"Surrender the box to me intact, and I will pay you as a
+reward the money value of all the jewels and gems you may find
+in it."
+
+"Why are you so anxious to secure the box?"
+
+"It contains proofs of the identity of the girl."
+
+"And when her identity is established?"
+
+"She will come into her rights."
+
+"You know she has been debarred of certain rights?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How is it you have let her remain here so many years?"
+
+"I believed her dead."
+
+"When did you hear that she was living?"
+
+"I was summoned a few weeks ago to the dying bed of a
+notorious criminal. The dying man told me that he had been
+employed to run away with my child."
+
+"Ah!" interrupted the detective, "you are Renie's father?"
+
+"The girl is my child."
+
+"And you have all along believed her dead."
+
+"I have all along believed her dead; but the dying man told me
+that she still lived, that he had placed the infant in charge
+of a fisherman's wife named Pearce. He told me where the
+fisherman resided at the time the child was confided to his
+care, and I at once came here to find her."
+
+"Will you tell me the whole story?"
+
+"I can tell you no more."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I have reasons."
+
+The detective revolved the man's revelations in his mind. Had
+the man told him the whole story Vance would have been led to
+believe the tale, but despite his desire to do so, he still
+retained a lurking suspicion as to the purpose and motive of
+the man in the rubber coat.
+
+"Well," said Vance, "the girl is missing."
+
+"So it appears; but we must find her."
+
+"You are right; I advise you to begin an immediate search for
+her."
+
+"You will aid me?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You will not aid me?"
+
+"I will not."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I told you that if you desired my aid you must confide to me
+all the facts; you have refused, and I refuse to aid you to
+find the girl." The detective was testing the man, seeking to
+satisfy himself that the stranger really was the father of the
+missing Renie.
+
+"Very well," said the stranger, "if you refuse to aid me, I
+shall prosecute the search on my own account."
+
+"That is all right, but now let me give you a little advice;
+do not be found running around this coast unattended; your
+life is in danger."
+
+"And I believe," exclaimed the stranger, "that you are the
+assassin."
+
+As the man spoke he rose excitedly to his feet, and at the
+same instant, three men forced their way into the cabin.
+
+A moment the five men glared at each other in silence, and a
+strange and weird scene was presented.
+
+The strangers were determined-looking men, and, after a
+moment, one for them--who appeared to be the leader of the
+party--pointed toward the dead boatman, and said:
+
+"A murder has been committed here?"
+
+"Yes," answered the detective. "We found the old man lying
+here murdered, as you see."
+
+"You found him lying there?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"But that man, but a moment ago, denounced you as the
+murderer."
+
+"The man did not know what he was saying."
+
+"You must give an account of yourself."
+
+The man in the rubber coat hastened to say:
+
+"Mine were but idle words."
+
+"Ah! you did not mean what you said?" remarked the leader of
+the intruding party.
+
+"I did not."
+
+"You two men are our prisoners."
+
+The man in the rubber coat became greatly excited, and
+declared his innocence, and protested against arrest, while
+the detective, as usual, was cool and unconcerned.
+
+"What authority have you to make an arrest?" he demanded.
+
+"We do not need any authority. We find you two men alone; we
+overheard one of you accuse the other, and that is all the
+warrant we need."
+
+"I did not mean what I said!" exclaimed the stranger. "I
+found this man here as you found him. I never met him before
+an hour ago."
+
+"It makes no difference; you must both give an account of
+yourselves."
+
+"You shall not arrest me!" protested the stranger.
+
+"You are already under arrest."
+
+The detective was revolving the matter in his mind. He could
+not afford to be arrested. He could not give an account of
+himself; explanations at that moment would be very awkward.
+
+The leader of the three men whispered to one of his
+companions, and the man addressed withdrew from the cabin.
+Our hero discerned the purpose of his absence. He had been
+sent for reenforcements, and it was necessary that he should
+make a strike at once. He waited for the man who had been
+sent away, to get beyond hearing, when, in a deliberate
+manner, Vance said:
+
+"I want you men to get out of this cabin!"
