“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.