Never mind about the steamer. Catch it and I'll make it a
hundred dollars!"
The man swung round the wheel, but he glanced at Quest a little
doubtfully.
"Say, what is this show?" he asked.
Quest opened his coat and displayed his badge. He pointed to the
Inspector.
"Police job. This is Inspector French, I am Sanford Quest."
"Good enough," the man replied. "What's the bloke wanted for?"
"Murder," Quest answered shortly.
"That so?" the other remarked. "Well, you'll get him, sure! He's looking
pretty scared, too. You'd better keep your eyes open, though. I don't know
how many men there are on board, but that tug belongs to the toughest crew
up the river. Got anything handy in the way of firearms?"
Quest nodded.
"You don't need to worry," he said. "We've automatics here, but as long as
we're heading them this way, they'll know the game's up."
"We've got her!" the captain exclaimed. "There's the ferry and the first
of the steamers coming down in the middle. They'll have to chuck it."
Right ahead of them, blazing with lights, a huge ferry came churning the
river up and sending great waves in their direction. On the other side,
unnaturally large, loomed up the great bows of an ocean-going steamer. The
tug was swung round and they ran up alongside. The man with the beard
leaned over.
"Say, what's your trouble?" he demanded.
The Inspector stepped forward.
"I want that man you've got under the tarpaulin," he announced.
"Say, you ain't the river police?"
"I'm Inspector French from headquarters," was the curt reply.
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