CHAPTER XXVI. LOOKING FOR THEIR CHUM.
We left Harry Ware, Percy Simmons and the three customs inspectors sadlybaffled on the dock of the Piquetville Yacht Club. Their search for the_River Swallow_, it will be recalled, had revealed nothing of the craft.Several inquiries made in the vicinity had met with the samedisheartening results.
Sick at heart and worried more than they cared to confess, Harry andPercy listened to the consultation going on between the threeexperienced servants of Uncle Sam's revenue service.
"If that fellow La Rue is on board, there is no telling what may havehappened," said Jennings. "He is a desperate man, as we have good causeto know."
"But he is a coward at heart," struck in Adams. "Remember how he showedthe white feather in that affair of the Chinese smuggling three yearsago?"
"Yes, he secured immunity from punishment by turning state's evidence onhis accomplices," rejoined Jennings. "It was too bad he was allowed togo. There'll always be plenty of work for us as long as he is at large."
"It's odd, the way he's managed to slip through the toils so manytimes," commented Prescott, the third customs man. "Why, the governmenthas had its hands upon him half a dozen times, and yet he has alwaysmanaged to get away in some mysterious manner."
"There's one member of the bunch, though, that I'd rather get than allthe rest," declared Jennings.
"Who is that?"
"Rawson."
"The captain of that night-running motor boat?" inquired Prescott, whohad been but recently transferred to the northern border aftercommendable work in the southwest.
"That's the fellow. I see you've heard of that boat."
"Who hasn't? Even these young men encountered her on several occasions.She has been seen in the vicinity of Dexter Island. I assume thatMalvin, who was in the employ of Mr. Stetson, received consignments ofgems to be smuggled later."
"That appears certain. But did you say Stetson was the name of the ownerof the island?" inquired Prescott.
"Yes, Stetson, the big railroad man. It's his son Ralph that is on boardthe _River Swallow_ in the power of those men."
"The same Ralph Stetson that was mixed up in that affair of the arms andammunition, smuggled across the Mexican border by the undergroundriver?"
"The same fellow," broke in Harry.
"Then depend upon it, young men, that your chum will be able to takecare of himself," assured Prescott. "I heard full details of thataffair, and the way in which he and his friend Jack Merrill acquittedthemselves, showed that they were made of no ordinary stuff. I'd backthat boy against a dozen La Rues any time."
"The way in which they have all handled this affair so far proves thatthey are a bunch of uncommonly smart lads," said Jennings. "If it hadn'tbeen for a slip-up, we might have had La Rue in our hands by this time."
Agitated though they were, Harry and Percy could hardly conceal a smileat this ingenious way of putting the case. Had it not been for Jennings'stupidity in arresting them--for that is practically what he haddone--the customs authorities might have reached the _River Swallow_ inplenty of time to apprehend the rascals on board and save Ralph frombeing carried off. For that he had gone of his own free will neverentered the chums' heads for an instant. They knew Ralph too well tothink that he would desert them in such a way, unless he had beenliterally abducted.
It was this fact that worried them. It pointed inevitably to oneconclusion: Ralph had been overpowered by the men on board the craft,and either injured or made captive, while they worked out whateverschemes they had in mind.
"Oh! if only one of us had stayed on board, it would have made the oddsless against good old Ralph," sighed Harry.
But it was too late to indulge in regrets. The harm was done now.Somewhere on the river the _River Swallow_ was speeding along with theirchum on board her. They wondered when, and under what circumstances,they would hear from him again, for that they would join him before longthey had no doubt.
Great drops of rain began to fall. A puff of warm wind blew from off theriver into their faces.
"Here she comes," declared Jennings, as a flash split the sky. "Boys,we'd better get to shelter."
"Can't we do anything more to-night?" asked Harry anxiously.
"I'm afraid not, my boy. I know just how you feel about your chum, butit would be worse than looking for a needle in a haystack to go chasingafter that boat to-night."
"What do you recommend doing, then?" asked Harry.
"I would suggest that you find quarters in a good hotel. Have a soundsleep, and early in the morning we will join you and the hunt will beginin earnest. One other thing," as he noticed their troubled faces, "don'tworry about that fellow La Rue. He is a big bluff, an arrant coward. Hisbark is a lot worse than his bite. He wouldn't dare try any violence.He's a mixture of knave and craven, with the former predominating."
How true this description of La Rue was we know from his behavior duringthe storm, which shortly broke in all its fury. While Ralph was battlingwith the elements, his chums were snugly in bed at the PiquetvilleHouse. Despite their anxieties, they were too worn out not to fall intoa sound sleep, which endured till a loud knocking at their door, almostas soon as it was light, informed them that the customs men were below.
They lost no time in dressing, and soon joined the others. They all atea hearty breakfast together, and then set out for the dock. It was aglorious morning. All trace of the storm had vanished, leaving the airclear and cool.
At the Yacht Club dock lay the _River Swallow's_ tender. A few minutes'delay occurred while the little craft was stocked up with extragasoline, for they knew that they might be off on a long chase. But atlast everything was ready. Harry took the wheel. Percy Simmons lookedafter the engine. The three customs men sat at their ease in the sternseat.
"Which way?" asked Harry, as they chugged out into the stream.
"Down the river," was the reply of Jennings. "We'll comb the islandsfirst."
"Let her out," ordered Harry to Percy Simmons, as they got clear of thedock.
The engine gave a sputter and a roar, and the chase after their missingchum was on.