The man squealed like a pig, but the conviction was forced upon his mind that he had met Vance.

CHAPTER XXXV.

Having laid out the scoundrel, Vance bid the fellow follow, and taking him to Ludlow Street he left him in charge.

On the way to the jail the man begged like a trooper to be released, plead that he was only joking, and that he was really only a “crank,” but the detective’s invariable reply was: 

“I know you and until you ‘open up’ and tell who employed you to ‘shadow’ me, you will be kept close.”

Our hero learned from the incident the terrible risks that threatened him, and he determined to be even more careful.

It was midnight when Spencer Vance arrived on the coast.  He had crossed the bay alone to the outer coast and proceeded toward the cabin of old Tom Pearce.

It was a windy, rainy night, and as disagreeable as could be, and, indeed, it was desolate enough without the roar of the breakers as they lashed themselves upon the beach.

The detective was proceeding along when he was suddenly summoned to a halt.

The detective at once suspected trouble, and his ready hand went to his pocket as a man covered with a rubber coat and slouch hat approached.

“Good-evening, stranger,” said the man in the rubber coat.

“Good-evening,” was the response.

“Are you acquainted around here”

“Well, I should say I was a little.”

“Do you know a fisherman around here by the name of Pearce?”

“What do you want of Mr. Pearce?”

“Ah, you know him!”

“I haven’t said so.”

“But you do.”

“Mebbe I do.”

“Will you guide me to his house?”

“I don’t know whether I will or not.”

“I will pay you for your time.”

“You will?”

“Yes.”

“Where did you come from, stranger?”

“That’s my business.”

“Is it?  Well, it’s my business not to guide you to Tom Pearce’s cottage.”

“Hang it, you are a surly lot around here.”

“You are a surly lot yourself.”

“I only wish to be guided to a man’s cabin.”

“Well, if you would give a little information you might receive in return a great deal more.”

“You cannot expect a stranger to tell his business to every man he meets.”

“No; but will you tell me how long you have been on the coast?”

“Why do you ask?”

“As a good Samaritan.”

“I do not understand you, neighbor.”

“I wish to discover whether or not you are stranger around here.”

“What difference does that make?”

“It might make considerable.”

“How?”

“This is a dangerous place for strangers just now.”

“Why?”

“The people around here are not taking well to strangers.  They entertained one lately, and he got them into a great deal of trouble.”