“Release me, I live upon the island.  I am well known.  I am no burglar or robber.  I took you for one.”

“Did you? well you were mistaken, and now, Mister Man, what have you got to say particular before you go to sleep?”

“Before I go to sleep! what do you mean?”

“I mean you will rest here until morning, until I can notify some of the citizens here, so they can come and take you into custody; it’s my idea you are a bad character.”

“You do not mean what you say; you will not leave me here?”

“I will.”

“It will cost you your life.”

“Will it?”

“I will follow you to the end of the world.”

“That’s all right, but you won’t start out on your journey until after to-morrow, my friend.”

“You certainly do not mean to leave me here tied in this manner”

“Yes, I do, and I’m going to insert this in your jaw, so you will rest quiet until morning.”

“Hold! release me and I will forgive you.”

The detective’s answer was the insertion of a gag in the man’s mouth, and at the, same instant footsteps were heard.

CHAPTER XXV.

Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.

The intruder passed on his way without having come upon our hero and his gagged prisoner.

The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely a resident of the island who passed by through chance.

Returning to his man Vance made sure that He could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.

The detective traversed about four miles of coast when, far ahead of him, he saw the glimmer of dancing lights.

“Aha!” he muttered, “I’ve got ’em!”

He spoke in an incautiously loud tone, when a man sprung toward him.

The smugglers had put out sentinels, and our hero had run across one of them.

The sentinel proved to be a resolute fellow, as he did not stop to ask questions, but made a stroke at the detective’s head.

Our hero dodged the blow, and seized the fellow;

The man struggled violently, and made several attempts to sing out an alarm, but he was in a grip of iron.  The detective, however, had no time to spare.  He was an overmatch for the smuggler, but at any, moment assistance might arrive.  It was silence the officer needed at that moment, and he buried the fellow’s head under water.

The poor fellow struggled violently, and it appeared a cruel recourse, but our hero knew that the water would render the man temporarily harmless.  He did not mean to drown him.