+
+"What right have you to order us out?"
+
+"The same right that you have to declare an arrest."
+
+"Make no attempt to leave this cabin," said the leader.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+
+
+It was a critical moment, but the detective had been in worse
+positions a hundred times. It would have been but a play
+spell to him had he wanted a scrimmage, but such was not his
+desire; all he wished was to get out of the place and get away
+before reenforcements arrived.
+
+"You have no right to threaten me," said Vance.
+
+"We take the right; you are both under arrest, and we will
+turn you over to the county authorities on the charge of
+murder."
+
+The detective, unobserved, seized hold of a piece of broken
+oar, and the moment he had the club in his possession he
+leaped forward; his attack was so sudden and unexpected he had
+knocked over both men before they had any idea of his
+intentions.
+
+As our readers know, the detective was an adept with the club,
+and a man capable of coolly taking advantage of any little
+favorable incident. As the men were knocked over he called to
+the man in the rubber coat:
+
+"Follow me."
+
+The stranger did not reed a second bidding, but leaped across
+the two prostrate men, and followed the detective from the
+cabin.
+
+"We must move quickly," said Vance; and he led the way across
+the sand rifts.
+
+"That was well done," said the stranger.
+
+"It was needful; those men would not have turned us over to
+the regularly constituted authorities; they are part of a band
+of lawless men, and we world have been tried and executed
+before morning, under the auspices of Judge Lynch."
+
+"We will be pursued and tracked," said the stranger.
+
+"Not after we once get across the bay."
+
+"Can you get us across?"
+
+"I should say I could."
+
+"You are a brave and determined man."
+
+"What did you mean by accusing me of the murder?"
+
+"I did not mean it when I accused you; I only wished to learn
+how you would receive the accusation."
+
+The detective led the way to a little cove where a boat rocked
+in the tide.
+
+"Can you row?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"There is a boat; get over to the mainland as quick as you
+can."
+
+"Will you not go?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"It is not necessary for me to explain to you."
+
+"But I have need of your services."
+
+"We may meet again."
+
+"We must meet again."
+
+"I can be of no service to you."
+
+"You can."
+
+"Never, until you tell me the whole story about Renie.
+Meantime, you haven't a moment to spare."
+
+"But it is equally dangerous for you to remain here."
+
+"No. I can take care of myself; but I would not be answerable
+for you."
+
+"Go with me."
+
+"You will remain here until you are, captured. Those men will
+scour the coast."
+
+"They will find you."
+
+"No."
+
+"Then you must be one of them, that you do not fear them."
+
+"I do not fear them. But you must go at once. Listen! they
+are already on our track."
+
+"Dare you remain?"
+
+"Yes, yes; but you go."
+
+"When shall I see you again?"
+
+"Do you desire to see me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Where do you stay in New York?"
+
+The stranger gave the name of a hotel.
+
+"Your name!"
+
+"Selton."
+
+"I will call at your hotel to-morrow."
+
+"I can depend upon you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Your name?"
+
+"King."
+
+"I will look for you. Come and see me, and you will make your
+fortune."
+
+"I will come; and now you hasten away."
+
+The stranger entered the boat, and the detective glided away
+in the darkness. Vance had gone but a short distance, when he
+saw several men moving along over the sand, and they were
+moving toward the cove.
+
+As it proved, Mr. Selton was a good oarsman, and was out of
+sight when the men reached the beach.
+
+The detective crept down and listened to what the men said.
+
+The fellows had lanterns with them, and discerning the tracks
+of two men on the beach, they argued that both had gone off in
+the boat.
+
+"They have got away," said one of the men.
+
+"That's dead sure; and we've lost a good chance."
+
+"What's your idea?"
+
+"The man who beat us was that fellow Ballard. We had him
+sure, but now it's all day. He's gone off, and he has no
+further call to the coast."
+
+"What brought him here to-night?"
+
+"He came to find the girl Renie."
+
+"Did you expect him?"
