"Now I am a goner," was the mental declaration of the intrepid revenue officer, while at the same time he was, resolved to take all necessary precautions. He found a hiding place and passed a full hour of anxiety, indeed, a mental strain that would have turned a less nervy man gray.
The agony, however, passed, and he escaped discovery, and heard one of the fellows say:
"He is not in here, that is certain."
"You're mistaken, Charley," muttered the detective to himself, in a spirit of reckless facetiousness.
Ike Denman appeared to be completely disheartened, and he said:
"I tell you, my good fellows, we're in trouble; that man has got away."
"What will you do?"
"There is only one thing for me to do; I must go to New York and report the situation at headquarters."
"We can get the goods away."
"It's easy to say we can get the goods away, but where will we take them?"