“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?”