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.