The "Dock Rats" of New York Part 21

"You were coming to see me?" said the old smuggler.

"Yes."

"What is your business with me?"

"I can defer my business to some other time; the fact of your injury prevents me from troubling you now."

"Never mind my injury, I am all right now. I received many a worse thump when I was a younger man, but I am an old one now, and I tell you age will tell; but you can open your business."

"I am your friend, Tom Pearce,"

"Many an enemy claims to be a man's friend."

"Had I known what I do now, you would never have been stricken down."

"I can tell you that had I known myself what I do now, I would never have been stricken down."

"The man Garcia is your enemy!"

"Eh? What's that you are saying?"

"I am telling you the man Garcia is your enemy!"

"What do you know about the man Garcia?"

"I know he is a villain!"

The old smuggler fixed his eyes on the young man, and said:

"Who sent you here?"

"No one."

"Why did you come here?"

"To warn you against Garcia."

The statement in various ways, as our readers will recognize, was the truth.

"You came here to warn me against Garcia?"

"Yes."

"Why should you come to warn me?"

"Because I know the man who a.s.sailed you to be a villain."

"The man who a.s.sailed me?"

"Yes."

"How do you know who a.s.sailed me?"

"I know him."

"How comes it that you are any friend? Why should you warn me? Have you known me before?"

"I never saw you until this night to my recollection."

"Then how is it you take such an interest in me?"

"My interest in you is because of Garcia's designs, I hate that man. I am on his track, and I am the friend of any man whom he is against!"

"Are you acquainted with my daughter?" asked the old smuggler in a suspicious tone.

"I never saw your daughter before to-night."

"How did you know Garcia was coming here?"

"I tracked him."

"Why did you track him?"

"Because I knew he was up to some villainy,"

"You say the man is my enemy?"

"Would a friend a.s.sail you as you have been a.s.sailed sailed this night?"

"How do you know Garcia a.s.sailed me?"

"I tracked him to this house, and a few moments after he left the house you were found lying unconscious in this room."

"Where were you when I was a.s.saulted?"

"I was down at the bay sh.o.r.e."

"What were you doing there?"

"Watching the men whom Garcia brought with him to aid him in his design."

"This is a strange story you are telling me, young man. How do I know but you are an enemy?"

"I am not an enemy!"

"But are you an enemy to Garcia?"

"Yes."