_ 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." _