"I have the men ready to come aboard," said the smuggler.
"And the money?" suggested the man of the seas.
"The cash is ready; $150 for each man when he is stowed away. You will land them at Mobile."
"At Mobile," assented the captain.
"See me next trip at Kingston," said the smuggler. "I leave for that point in the morning."
Thus was gained the first peep into the methods of the smugglers. Gard reported to the American consul, who sent a message that would result in the seizure of the banana boat when it reached Mobile.
The special agent now had the thread of his work well in hand. His intentions were to get at the very bottom of the affair, however, and not merely to apprehend an individual like Peterson. That gentleman should be induced to show the way. Peterson should be "roped." That most effective, yet most difficult task of working into the confidence of a culprit and inducing him to lay his cards on the table, should be employed.
It was with this idea in mind that Gard came down to breakfast early the next morning, but not so early that Peterson was not there ahead of him. He sat opposite his man. The special agent kept looking at his watch apprehensively, and finally asked the man opposite if he knew what time the train left for Kingston.
"At eight-thirty," said Peterson. "There is plenty of time. I am going over on that train myself."
This opened the conversation, and placed Gard in the position of having first indicated his intention of making the trip. He had said he was going before he seemed to know that Peterson had any such intention. These small matters are of great importance in laying the foundation for getting your man. They talked through the meal. It was but natural when, at 8:15, Gard appeared with his grip and started to enter his cab, that he should ask Peterson, who was just then ready for departure, to join him.