know us. It will therefore be all the easier to follow her undetected."

The steamship soon went down the river and the friends and relatives of the
departing passengers began to leave the pier.

Mrs. La Croix was one of the last to go. She did not know that the Bradys
were close behind her.




CHAPTER V.

AT A VILLAIN'S MERCY.


The smuggler's wife leisurely left the pier, crossed the street and went in
the direction of Sixth avenue, on foot.

It did not seem to occur to her that she might be followed, for she never
once glanced back in the direction she came from.

Old King Brady and his partner did not know much about the woman.

Whether she was actually concerned in La Croix's smuggling games or not,
they had not the faintest idea.

She was a fine-looking woman, tall and stately, with brown hair, blue eyes
and handsome features. But she seldom laughed.