Either the tramp was already asleep, or was possessed of discretion, for no sign of him was to be seen. Dusk was coming fast, and Willie should have returned to the _Lycoming_, but, like the tramp, he hated to move. Though he was at some distance from the gang of boatmen, they might nevertheless think he was spying on them. So he snuggled down closer than ever in the lumber pile and watched. Presently the group of bargemen broke up, and the various canal-boat captains and others started to go their separate ways. “Don’t forget,” Willie heard the man who had done most of the talking say. “To-morrow night. And it will be rich pickings for somebody.” The speaker slid over the side of the pier to a canal-boat. To other boats and toward the street the other members of the gang made their way. In a few moments the pier was vacant. “Now for the _Lycoming_,” thought Willie. “Roy will think I’m lost.” He started to rise, then sank back quickly in his seat. Something was moving in the pile of boxes. Willie looked intently. A head was thrust quickly up among the boxes. It was the tramp. He took a quick look around, saw that the pier was deserted, and leaped from his place of concealment. Willie did the same. There was no reason why he should delay a moment longer in getting back to the _Lycoming_. But before he had taken a dozen paces, the tramp was beside him. The tramp opened a wallet and took out a crisp dollar bill. “If you will send a telephone message for me,” he said, “the change from this bill is yours.” “Sure,” said Willie, too much astonished even to question the man. “Run to the nearest ’phone. There’s one in that building over there. Call this number and say that Sheridan wants a man to help him at once in the neighborhood of South Street and Coenties Slip. If there’s any answer, try to find me. I’ll probably be in some of these sailors’ hangouts along the water-front. There’ll be another dollar in it if you get me.” Into Willie’s hand the man thrust the crisp dollar bill and a piece of cardboard. Then he turned abruptly away and hurried up South Street. Willie shoved the bill into his pocket and took a look at the telephone number on the piece of pasteboard. Then he gave a sharp cry. The figures in his hand were the secret call of the United States Secret Service in New York. He knew that number because it had been given to him when he was engaged in the search for the secret wireless. CHAPTER II AN ADVENTURE WITH A SECRET SERVICE MAN