Having concluded his instructions, he said: 

“Go now to your father.  I may not see you for two or three days, but always be on your guard.”

“Against whom?”

“Garcia.”

“Do you think he will dare return?”

“That man may have secret agents among the smugglers.”

“None of the men would betray me to him.”

“We cannot tell what money may accomplish; but I do not anticipate danger for a few days, or I would not leave, you; still you must be on your guard.”

“Where go you now?”

“To Rigby’s,”

“To Rigby’s?” ejaculated the girl.

“Yes; why not?”

“You go at your peril!”

The detective laughed and said: 

“Never fear for me; good-night!”

Without waiting to listen to further words of warning the detective walked rapidly away.

Renie returned to the cabin; the girl was disturbed and thoughtful.  The dream of her lonely life was opening up to her, but alas! the picture was fringed with dark surroundings.

Upon entering the cabin the girl was addressed by her father, who asked: 

“Renie, what do you think of that fellow?”

“He is a mysterious man, father, but he appears to be friendly to us.”

“He has spoken nothing but the truth, so far, my child.  Garcia is a villain! it was he who assailed me.”

“How was it he came to assail you, father?”

“My child, that man has designs against you; it is time that I told you all I know concerning yourself!”

“Do so, father.”

The old smuggler proceeded and related to Renie all that he had told to Garcia, and also stated the Cuban’s proposition.

The girl was silent, but deeply interested, and the one thought that ran through her mind was the knowledge that Spencer Vance had overheard the revelation when made to Garcia.

The old man had just concluded his narrative when an intruder walked into the cabin.

CHAPTER XIV.

A reckless gang of men were assembled in the low tavern kept my a man named Rigby.

The latter was a remarkable man.  He kept a low seashore resort, a place where fishermen and the roughest sort of men gathered, and yet he was a man of considerable education and a great deal of cunning, and coined more good money in this little seaside tavern then did other rumsellers who occupied saloons in the great city, that cost thousands to fit up and decorate.

Rigby was too cunning and careful to be a smuggler himself, but he was also cunning enough to “scoop in” the major portion of the earnings of the men engaged in the perilous trade.

It was only when the business had grown to large proportions that the Government organized a regular plan for its suppression; and at the time our story opens, the play between the smugglers and the Government agents was at its finest point.  It was well known that there were parties in New York who had, and were still realizing immense sums of money by cheating the Government of its legitimate revenue.