There was a low conversation, of which the detective did not catch much--not enough to know what it was all about, indeed--until he heard the man who had first spoken respond to a remark that did not reach his ears: “No, sir. We haven’t heard a sound or seen anybody since we came into the woods.” Nick tried to decide what this meant, and to whom they were referring. He did not suppose it was himself, or that the baroness had noticed him leaving the hotel after taking dinner with her. But then, Nick Carter did not know just what means the beautiful young woman had at her disposal for finding out things that might interest her. “Well, get him aboard,” ordered Kennedy. “We’ll hustle them both over to the yacht, and then get a little sleep. This thing doesn’t have to keep us all up on a double watch, if we don’t waste time.” The men walked along the beach with their captive, and the detective might have got his hands on them without much trouble by taking them by surprise, when Mike Corrigan “spilled the beans” by an unforeseen and peculiar accident. In his eagerness to hear what was said, he had leaned forward in the shrubbery as far as he dared. Unfortunately, he had nothing firm to give him a hand hold, so he was standing in a teetering attitude, when anything might have knocked him over. There was more trouble, too. A small twig, impossible for him to see in the gloom, was immediately under his face, and as he bent lower, it suddenly popped into his nose, tickling that organ beyond the point of bearableness. There could be only one result, and it came quickly. Mike Corrigan was a determined man, and he fought nobly against the irritation by holding his nose above the bridge and rubbing it all over. He had heard somewhere that this treatment would stop the most insistent sneeze. It did not work in this instance, however. The sneeze would not be denied. There were several choking gasps--not to say snorts. Then, bursting all bonds, a terrific blast turned itself loose, and Nick Carter knew it was all off. Even at ordinary times the husky head porter was noted for the resounding force of his sneeze. But, coming as it did, after this frantic struggle to hold it back, Corrigan achieved an effect in advanced sternutation which awoke the echoes both on sea and land, and made the very trees quiver. The group of men paused in consternation just as they were about to enter the boat, and, hearing Nick Carter jump to his feet at the same moment, they realized that strangers--probably enemies--were close behind them. “See who it is, men!” ordered Kennedy. The sailors seemed all to be armed, for several revolver barrels shone in what little light there was as they came breaking their way through the shrubbery. “There is no use trying to hide our presence now,” was all Nick said to the porter, as he prepared for battle. “This means fight.” “That suits me,” responded Mike. “I supposed it was what we came out for to-night.”