This, with the stinging blow of the pistol, dropped him like a log to the ground, where he lay for an instant, howling with pain and rage.
Fritz, landing in the water, swam through the almost submerged entrance, and soon was outside the cavern, at the edge of the bluff.
To swim around to the southern side was the work of but a few moments, and he was once more on terra firma, at his starting-point.
Here he sat down upon the beach to collect his thoughts.
So strange had been his experience within the last few hours that he was really more confused than he had yet been since entering upon his profession as a detective.
"Now den, let me see apoud somet'ings," he muttered. "In der virst blace, dis be a reg'lar ruffian seddlement, vere id don'd vas healthy vor such ash I, und id would puzzle me to do der shob all alone. I must haff some help. Off der ish a delegraph office near here, den I must find id, und delegraph to Philadelf vor assistance. Der ish no doubt but I haff discovered der smugglers, und der next t'ing is to cabture dem. Und I don'd dink id vas healthy for me to go down mit der cave again, undil dis matter keeps shady. I vonder vot haff pecome off der gal vot called herself Silly Sue?"
"Here she is—what do you want of her?" a merry voice cried, and the elfin danced, laughing, out from behind a huge bowlder at Fritz's rear, where she had been concealed, evidently playing the spy. "What do you want of Silly Sue, Irishman?"
"I vas no Irishman!" Fritz retorted. "I am a Dutchman."
"Get out! You're pure Irish. But that ain't the point. What do you want of me?"
"I vanted to inquire how far it ish to der nearest delegraph station?"