+
+"Yes; Denman sent word to look out for him; our captain knew
+he would be coming to visit the cabin of old Tom Pearce."
+
+"Who could have murdered Pearce?"
+
+"That's the mystery. I learned to-night that the girl had not
+been seen on the beach for a number of days; whoever killed
+old Pearce carried off the girl."
+
+"Sol Burton had a grudge against Tom Pearce and, his
+daughter."
+
+"Yes, but Burton was away on the 'Nancy.' He had nothing to
+do with it."
+
+"Do you suspect anyone?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who?"
+
+"Well. I'm not giving out my suspicions; but we've made a
+blunder in letting that fellow get away to-night; but it's all
+up now unless some other of the games against him work out all
+right."
+
+"I tell you we can run over and catch him on the mainland."
+
+"Do you think so?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Well, there's where your head ain't level. We will never
+catch him now that he has got away from the coast."
+
+The men walked away and the detective fell to a big scheme.
+
+Quick as lightning he changed his appearance, worked a perfect
+transformation, and strolled down toward Rigby's, the old
+resort, of the gang before the storm of adversity set in over
+them.
+
+Rigby was as deeply interested in the success of the smuggling
+business as any man connected with it. When trade was good he
+had plenty of money and did a large business; but when it was
+bad his business decreased proportionately; up to the time of
+the arrest of the crew off the "Nancy" Rigby had been a
+passive man as far as the illicit traffic event, but when Ike
+Denman was in jail he sent for Rigby, and the man became an
+active partisan. He had been let into the scheme with the
+capitalists, and the glow of big money was opened up to him.
+
+A short time after the incident at the cabin of old Tom Pearce
+the residue of the gang began to assemble at the Rigby place.
+The men were in an ugly and desperate mood.
+
+Rigby had just returned from a trip to New York, where he had
+held a second interview with Denman. The men had been
+awaiting his return.
+
+Meantime the detective had stolen down to Rigby's place, and
+had taken up an outside position, from whence he could take
+note for a few seconds, and overhear what immediately followed
+the man's reappearance.
+
+It was a lucky move on the part of our hero, as he got the
+remainder of the points needful for the carrying out of his
+immediate plans.
+
+Rigby had just joined the waiting gang of smugglers, and upon
+his entrance in their midst, was greeted with the question:
+
+"What news do you bring from York?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+
+
+Rigby did not make an immediate reply, but glanced around to
+see who was gathered in the place.
+
+"Come, old man, give us the news."
+
+"I am waiting to see if there are any strangers in our midst."
+
+"There are no strangers present."
+
+"That's all right; I expect some strangers."
+
+"Who do you expect?"
+
+"Well, boys, I'll tell you; I saw Denman, and he let me, into
+some secrets, and if luck favors, all will come out right; the
+Government has only one witness."
+
+"Vance?"
+
+"Yes; and if that man can be got rid of all will come out
+right."
+
+"Did you expect to see Vance here when you looked us over?"
+
+"No; but I expected to see one of the men who was after Vance,
+and you fellows must go slow if you come across any strangers
+on the coast."
+
+"There were two strangers on the coast this night."
+
+"There were?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Where were they?"
+
+"Up at the Pearce cabin."
+
+"Aha! that means something; but, I'll you, I expect two or
+three men who are to trail Vance and if they ever catch him on
+this coast, or anywhere else, they'll down him!"
+
+"Who are the men?"
+
+"Ah! that's just what no one is going to find out, except the
+few who are inside of the game; but go slow when you meet a
+stranger during the next few days. Meantime, who was the man
+up at the Pearce cabin?"
+
+"We counted him as Vance."
+
+"It is possible it may have been Vance."
+
+"There were two of them."
+
+"Two of them?
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then you can make up your mind that one of these men was
+was in our interest."
+
+One of the gang related all that had occurred.
+
+"Aha! I see it all. The man in the rubber coat was one of our
+fellows. He is on the detective's track, you bet and it will
+all be right for Ike and the rest of the boys in the morning."
