"It's more than likely. Now that we've got the railroad guarded so they can't escape, it will be best for us to watch the swamp, and I think we'll find them lurking there until they think the excitement blows over. They won't expect us to look for them there. That will make our task all the easier, Harry." "Suppose we secrete ourselves there to-night, then?" "I'm agreeable. If we can pounce upon the pair while they're asleep, we will be spared the difficulty of a fight in taking them." They finally reached the Dalton house in time for luncheon. Both the old broker and his daughter greeted them warmly. The detectives advised him not to go to New York, or to let on to any one that he was alive, until they had captured his enemies. After supper, the Bradys departed for the swamp. When they got around on the south side of the swamp, they heard the murmur of voices coming from a dense thicket. "Hark! What's that?" muttered Harry, holding up his finger. "Part the bushes and look through." Harry moved the tangled shrubbery aside. They had a clear and uninterrupted view of the broad expanse of swamp, and to their delight saw the two men they were hunting for. The villains were only fifty yards from where the Bradys crouched. CHAPTER XVII. CONCLUSION. The waters of a lagoon washed the swampy shore directly in front of the place where the two detectives were crouching. A flat-bottomed boat was tied to a log, and Sim Johnson was just in the act of casting it loose, when the detectives saw him. Roland Mason sat in the stern, a big felt hat on his head, the wig and false mustache adjusted, and he was laughing heartily, and saying: "Sim, we'll fool those detectives yet." "Ise mighty glad we know wha' dey's gwine ter do," the coon answered. "We wouldn't have known their plans if I hadn't gone over to the house to-day and listened outside the open window, to all they were saying to Oliver Dalton," replied the rascal. Harry gave his partner a nudge. Just then Sim exclaimed: "De boat am free, sah." "Jump in, then, and we'll row across the swamp." "Yo' gwine ter hire dem horses to-night?" "Of course. We must ride away from here on horseback, and get back into the interior, as the railroad stations here are being watched for us. Once we are a day's travel from this accursed place, we can board the cars of some other road, and get down to New Orleans, where we'll be safe." Sim chuckled audibly, for the plan pleased him immensely. He was just about to jump into the boat, when Harry cried: "Now!" The Bradys rushed from their covert. The two desperadoes were completely surprised by the sudden appearance of the two noted detectives. "The jig is up, boys," said Old King Brady, as he covered his man. Sim raised both hands above his head. "Don't fire! I gibs in!" he roared, in terrified tones. At the same moment Harry aimed his pistol at Mason and cried: "You surrender, or I'll kill you, Mason!" "Drop that gun, Brady!"