“They’d better watch out, then, lest they lose them,” Deland said, more seriously, and his voice and countenance evinced a devilish streak in his nature. “I left Nick Carter a word of warning to that effect this morning. If he presses me too closely, hang him, he shall feel my teeth. He don’t dream who I really am and of what I am capable.” “Any gink capable of the roof stunt you did last night can do anything,” said Margate, with an approving scowl. “You’re the real thing, Deland, and then some, or you couldn’t have framed up such a job as this and pulled it off.” “Child’s play, Jim,” said Deland coldly. “A kid’s stunt. Has Ruff gone after the wagon?” “Sure. He’ll come with it after dark.” “We must transfer the stuff as early as possible.” “Why early? It strikes me late would be better.” “Wagons are not out late where we are going,” said Deland. “Some guy might take it into his head to watch us. No, no, Jim, the earlier the better after darkness gathers. There’s no danger of our being seen in the road back of the last bedroom. It’s going and coming that’s risky, so the earlier the better.” “That’s true, mebbe,” Margate allowed. “I’m not so sure the hiding place is safe at that. If the newspapers----” “There’s nothing in the newspapers,” Deland interrupted. “I’ve made sure of that. Besides, Ruff has had an eye on the place most of the day. He’d have reported any investigations.” “Sure, as far as that goes.” “It’s as safe as a Wall Street bank vault,” Deland confidently added. “Who would think of looking there for it? It beats taking the risk of coming straight here this morning, for all we afterward took a chance with the big, black wagon.” “Mebbe so,” Margate again allowed. “We’re banking on your judgment.” “I never went wrong in my life,” said Deland. “Look me up across the water. You’ll find that no blooming inspector ever put darbies on me.” “An American detective will do so,” thought Patsy. “I’ll bet my pile on that.” “It will be a good night for the job.” Deland added, gazing out at the sky. “Cloudy and dark. What more can we ask? We’ll wait here till Ruff returns with the wagon.” “That won’t be long,” said Pitman. “It will be dark in half an hour.’ “Gee whiz! there’s no get-away for me,” thought Patsy, wondering where the rascals were going, though their mission was obvious. “I could not steal out unheard if I had the feet of a fly. I’ll stick close to these rats, therefore, and let come what may. If they undertake to shift their plunder--well, there’ll be something doing, all right. Let me get my lamps on it, and I’ll hold up the whole bunch single-handed.” CHAPTER VIII. IN GRUESOME CONFINEMENT. What more Patsy Garvan heard was along much the same lines as that which he already had heard, but none of it gave him any clew to the contemplated destination of Deland and his confederates.