CHAPTER XXXII. A JOYOUS MEETING.
It was some two hours after the floating of the _River Swallow_, whichproved as staunch as ever, that a group of persons on board a speedy,trim little motor tender spied the craft coming toward Piquetville witha "bone in her teeth."
Joy that verged on the delirious ran riot on the tender, which was the_River Swallow's_ own boat, when, from the side of the fast motor craft,came a puff of white smoke, a loud report and then the stars and stripesfluttered out in all their glory on the after flagstaff.
"Whoop-ee! Zing! zang! zabella!" cried Harry Ware exultingly. "It's goodold Ralph! The old bull-dog has won out!"
"I knew he would. I'll bet he's got that gang imprisoned on board thereright now!" cried Percy Simmons.
"Look! There he is on the bridge!" cried Jennings, indicating a figureat the wheel.
"Is that Ralph?" questioned Percy hesitatingly.
"Yes--no, by hookey! It's an old man with a white beard!"
"Well, what under the sun!" burst from Harry Ware.
"I rather fancy, young men, that your comrade will have an odd story totell when we meet him," struck in Prescott. "By Jove, he appears to beas efficient on the St. Lawrence as he and his chums proved to be on theMexican border."
"You bet Ralph's on the job wherever he is!" said Percy Simmonsfervently.
"I'm anxious to hear his story," said Adams, the third customs man."It's few men, let alone boys, that could bull-doze La Rue and two othermen as bad, and come back home with flying colors and an old Santa Clausfor helmsman."
"The man at the wheel looks like old Father Time," laughed Harry.
"He's right on time, anyhow," declared Percy Simmons.
Not long after an interested group, gathered in the inspector's officeat Piquetville, heard Ralph's story. The official was visibly chagrinedover the loss of the gems, but he concealed this as well as he could andcomplimented Ralph on his excellent work.
"If you would accept a position I'd like to have you in this service,"he said; "but you can at least do us one favor. Lend the government ofthe United States your _River Swallow_ for to-night."
"I'll do a lot more than that," said Ralph quickly. "But, if I may ask,what is the plan, Inspector?"
"Just this. I think that La Rue and his companions, after they stole theold man's boat, made for some rendezvous of the gang. They are therenow, according to my best judgment."
"Yes; that's about right," agreed Jennings. "But they'll make a break assoon as possible."
"Just my idea, Jennings," rejoined his chief; "and that 'break' will bemade on that fly-by-night boat of theirs. They'll try and dispose of thegems, smuggle them across the line, that is, in some other point alongthe river; or they may even try to get to the Great Lakes. It's our jobto head them off."
"A man's-size job," muttered Adams.
"All of that," said the inspector; "that is the reason why I asked thisyoung man for the loan of his boat. My idea is, first to descend onWindmill Island, which, from Master Stetson's story, I believe to be thehiding place of the gang. The old island would make an ideal hang-outfor them. It is full of passages and galleries and then, too, that oldwindmill tower would make a fine meeting place for such scamps. Folksaround here believe it is haunted and wouldn't be likely to bother them.Young men, we will start for Windmill Island at dusk."
"You want us along?" asked Ralph delightedly.
"Why, of course," was the astonished reply. "You didn't think we couldget along without you, did you?"
"Well, I must say that I'd like to be in at the finish," rejoined Ralph.
"Same here," put in Harry Ware.
"Me for that cruise, if I never take another," grinned Percy Simmonsdelightedly.
"And if I kin come, I'd like ter take a good swat at ther feller whatstole my skiff, by gum!" chortled old man Whey, at which they alllaughed; and the inspector promised the old fellow that he should be amember of the party that hoped to tout the gem smugglers out of theirlast stronghold and bring them to book for their misdeeds.
It was just at the conclusion of this arrangement that a messenger boybroke into the room.
"'Sage fer Ralph Fetson!" he burst out.
"No such----" began the inspector.
"I guess he means me," said Ralph, taking the message.
Sure enough, the dispatch was for him. He tore it open and scanned iteagerly. It was from his father.
"Arrest, annoying mistake. Trip here useless. Made on a forged message. Tell all about it on my return.
Dad."
"Well," said Ralph, after he had communicated the news, "I guess we knowalmost as much about that as dad. He can't get here before to-morrowmorning, and by that time----"
"We'll be able to confront him with the men responsible for hisunpleasant experience," promised the inspector confidently.