+
+The conversation was continued for some time, and the death of
+old Tom Pearce was discussed in a sort of left hand manner;
+nothing definite was disclosed, but the detective was led to
+believe that a little open play on his part might give him a
+chance to pick up a few facts.
+
+Spencer Vance was afraid of discovery, and was about moving
+from his hiding place when he became aware of the fact that he
+had been seen.
+
+A great excitement immediately followed. He stepped out from
+his hiding-place, and was at once surrounded by a dozen armed
+men.
+
+The detective as usual, was cool and easy, and, when an
+opportunity offered, demanded:
+
+"Is there a man in your company named Rigby?"
+
+Silence followed the detective's question. He received no
+immediate answer, and he once more called out:
+
+"Is there a man in your midst named Rigby?"
+
+The detective spoke in broken English. Rigby answered himself
+by asking:
+
+"What do you want of Rigby?"
+
+"Is there such a man here?"
+
+"If there is, what difference does it make to you?"
+
+"I have a message for him."
+
+"A message?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who from?"
+
+"I'll tell Rigby."
+
+"See here, my man, don't you go independent, or you will get
+into trouble."
+
+"I can't get into any trouble if Rigby is around."
+
+"My name is Rigby."
+
+"Can I see you alone?"
+
+"Anything you have to say can be spoken right out; we are all
+one company here."
+
+"That would not be according to instructions."
+
+Rigby really wanted to talk alone with the man, but did not
+wish to make it so appear.
+
+"What do you say, boys, shall I let him see me alone?"
+
+"Certainly," came the answer.
+
+"Come along, my friend," commanded Rigby.
+
+The detective followed the proprietor of the tavern inside the
+house, and was led to a rear room.
+
+"Now what have you got to say?"
+
+"You are Rigby!"
+
+"Yes, I am Rigby."
+
+"I must not make a mistake."
+
+"You are not making a mistake."
+
+"All right, then you are to give me your aid?"
+
+"Give you my aid?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I don't understand."
+
+"I am on the lay for Vance."
+
+"Aha! that's the racket!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who sent you here?"
+
+The detective mentioned the name of a man Rigby, had not
+spoken of during his talk with the smugglers.
+
+"Do you know Denman?"
+
+"The captain of the Nancy?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I never saw him. I took no orders from him."
+
+"Do you expect Vance down here?"
+
+"I know he is coming."
+
+"When?"
+
+"He may come to-night."
+
+"What is his game?"
+
+"He is going to investigate the death of Tom Pearce."
+
+"Aha! does he know Pearce is dead?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How did he get that information?"
+
+"It was carried to him."
+
+"By whom?"
+
+"That I cannot tell."
+
+"He really knows the old boatman is dead?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Will he come alone?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Who comes with him?"
+
+"Half a dozen other detectives."
+
+"Then how will you have a chance to catch him?"
+
+The detective was silent a moment. He looked Rigby all over
+in a supercilious manner, but at length answered:
+
+"Don't you know how detectives work?"
+
+"I'd like to have you tell me."
+
+"He will hold his men in the background, and he will go alone
+to investigate, and call in his aids at the right moment."
+
+"Ah! I see! and you will play against him?"
+
+"If I am not interfered with I will."
+
+"How do you know he has not been here?"
+
+"I know he has not been here."
+
+"Two men were here."
+
+"Yes, I was on their track. I know who they were."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+
+
+Rigby did not for a moment appear to suspect the truthfulness
+of the detective's story.
+
+"Who were they?" he demanded.
+
+"Detectives."
+
+"And Vance was one of them?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Were they connected with him?"
+
+"That I cannot answer."
+
+"And what do you propose to do?"
+
+"Lay around for my man, if I am not interfered with. It is my
+game to appear as one of the gang, and that will give me a
+chance to get well in on his trail when he comes."
+
+"I can fix that part of the business for you."
+
+"That is all I want; but, if I am to be jumped at every time I
+make a move, I'll get away."
+
+"You were hiding around here?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why didn't you cone out openly?"
