A CRITICAL MOMENT
BRACK, as I remarked before, you are a smart fellow. Were you putting me off the scent when you said the man I am looking for went off in the tramp?" said Hackler.
"I never said he were the man; I said there were a man went off with the boat's crew to the tramp."
"I gave a description of him."
"It seemed like him to me," said Brack.
They reached the harbor; Brack pulled in his boat; Hackler stepped in and was rowed toward the tramp. The dirty looking steamer was farther out than anticipated, and Brack took his time; his practiced eyes discerned something invisible to Hackler.
"Steam up," said Carl.
"Most likely she'll be going in an hour or two."
"I wonder what she put back for?" said Hackler half to himself.
"Short o' coal," grinned Brack.
"Shut up and don't be
