“Well, I do. He had on a red necktie. I caught a flash of it as he leveled his gun. I couldn’t see his face well for his cap was pulled down and he was too far away. But I saw the red at his neck. That’s ‘Red’ Anderson. I know where he hangs out and I’ll bet a dollar I know where he’s heading for.”
“Where?” said the Chief.
“The barge pier on the East River. That’s his hangout. It would be the easiest place in the world for him to land a cargo, for all those bargemen work together.”
The Chief turned to the man at the helm. “Full speed for the Battery,” he ordered. “We’ll land there and cut across to the barge pier. Then the fleet can sail up the East River and take these fellows in the rear while we approach from the land side. We’ll get them yet—providing Willie is right. Break out your lights. It’s too dangerous to run dark on a night like this.”
The lights of the Surveyor blazed forth. The Chief turned to Willie. “Call up the fleet,” he said, “and order them to the Battery landing at top speed.”
A moment later the little fleet was surging through the boisterous waters, their lights now agleam, in a final effort to take the smugglers. At the Battery landing the force divided. Half of the men leaped ashore. The others stayed aboard to man the little fleet. Signals were arranged.
“We’ll try to watch you from shore,” said the Chief, “and descend on that pier at the same moment that you reach the slip. Remember, they’re a desperate bunch. If there’s to be any shooting, you shoot first.”
Along the sea wall, and past the barge office and the ferry buildings, the land force ran at speed, glad of an opportunity to warm their chilled bodies. Then they began to pick their way along South Street. Wherever it was possible, they slipped out on a pier to keep in touch with the little fleet. The boats were shooting up the East River at top speed, close to the ends of the piers. Carefully they kept in touch with the boats until all were near the barge pier. Then the Special Agent gathered his little force for the charge.
“Get your guns ready,” he said, “though you needn’t draw them until we are out on the pier. There may be nothing there at all. We don’t want to attract attention and we don’t want to look foolish.”
Rapidly the little group strode up the street. At the barge pier they paused a second to look and listen. The pier was dark and apparently unoccupied. Yet from the river end came muffled noises and subdued voices.