“No, not exactly; this shanty was built for common use; but where did you come from?”

“I came from the sea.”

“You’re a man, you’re not a fish; how did you come in from the sea?”

“I swam in.”

“Has there been a wreck?”

“Not to my knowledge.”

“Well, you’re talking riddles; suppose you get down to plain United States lingo.”

“I fell overboard and was compelled to swim or sink.”

“What sort of a craft did you come over from?”

“A yacht.”

“A pleasure yacht?”

“Well, yes.”

“And you weren’t picked up?”

“If I had been I wouldn’t be here.”

“That’s so.  How far were you off shore?”

“Not very far.”

“You must have gone over before the storm set in.”

“I should say so; and now as I’ve answered your questions, who are you?”

“I am a fisherman.  I ran into the cove on account of the storm, and came over here to stay until daylight, or later if the storm holds.”

“I reckon the storm won’t hold much longer; it’s only a passing tempest, and so make yourself comfortable.  Will you have a bite”

“Thank you, I had food with me in my boat.”

“Will you cover a little whisky.”

“I will!” came the hearty acceptance.

The two men had a long, pleasant talk, and our hero soon learned that his new acquaintance was a really honest fisherman—­good, square man; and there are many of them on the Long Island coast, and no truer and better men can be found in any quarter of the globe.

When fully satisfied that the man was an honest fellow, our hero opened up a certain subject with him.

“Taylor, did you run across a gang of smugglers in your experience along the coast?”

“You can just bet I have run across them; and, between you and me, it is an easy matter to put my hand on the key that locks the door of their secret warehouse.”

“You can do that?”

“I can.”

“How is it you have never communicated with the Government?”

“Well, I’ll tell you.  I’ve always been afraid it might get me into some sort of a scrape.  You see, I am a man of family, and couldn’t afford to lose any time.”

“I’ll let you into a secret.”

“All right.”

“I’m a Government officer.”

“Whew! is that so?  Well, I might have suspected as much.  And so you did not come in from the sea, but you’re lying around here expecting to discover something?  You’re on the wrong part of the coast, however; this is not the spot for you to lay.  I can give you a better point.”

That’s just what I’m looking for.”

“I don’t know, however; I might get myself into trouble.”

“No fear of that; you need only act as a guide to me.”

“Well, I’ll think it over.”

The detective began to grow a little suspicious of his new friend; there was a possibility that he had concluded as to the fisherman’s honesty a little too soon.