The detective, at the moment he decided to get away, was so close to the working party that he could overhear what passed between them, and while he watched he saw a figure glide into their midst. "The dead alive!" was the under-toned exclamation that fell from his lips as he recognized the half-drowned man whom he had so successfully overcome. At once there followed great excitement. A consultation was summoned. The man had evidently told his startling tale. Our hero recognized Ike Denman, the traitor and falsifier, captain of the "Nancy," and he heard Ike say: "You are sure it was not one of the islanders?" "I am sure. I tell you I recognized the man!" "You recognized him?" "Yes." "Who was he?" "Ballard!" A murmur of incredulousness rose from the men, and Ike Denman exclaimed: "You have been fooled by your fancy; you have been dreaming!" "No; I wasn't dreaming; I swear I saw Ballard, the man who went overboard from the 'Nancy' twenty miles out at sea." "I tell you, man, you have been dreaming." The man pointed down to his wet clothes. "Yes, you scoundrel, you fell asleep and rolled down the bank into the water, and you saw a ghost in your dream." "You fellows may think I saw a ghost, but I can prove I didn't. Yes, sir, prove it." "How?" "Bring your lanterns and come with me." "What will you show us?" "The man's tracks in the sand at the spot where he and I had the wrestle." The man started for the point where our hero had first met the smuggler; had the former been less bravo and reckless he would have seized the opportunity to get away, but he was curious to witness the result of the inquiry, and he moved along to the spot where the combat had taken place, and took up a position on the bluff near enough to see and overhear. The men with their lanterns reached the place and an examination followed. The imprints of two pairs of feet were plainly visible. Denman made close examination, even measuring the different footprints; when he had concluded he said in a hoarse voice: "Boys, we've been followed; there's an enemy on the island and he must never get away alive!" By the glare of the lanterns our hero could see the men's faces, and they were pale and contorted with excitement and trepidation. "I reckon I'll go now," he said, "it's getting rather warm around here." The officer quietly moved away, while Denman divided his men into several squads and started them on a hunt for the spy. The master of the "Nancy" was completely mystified. He could not understand how it was possible, under even the most extraordinary circumstances, that Ballard could be alive and upon the island. He supposed; as a matter of course, the detective was dead, and yet his man had positively sworn as to the revenue officer's identity. "This is the most wonderful thing in all my experience!" declared the master of the "Nancy," as alone he walked back toward the landing-place of the boats.