The gang of lynchers stood gazing in amazement, and there was a suspicious look upon the faces of many of them as their leader remarked: 

“The girl has cajoled him.”

The men suspected that the girl had induced her Father to recall his words.

“Would you know the man who assailed you, Tom?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you accuse this man?”

“I had not fully recovered my senses when I denounced him.”

“Do you know the right man?”

“Yes,” came the answer.

“Are you sure you have your senses now?”

“Yes.”

“This man is really innocent?”

“He is.”

“That settles it, stranger.  We owe you an apology; but you had a narrow ‘squeak’ of it, and but for the gal, you’d have been dangling now from yonder spar.”

Turning to the wounded man, the fellow continued: 

“Tom, who was the man who assailed you?”

“I know him.”

“You’re going to die; tell us, old man, who did the deed?”

The old man-of-war’s-man, who had been attending the wounded smuggler, exclaimed: 

“Die, is it?  Not he!  Tom Pearce is good for a three-years’ cruise yet; and he’d a mind to take it!”

“Well, tell us who the man was, Tom?”

“No, boys, not now; it was a private quarrel.  I’m coming around all right, and I’m much obliged for the good feeling you men have shown toward me; but I’ll settle with the man who downed me—­settle with him good, and no mistake!”

“All right, you have your own way, but when you’re around again, we want to have a talk with you; and, meantime, Renie, I’ve a few words to say to you in private.”

“You want to talk to me, Ike Denman!”

“Yes.”

“Well, speak out.”

“Clear out, boys; you know what business you have on hand; get down to work, and if you fail, I’ll meet you at Rigby’s later on.”

The men moved away, the detective going with them; and a few moments later Renie, Denman, and the old smuggler were alone.

“Renie,” said Denman, “haven’t we always treated you well?”

“I’ve never complained of the treatment I’ve received on the coast.”

“Then, why have you turned against us?”

“I’ve not turned against you.”

“Go slow, girl, go slow!  Don’t say anything you’ll have to take back.”

“I know just what I’m saying.”

“There’s been an enemy on the coast.”

“A Government officer?”

“Yes; a Government officer.”

“Who warned him he was in danger?”

“Who first learned he was a Government officer?”

“That’s neither here nor there.  Who warned him not to go off in the yacht this night?”

“I did.”

“You did?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you do so?”

“I did not want to see the man murdered.”

“Who told you the man would be murdered?”