+
+"I was waiting to got a chance to see you alone. I did not
+want to be known to all your friends--you never can tell who,
+will talk too much."
+
+"Our men don't talk."
+
+"Some of them must have talked."
+
+"What makes you think so?"
+
+"How, else would Vance find out about the death of old Tom
+Pearce?"
+
+"The death of Tom Pearce is as much a mystery to our men as to
+anyone else."
+
+"Vance thinks your men did it."
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"I've lain on his track, and overheard him talking with the
+United States District Attorney."
+
+"Our men know nothing, about the death of Tom Pearce."
+
+"Have they a suspicion?"
+
+"I have not heard them say."
+
+"I wish I had a point on that affair."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"It would give me a sure hitch on Vance."
+
+"It's a good scheme; I will talk with the boys and see if any
+of them have any suspicion."
+
+"What will you tell them about me?"
+
+"Oh, I will fix that all right."
+
+"They must not bother me."
+
+"You will not be bothered."
+
+"That's all right; go and see if you can pick up any points."
+
+The detective was left alone; he was really only working the
+game to learn all he could about the death of old Tom Pearce,
+and all he wished to know was whether the smugglers had killed
+the old man or not; if they were innocent, he knew just in
+what direction to look for the assassin, and also where to
+look for the beautiful Renie.
+
+Meantime the gang were anxiously waiting to hear the result of
+Rigby's conference with the man whom they had caught
+eavesdropping around the tavern.
+
+Rigby rejoined his friends and customers, who at once crowded
+around him.
+
+"Well, who is the fellow?"
+
+"He's all right, boys; you remember what I told you about
+strangers being around here on the lookout for Vance!"
+
+"Is that fellow one, then?"
+
+"He's all right."
+
+"Have you seen his credentials?"
+
+"I tell you he is all right."
+
+"Don't like his looks," said one man.
+
+"Don't like his actions," said another.
+
+"The way we found him looks bad," said a third.
+
+"Now you fellows rest quiet; I know who the man is, and he's
+all right, the man don't travel who can fool me."
+
+"You are satisfied he's all right?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who were the other two men who were up at the cabin where the
+body of old Pearce lies?"
+
+"Those are the fellows you ought to have nipped."
+
+"Was Vance one of them?"
+
+"That we can't tell, but Vance will be here to-night; and if
+you men do not spoil the game we can fix things all right."
+
+"Is that what that fellow told you?"
+
+"I know what I am talking about."
+
+"Vance is to be here to-night?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, it's time he was here."
+
+The answer caused a laugh.
+
+Rigby saw that the men were not satisfied, and he sought to
+change the subject. He said:
+
+"So old Pearce is dead?"
+
+"He is."
+
+"Where's the girl?"
+
+"That's more than we'll tell you."
+
+"I always thought Renie's good looks would bring trouble
+to someone sooner or later," said Rigby.
+
+"You don't think any of the gang had anything to do with
+bringing harm to the old man?"
+
+There came a general denial of any such suspicion.
+
+The men, however, appeared to be quite restive as to the
+identity of the man whom they had found prowling around.
+Rigby went inside to report what he had heard to the
+detective, and upon opening the door he uttered an exclamation
+of astonishment.
+
+"Well, this gets me," he muttered.
+
+The room was vacant--the man had left.
+
+"Where can he be?" muttered Rigby and he commenced a search,
+but the man was nowhere to be found.
+
+A curse fell from his lips.
+
+"Have I been fooled, after all?" he muttered. "I'll be
+shot if it don't look so."
+
+The tavern-keeper continued his search, but it proved fruit
+less; the man was nowhere to be found.
+
+"I daren't go and tell the boys about this," he muttered: "but
+it looks as though I had bees fooled."
+
+The real fact was the tavern-keeper had been fooled.
+
+Vance was not the man to depend upon hearsay. He had
+followed after Rigby, and had overheard every word that
+had passed between the man and his friends.
