It was not an elegant speech, and Pete was an uncommonly disreputable-looking lad, with his grimy face and hands and his tattered garments, but there was a ring of gratitude and earnestness in his tone that went straight to Andy’s heart, and he held out his hand with: 

“You’re the right sort, Pete.”

“Anyhow, I don’t go back on a pardner,” said Pete, shaking the proffered hand awkwardly.

Andy was in need of sympathy at just that moment, and he was really very glad of the friendship of the little waif, who was so old in experience if so young in years.

[Illustration:  “YER KNOW ME?  I’M LYNX-EYED BILL, THE TERROR OF THE FORCE.  GIT ONTER MY LYNX EYE.”]

He would not have selected Pete for a friend and confidant; but there he was, at hand, with his sympathy ready, and Andy was moved to take him into his confidence.

“I say, Pete,” he began, and stopped.

“Say it,” said Pete.

But at that moment Andy had caught sight of his man with the child, and he exclaimed:  “Do you see that man, Pete?”

“The feller that was on the wharf?  I see him.”

“I want to follow him.”

“Nobody’s hinderin’ yer.”

“But he knows me, and if he sees me following him, he will know what I am after.  Don’t you see?”

“I’m fly.  Yer want me ter do the trick.  Good!  Yer know me?  I’m Lynx-eyed Bill, the terror of the force.  Git onter my lynx eye.”

Whether he had a lynx eye or not, he certainly was a very shrewd little scamp, for he left Andy’s side and hurried nearer to the man and child; and so, followed by Andy at a considerable distance, he kept after them.

The mother of the child and some sympathizing friends were with them, and there was no difficulty in keeping them in sight as long as they remained together.

Mr. Roberts went with them, however, only to the cars, where he left them, evidently with many apologies for the trouble he had been the cause of putting them all to, for Pete, and even Andy, from his distance, could see him bowing many times over.

As soon as the car took them away, he looked all around with seeming carelessness, though it was plain to the boys that he was scrutinizing everybody anxiously.

Andy jumped out of sight at once, and when he peered around his corner again the advantage of having Pete help him was evident.

Mr. Roberts had disappeared, but Pete was visible just as he was hurrying around a corner, and so Andy was enabled to follow again.

If he had been asked just what he expected to gain by following the man he could not have told.  It was merely that it had entered his head that if Mr. Roberts was concerned, as he believed, in the kidnapping of Regy, and if Regy had not yet been taken out of the country, then Mr. Roberts would be likely to do something or go somewhere that would betray Regy’s hiding place to him.