Part 4 (2/2)
”When was the last you heard her speak?”
”Just before the firing began. Was it you who fired?”
”We fired back at three Chinamen who fired on us from a boat.”
”Sailboat--rowboat?”
”Rowboat. Didn't you hear the sound of oars?”
”Yes, yes! I am so rattled that I hardly know what I'm saying. What on earth shall we do?”
”We have to look after our captured opium, too. You remain here, Harry, and Leggett can stop with you. I'll run the stuff around into the India Basin and make sure of it. Don't you go doing the disappearance act now.”
”Same to you, governor. Oh, these c.h.i.n.ks! I wish we might never have another mix-up with them.”
Old King Brady made no reply, but hastily descended to the launch, which towed the captured sailboat to a bonded warehouse on the India Basin, where Secret Service men were waiting to receive them.
It was daybreak before he got back to the Islais Creek Channel again.
The fog had vanished with the night, and a hot August wind was blowing the sand about after the usual San Francisco style.
Harry and the Secret Service man were standing on the bulkhead.
”Have you learned anything?” demanded Old King Brady as the launch drew near.
”Not a thing, worse luck,” replied Harry. ”If ever there was a mystery it is this.”
”It is certainly a bad job,” replied the old detective, ”but such as it is we must make the best of it. Let us wait for the opening up of these warehouses. Information of some sort may come from a quarter we least suspect.”
Seven o'clock came, bringing with it the men connected with the warehouses.
Among them was the dock foreman, who demanded the Bradys' business.
He seemed slightly startled when he saw the Secret Service s.h.i.+eld.
”Who is Volckman?” demanded the old detective, abruptly.
”I am Volckman,” was the reply.
”What's your position here?”
”I am dock foreman.”
”Which means that you have charge of the laborers?”
”Yes.”
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