+
+The detective a was fully convinced, from what he overheard,
+that the smugglers were innocent of old Tom Pearce's death;
+indeed, he had so believed from the first; but it was
+one of his methods to make sure, and when once really
+convinced he knew as stated, where to look for the real
+assassin, and he folded his tent, like the Arab, and as
+silently stole away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+
+Upon the day following the scenes described in our preceding
+chapter, a strange interview was in progress in a magnificent
+apartment in a house situated in one of the most fashionable
+quarters of New York.
+
+A beautiful young lady, richly attired, had been sitting alone
+in the elegant apartment described when a man of dark
+complexion entered the room, and, with silent step and a
+pleased smile upon his dark face, he advanced toward the girl.
+
+Just a moment preceding the entrance of the dark-faced man,
+the girl had indulged in a brief soliloquy. She murmured:
+
+"Well-well, my mind is made up. I have fooled that villain!
+He thinks I love him. He thinks I have been dazzled and
+bewildered by the possession of all these fine clothes and the
+wearing of these costly jewels; but he is mistaken. I hate
+him--I abhor him! He is an assassin! He thinks I do not know
+it; but I saw him strike down that good old man, Tom Pearce,
+and I have but hired him on with a promise of my love, only
+that I might hold him until an opportunity offers to hand him
+over to justice."
+
+A moment the girl was thoughtful and silent, but speedily she
+resumed her soliloquy, salving:
+
+"I wonder what could have become of Vance! He lives--he has
+been successful, I saw in a paper yesterday. Why does he not
+come to me? Well, well! as he does not come to me, I will go
+to him. It is time that I unmasked before this scoundrel, who
+thinks he has won me by the tragedy through which he
+temporarily obtained possession of me. But we shall see! I
+am 'Renie, the Wild Girl of the Shore,' as Vance once called
+rue, and I will prove myself more than a match for this deep,
+designing scoundrel."
+
+The girl had just uttered the words above quoted when the door
+opened, and the man entered the room.
+
+As stated, he advanced with a pleased smile upon his face.
+
+"Renie, darling," he said. "I have pleasant news for you."
+
+"Indeed!"
+
+"Yes, my dear. To-day we sail for my beautiful home in Cuba
+where you will be the belle of society, and where we shall be
+married."
+
+"We sail for Cuba to-day?"
+
+"Yes, to-day."
+
+"I thought you did not intend to go until the season was more
+advanced?"
+
+"I have decided to go to-day; business calls me there."
+
+"And you sail to-day?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I cannot go with you."
+
+"You cannot go with me?"
+
+"No."
+
+At that moment a most extraordinary incident occurred, but its
+real character cannot be revealed until our narrative has
+progressed. The incident, however, caused a complete change
+to come over the girl. She had glanced in a mirror behind the
+man who had just made the announcement to her, and she had
+beheld a sight which caused, as stated, a complete change to
+come over her demeanor. "You must go without me," sail the
+girl. The latter spoke in a different tone.
+
+The man glanced at her, and asked:
+
+"Why Renie, what has come over you. Did you not give me to
+understand that you were prepared to go with me to Cuba any
+time I desired?"
+
+"Yes; I gave you so to understand."
+
+"Then why do you now refuse to go?"
+
+"I will tell you; the time has come for me to unmask, Mr.
+Garcia."
+
+"The time has come for you to unmask?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I do not understand."
+
+"You shall."
+
+"I must."
+
+"Murderer, I have been playing you that I might in the end
+entrap you into the hands of justice."
+
+A change had come over the demeanor of the girl; but a still
+more remarkable change came over the face of Garcia. He
+glanced at the girl with blazing eyes, and his hands worked
+nervously and there was a tremulousness in his voice as he
+asked:
+
+"Are you mad, girl?"
+
+"No, I am not mad. Do you not think I have been deceived; I
+know you, I have known who you were all the time, thou chief
+of the smugglers."
+
+"And you have been deceiving me?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"And what has been your purpose?"
+
+"To wait until a favorable moment when I could denounce you,
+and hand you over to justice."
