“Well?”
“They will work like beavers, too, for they will want to convince us still more strongly of their sincerity. They will help us rob the ships for she is almost a ship—and will do good work.”
“I don't tumble yet.”
“Their plan will be to return with us to the Rat-Hole. Then one of them will get out on some excuse, go for the cops, and we will all go to limbo.”
“Pleasant prospect.”
“Now, hear how I will change it.”
“Well?”
“When our work on board the Nourhemal is finished, you will take charge of one of the small boats, and I of another.”
“Yes.”
“There will be four persons in each of three of the boats, and two in the little one.”
“Yes.”
“I will make Nick Carter sit in my boat with his back toward me. Chick will be in your boat, in the same position. When we get well into the river, I will sneeze. When I sneeze, plunge your knife between Chick's shoulders, and I will serve Carter the same. Then we'll quietly chuck them overboard, and go ahead to the Rat-Hole. How do you like the plan?”
“Capital!”
“Good! Is it agreed?”
“Yes.”
“And we will say nothing to the boys until the job is done.”
“Nothing.”
“That's the best way.”
“When they hear that but for me, Nick Carter would have gobbled them all, they won't think anything more about the steel casket, will they?”
“Not a bit.”
“Then we understand each other?”
“Thoroughly.”
“Good-night.”
“Good-night.”
Gentleman George turned and sauntered away toward the shore, while Red Rob remained sitting where he was.
Chick backed out on the opposite side of the pile, and glided along in pursuit of the chief.
As he moved on, he saw a figure sitting perched upon the head of an old barrel, near the shore end of the pier.
“Barney,” he thought.
But the chief saw him, too, and he paused and spoke to him.
“Hello, Cully,” he said; “what are you looking for?”
“Chumps,” replied Barney. “Find any?”
“Not till you showed up.” The chief bit his lip, and moved on. Chick dropped upon his belly, and crawled rapidly toward Barney, keeping a timber between him and the chief, in case the latter should look behind him.
Presently he was within speaking distance. “Kismet, Barney!” he said.
“Spake, mavourneen,” replied Barney, without moving a hair. “Shure, I'm listenin'.”
“That's your man, the fellow who just spoke to you. Don't lose him, and don't let him drop to you.”
CHAPTER IX.
Caught In The Act.
Chick saw Barney leap down from the head of the barrel, and glide away in pursuit of Gentleman George.
Then Young Hercules turned and retraced his steps, or rather his crawl, until he was once more snugly hidden, directly behind the spot where Red Rob was still sitting, evidently lost in thought.
“Bah!” Chick heard him mutter at last, as he rose to return to the Rat-Hole. “I wonder if he thinks I'm as big a chump as I seem? Wouldn't he rave if he knew that the steel casket was snugly in my possession all this time? You may fool the others, Gentleman George, all you please, but you can't fool me—not quite.”
With that Red Rob disappeared on his way back to the Rat-Hole, and Chick again crept away shoreward.
He was gone a long time, but returned just before daylight.
In the barrel upon which Barney had been sitting, he found the kit of things which the professional shadow had brought for him, and then he made his way to the wharf-rat's rendezvous.
He was welcomed most cordially by Red Rob, who repeated to him an order which he had already given put to the others.
“We hey got er big scheme on hand fur tomorrer night,” he said, “an' ther boss is fixin' up ther plans, see?”
“Yes.”
“He has given orders that nobody is to leave the Rat-Hole till he comes back—me included, see?”
“Yes.”
“He says we'll make our fortunes at one whop, see?”
“Yes.”
“An' he's bound ter hev his orders obeyed, see?”
“Yes.”
Nick was about to offer an objection but he caught a look from Chick's eyes, which caused him to change his remark.
“What's on hand?” he asked. “A big job.”
“What craft is it?”
“Chief didn't say. He called me outside to tell me about it, an' I've given his orders. Any kickin'?”
“Narry a kick.”
“Right. You're a lu-lu, Sneaker.”
“You bet!”
Time passed slowly enough in the Rat-Hole. The air was bad, and the place reeked with filth and vermin, but the game was worth the candle, and so the detectives had patience.
The day came and went, and the night of the robbery was upon them.
At eleven o'clock the signal was given at the iron-bound door, and a moment later Gentleman George entered.
“All here?” he demanded. “Yes,” said Red Rob.
“Anybody been out?”
“No.”
“Good! We start in ten minutes. Rob, take three men, and get the boats.”
“Correct.”
“Now, boys,” continued the chief, “we have got the biggest job of our lives on hand to-night for we are going to strip the Nourhemal.”
“Hooray!”
“Sneaker, I look for great things from you and Rattler.”
“We'll do our share.”
“Good! Are you ready, boys?”
“All ready.”
“Then come.”
They were soon in the boats, and gliding over the black water of the bay.
The rain of the previous night had not ceased, but now it had changed to mist, and a fog hung over the river and bay.
The Nourhemal, which they intended to loot, is the largest private yacht in the world, and could more appropriately be called a steamship.
She belongs to the Astor family, and offered a fair prize for the river-thieves, if they could once succeed in boarding her, and gaining admittance to her sumptuous cabins.
During all the time that had elapsed since Chick overheard the conversation on the pier, he had found no opportunity to converse with Nick, so the detective had no idea of the plot against his life.
But that fact did not worry Young Hercules in the least. He knew what he was about, as events will show.
After a long row, the vicinity of the huge yacht was reached.
She loomed up before them, bulky and black, and the dipping oars wielded by the river-thieves made no sound as the four boats drew near to their prospective prey.
Finally they touched the sides, and the grappling irons were thrown up and caught on the sides of the vessel.
Then, one by one, the river pirates mounted to the deck.
One man was left in each boat, leaving ten to do the work aboard the ship.
Both Nick and Chick were of the latter party. Everything seemed silent and deserted.
Not a sign of life appeared aboard the Nourhemal, except for the presence of the midnight marauders who were there to steal.
Gentleman George knew that there were several men there, however, but he believed them to be sleeping, and thought to surprise them in their bunks.
The robbers crept toward the cabin. Gentleman George was in advance, and he tried the door.
Better luck than he expected was awaiting him, for the door was not fastened.
The fact should have warned him, but it did not.
No one having been allowed to leave the Rat- Hole since his plans were laid, he had no thought of the possibility of betrayal.
He entered, and the others followed, until the ten men were grouped there.
Then the chief, with a low word of command to his men, struck a match.
The scratching of that match had a most remarkable effect.
It seemed to produce a score of sudden sharp clicks, and instantly the cabin was flooded with light from as many bull's eye-lanterns which glared in the faces of the river-thieves.
The cabin of the Nourhemal was filled with uniformed men, who had been silently awaiting the arrival of the river-thieves.