"Oh, massa officer, hab mercy on me!" "We are inclined to pity you, as you were merely an ignorant tool in the hands of a very wicked man. But of course you can't expect us to be lenient unless you aid us to capture Ronald Mason, and recover Mr. Dalton, either dead or alive." "What yo' want me ter do, boss?" eagerly asked the miserable coon. "Tell us where to find Mason." "He lib in dat hut in de swamp." "Why does he live there?" "So's he kin watch his prisoner." "Who is that--Mr. Dalton?" "Yassah." "Oh! Then he's got Dalton in the swamp, eh?" "Fo' suah, boss." "In the hut?" "Dat's whar he was." "Why is Mason holding him a prisoner?" "Dunno. But I 'spects it's kaze he am a-tryin' fo' ter git de ole man ter sign a paper, an' de broker won't do it." "What sort of a paper?" "A bank check." "I see. He wants to get a genuine signature to it." "Wants all ob Massa Dalton's balance what am left in de bank." "How much does it amount to?" "Ober $75,000." "Dalton refuses?" "Obstinate as a mule." "I don't blame him. Now, where is Dalton kept hidden?" "Dat I can't say, boss. Somewheres in de swamp." "Is Mason forcing Dalton?" "Torturing de ole gemman." "What a shame! Now, tell me: On the night you got Dalton from the box, was the old gentleman drugged?" "Only tied hand and foot an' gagged." "Then he was uninjured?" "Only half starbed." "When you carried him into the hut, he fought with you?" "Fearful! Yo' see, he had worked his hands free from de bonds. Done gib me a strong tussle when I was a-gwine ter take him into--into----" "What?" "His prison, sah." "If you don't tell where it is, we shall shoot you, sir!" As Old King Brady made this threat he pushed his revolver against Nick's forehead, and the coon gave a wild yell of terror. "Fo' hebbin's sake," he groaned, "doan fire!" "I'll solve the mystery of this swamp, or I'll murder you!" fiercely cried the old detective. "Do you hear me, sir?" A cold sweat burst out all over the darky. He gazed around in alarm, and gasped hoarsely: "If I tell, will yo' gib me away?" "To whom?" "Massa Mason." "Of course not." "Den listen. Dar's a tunnel under de flo' ob dat hut." "Where does it lead to?" "A big cave under de island in de swamp." "How do you reach it?" "Froo a trap-doo' in one corner, covered wid earf." "And that's where Mason is keeping his prisoner, eh?" "Yassah. We free lib dar." "Is that where you carried Dalton on the night you took him from the cars?" demanded Old King Brady. "Ob co'se," replied the coon. "An' if Mason find out dat I done tell yo' about it, 'spect he'd kill me like a dog." "No doubt he would," said the old detective. "He is capable of doing almost any kind of villainy. Where were you to-night?" "Bringin' food fo' de cave, as our supply ran out." "I thought as much." Just then Harry muttered: "Well, the great swamp mystery turns out to be a very simple matter, now that we fully understand it, Old King Brady."