There was a threat in the tones of the detective. "What do you demand?" "Your word of honor." "To bind a promise?" "Yes." "What shall I promise?" "That I shall meet my accuser face to face on this deck; let us decide who is the spy and the traitor!" "That wouldn't do, Ballard, and I am wasting time. Your chances are easy enough. All I ask is that you become one of us. Refuse, and I will be compelled to pass you over to the crew." "And what will they do?" "Try you." "Try me for what?" "Try you as a traitor." "But I am no traitor." "You are in our midst, and not one of us; that fact alone will be accepted as proof of your guilt." "And I can escape by joining your crew?" "Yes." "I refuse." "Have you considered well?" "I am resolved not to join while my enemy is one of your number." "You are throwing your life away." "SO be it, but you go first!" Ike was taken all aback, but did not lose his head. He raised his hands toward his lips intending to sound a whistle, but he was restrained by Vance, who said: "Move or make the least signal and you are a goner." "Aha! the charge is true," said Denman in a low tone. "You inveigled me on board this craft. You are in collusion with a man who wishes to get rid of me. There is no chance for me and there is none for you!" "What do you mean by your statement that I am in collusion with your enemy?" "I see it all. I was invited on this boat by you. Well, let it go so, but, Denman, you will not live to triumph over me. Nothing on land or sea can save you. I've got the bead on you dead!" "What do you demand?" "Your word that I shall stand face to face with my accuser." "And then?" "If he sticks to his charge, let him be my executioner." "This is your demand?" "Yes, this is my demand." CHAPTER XX. It was a critical moment; both men were cool and spoke in deliberate tones. They stood alone: well toward the after-deck, while the men were all busy forward and below handling the contraband cargo. The night was calm; the sea was unruffled; not a cloud intervened between sea and moon and stars, and yet two human lives hung in the balance--the lives of two brave men. The detective was greatly disappointed. He had not accomplished all he desired. He had hoped not to be discovered until the schooner landed her cargo, and he had fallen upon the rendezvous and the mode of transport to the city. Still he had obtained a large amount of information, facts which he could work up; and could he only get ashore alive, he would be able to run down close on the real backers of the contraband business, who were a band of foreigners who only made their money by illicit traffic in New York, to spend it abroad. The chances, however, for getting ashore were very slim. He had dared a little too much, and yet at that very moment the undaunted officer was playing a deep game.