+
+Our readers have already discerned the truth; but we will make
+plain the incident which led up to the scene we are about
+describing. Upon the very night Vance sailed on the yacht,
+Garcia, with a gang of men, appeared after midnight at the
+cottage of Tom Pearce. The old fisherman was murdered and
+Renie was drugged and carried away; but the girl had been a
+witness of the murder before she was found insensible lying
+beside her bed.
+
+When the girl recovered from the drug which had been
+administered to her, she found herself in a magnificently
+furnished apartment, and the man Garcia was at her side.
+
+The villain had told the girl a cunning tale. He told her
+that Tom Pearce had consigned her to his care, and proceeded
+with a story which it is not necessary for us to repeat.
+
+The girl knew the tale to be a lie, but, at the moment she
+resolved to pretend to believe the story and fool the man,
+when she could lure him on to justice and condign punishment.
+
+She had played her part well and Garcia, who was a conceited
+man, believed he had won the girl's love; and matters were
+going on in the most pleasant manner, when had received news
+of the capture of the gang of smugglers, and at once realized
+his peril, when he determined to fly with Renie to Cuba.
+
+It was thus matters stood when the man made the announcement
+to the girl.
+
+"Renie," said the man, "you are trifling with me; you are
+having a joke at my expense."
+
+"I am not; I am resolved to bring you to justice!"
+
+"And you do not love me?"
+
+"I loathe you; your presence is a curse!"
+
+"And you have been deceiving me?"
+
+"I Have been deliberately deceiving you."
+
+"And you announce your perfidy?"
+
+"Yes; I do!"
+
+"I cannot believe that you speak truly."
+
+"The hour has come when I must speak truly. I have been
+deceiving you, but now I speak the truth."
+
+"Girl, do you fully comprehend what you are saying!"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Do you know your peril?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you dare tell me that you are a beautiful cheat?"
+
+"I dare."
+
+"I am amazed."
+
+"You will be more amazed, you villain."
+
+"You think I am a villain?"
+
+"I know you are."
+
+"And you hate me?"
+
+"Yes, I hate you!"
+
+"Once for all, are you telling me the truth now?"
+
+"I any telling you the truth."
+
+"Then, rash girl, beware!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+
+As the man Garcia spoke a figure darted in through the
+door-way, and with a cry of joy Renie exclaimed: "You have
+come at last!"
+
+"Yes; I am here."
+
+Garcia rose to his feet, a look of terror upon his face. He
+recognized the intruder at a glance; it was Vance, the
+Government detective. The latter but exchanged a word with
+Renie, when he drew a pair of handcuffs and advanced toward
+Garcia. The latter recoiled and demanded:
+
+"What would you do?"
+
+"Arrest you as a smuggler."
+
+"Approach me at your peril," exclaimed the felon, and he
+raised his hand in a threatening manner.
+
+Vance had no time to spare, and Garcia was quickly overpowered
+and handcuffed.
+
+Vance led Renie from the room.
+
+The detective had come prepared. He found several officers at
+the door, who took possession of the house and the villain
+Garcia.
+
+Our hero heard Renie's story while taking her to a place of
+safety, and after leaving her, he proceeded to the hotel to
+meet the gentleman named Selton, whom he had season to believe
+had a strange story to tell.
+
+Upon reaching the hotel Vance was shown to a handsome suite of
+rooms, and a few moments later, was joined by the gentleman
+whom he had met under such strange circumstances at the coast.
+
+The meeting was cordial, and Mr. Selton said:
+
+"I have been waiting for you."
+
+"Well, sir, and here I promised to call and I have kept my
+word."
+
+"Now, sir, one word. Have you learned any of the
+circumstances surrounding the death of old Tom Pearce?"
+
+"He was murdered."
+
+"And the murderer has been discovered?"
+
+"Yes he has been arrested."
+
+"Will you tell me all the circumstances?"
+
+The detective told him the details of Garcia's arrest.
+
+Mr. Selton showed a great deal of agitation as he asked: "And
+the girl Renie?"
+
+Vance assumed a grave look as he said:
+
+"Mr. Selton, you must satisfy me that you have an honest right
+to inquire about that girl before I answer your question."
