"You are certain this Crazy Jim is the man I am after?"

"Oh, yes."

The mentioning of Crazy Jim's name interested Jerry. Crazy Jim was still up on Blackwell's Island. It was possible, however, that they referred to some other individual.

To hear what further they might have to say the young oarsman kept close to the party.

"It's been a long hunt for me, gentlemen," said the tall man, and by his speech Jerry felt sure he was a westerner. "But if I am on the right trail, things will soon come out right."

"What do you want to find Crazy Jim for?" asked one of the short men.

"I'm not saying any thing about that just now," was the cool response.

"Oh, excuse me, of course not." The short fellow looked around, but failed to catch sight of our hero. "Jack, how about a smoke?" he said to the other short fellow.

"Strike a light," was the answer.

The words were evidently a secret signal, for hardly were they spoken when one of the short men caught the westerner from behind and held his arms.

"Here, what's the meaning of this?" cried the man, in alarm.

"Keep still, old man, and we won't hurt you. Raise a row and you'll get knocked out. Quick, Pete, with his diamond pin and that roll of bills in his left pocket!"

At this command the man in front rushed in and caught hold of the man's pin. Out it came in his hand, a beautiful affair, worth at least a hundred dollars.

"Stop! stop!" yelled the westerner. "Police! police!"

"Shut up!" hissed the man who held him. "Pete, crack him over the head. We can't afford to take any chances here."

Thus ordered, the man who held the diamond pin slipped it into his pocket.

Then he raised his heavy cane and started to do as bidden when Jerry rushed at him.

"Stop! Don't hit that man!"

The rascal was surprised.

"Who are you? Oh, it's only a boy. Clear out of here!"

"I won't! You let that man alone."

"Don't leave me," pleaded the victim. "They want to rob me. He has my diamond pin!"

"Shut up!" howled the man in the rear. "Crack him, Pete, and crack the boy, too."

Once more the heavy cane was raised. Our hero caught it in the center, and by a dexterous twist wrenched it from the rascal's hand.

With a howl of baffled rage the rascal turned and caught Jerry by the throat.

"Give me that stick, boy, or I'll choke the life out of you!" he hissed into the youth's ear.

CHAPTER x.x.xVI.

JERRY HEARS AN ASTONISHING STATEMENT.

When the footpad, for the fellow was nothing less, attacked Jerry, our hero felt that he had a tough struggle before him.

The rascal's grasp on the young oarsman's throat was light, however, and Jerry quickly shook it off.

In the meantime the westerner began to struggle and shout at the top of his voice:

"Help! Police! police!"

In vain the fellow who held him tried to stop his cries. They grew louder, and soon footsteps were heard approaching.

Jerry received a savage blow on the chest and struck out in return, hitting the footpad in the chin. Then the two clinched, and both rolled to the pavement.

Jerry's a.s.sailant was a strong man and he was slowly but surely getting the best of the youth when three men put in an appearance. They were heavy-set individuals and were followed by a policeman.

"What's up here?"

"Don't kill that boy!"

"He is a thief!" cried Jerry. "He has that man's diamond pin."

"That's right," put in the westerner, who had managed to turn and catch hold of his a.s.sailant. "This fellow is his mate. They just tackled me when the boy came to my help."

"It is a falsehood," roared the footpad who had attacked our hero.

Saying this, he arose and tried to sneak away. But Jerry tripped him up, sending him headlong, and before he could rise the policeman had him handcuffed.

While this was going on the westerner and two of the new arrivals managed to make a prisoner of the other footpad. He used some terrible language, but this did not avail him.

"I know them," said the policeman, after the capture was effected. "They are Hungry Pete and Jack the Slick. They are wanted for a burglary at Sheepshead Bay. How did you happen to fall in with them?"

"I met them up at Rumford's Hotel. They said they knew a man I was looking for."

"Will you come along and make a charge against them?"

"Certainly. He has my diamond pin."

The pin was brought to light and handed over to its owner, and then our hero was asked to go along.

Anxious to know what the westerner might want of Crazy Jim, Jerry agreed, and a minute later found the whole crowd bound for the nearest station-house.