+
+"I have a right."
+
+"State the facts, sir."
+
+"First tell me your own interest in the girl."
+
+Vance told the real facts of his meeting with Renie, and when
+he had concluded, Mr. Selton said:
+
+"So you are Vance the great Government detective!"
+
+"I am."
+
+"I can confide in you; had you told me who you were, I Should
+have been pleased to have told my story, sooner."
+
+"Better late than never."
+
+"My tale is briefly told. Renie is my daughter."
+
+"Your daughter?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How came you to place her in the hands of old Tom Pearce?"
+
+"I never did. I supposed the child dead all these years;
+listen: Renie's mother died when the child was a week old,
+and a year later I married again; business called me to
+California, and while I was away I received a letter from my
+wife announcing the death of my infant child. I remained away
+one year, and upon my return accepted as true all the
+circumstances as related to me concerning the death of my
+child.
+
+"The years sped on, and another child, a son, was born
+to me; the latter lived to be fifteen a year ago. He died,
+and then my wife was taken sick, and on her death-bed she made
+to me a terrible confession. She told me bow she had employed
+a man to carry my child away, and lose it so that the infant's
+identity could never be discovered. She told me that her
+motive was to secure my whole fortune for her unborn child.
+Before she died she told me the name of the man to whom she
+had committed the business. I spent a year searching for the
+man; I found him a few weeks ago, a convict for life. He told
+me how he had disposed of the child, and I came here to search
+for her, and you know all the rest."
+
+When Mr. Selton had concluded, Vance said:
+
+"I am satisfied, sir, that you have told me a true tale."
+
+"Yes, sir, my tale is true, and now, please tell me of my
+Child."
+
+"Your child is safe."
+
+"You have found her?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"Where is she? lead me to my child at once."
+
+"No sir, that will not do, I must prepare her for the meeting;
+but first let me tell you of her."
+
+Vance proceeded and related all the facts concerning Renie,
+and when the father learned that his child was educated to her
+rightful position in life he was rejoiced.
+
+"Yes," said Vance, "your child is fitted to adorn any station
+in life; but you must see her and judge for yourself. I will
+go and tell her the strange revelations that have come from
+your lips."
+
+Vance proceeded to the place where he had left the girl, and
+by degrees prepared her for the wonderful announcement. The
+girl listened to the story calmly, and when the detective had
+finished his tale, she said:
+
+"I am not surprised; I had hoped some day to know both father
+and mother, but I am happy in having found a father."
+
+"Will you go to your father?"
+
+"I will."
+
+"When?"
+
+"Now, at once."
+
+The two entered a carriage, and half an hour later father and
+daughter were clasped in each other's arms.
+
+The father had a little surprise for Vance. He had removed
+certain little disguise appliances, and when father and
+daughter stood side by side, a most striking resemblance was
+apparent.
+
+We will not attempt to describe all that passed between father
+and child, but the facts of their relationship were fully
+established, and the mystery of the box containing the
+supposed jewels was explained.
+
+The convict who had committed the child to Mrs. Pearce had
+given her the box, and had represented that it was filled with
+costly jewels; but his statement was a lie, and the old lady's
+imagination had aided her in swelling the value of the
+contents of the box.
+
+Mr. Selton proved to be a very wealthy man, living in a
+Western city, and Renie was taken to her grand home.
+
+Meantime, Vance remained in New York to appear as a witness
+against the band of conspirators, and the result of his labors
+was the breaking up of one of the best organized smuggling
+schemes that was ever attempted in America.
+
+When our hero's duties were over, upon invitation he went to
+pay a visit to Mr. Selton and his daughter, and there's a
+certain rumor in the air; but as yet we are not permitted to
+record that another of our heroes has hooked on to one of our
+heroines; but we will say that the chances very much favor the
+prospect that when Vance met the "Wild Girl of the Coast" upon
+that night, he met his future wife.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dock Rats of New York, by 
+"Old Sleuth" Harlan Page Halsey
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