CHAPTER XXXIII. OFF ON THE CHASE.
"Well, Harry, this is going to be some cruise!"
"Humph! I've a notion it will be all of that and then some," repliedHarry Ware, as he and Ralph Stetson stood side by side on the bridge ofthe _River Swallow_. The dusk was deepening into night and the _RiverSwallow_ lay at the Piquetville dock tugging at her hawsers, as ifanxious to be off on what was to prove the most memorable trip of hercareer.
"We're going to try conclusions with that _Artful Dodger_ at last, andtie her up hard and fast, and certain members of her crew as well."
"All well and good," said Harry, "but just the same my advice would beto stay far away from that craft. She's a bad one. I don't like the ideaof coming up with her."
"More ghost shivers, eh?" laughed Ralph. "Stay ashore if you like,Harry."
The Ware boy flushed crimson.
"What are you talking about? I'm not scared. Don't you dare say I am,Ralph Stetson."
"That's all right, Harry," soothed Ralph, with a laugh. "I know thatwhen we catch the _Artful Dodger_ you'll be just as courageous as anyone else. But till then----"
"You'll please quit teasing me about that craft."
"All right, if that's the way you feel about it."
"What if they threw a bomb or something at us while we were chasingthem?"
"No danger of that. I shouldn't wonder, in fact, if we miss the craftaltogether. Of one thing I'm glad, though, we are going to explore themysteries of Windmill Island."
"Umph! That's a nice, cheerful job. We saw one explosion there. How dowe know that there won't be another? That fellow Rawson was thinking ofmaking a mine with that dynamite that blew up when the hut caught fire.How do we know he mayn't have some such cheerful little contrivanceplanted off the island that may blow us sky-high?"
Ralph lost all patience.
"Say, if you don't stop croaking, I'll ask the inspector to have you putashore. Why, old man Whey is far more courageous than you are."
Harry walked off with his hands in his pockets. He was indignant, butRalph only smiled.
"He'll be back in a while," he said to himself, "and when he does comehe'll be ashamed of himself."
He was right. Shortly after the customs inspectors boarded the boat andfound the boys and old man Whey all ready for them, Harry stole up toRalph.
"I hope we don't sight that _Artful Dodger_," said he, "but if we do,nothing will suit me but to bring her back with a double half-hitch inher nose."
"I knew that was the way you'd feel about it, Harry," said Ralph, andthen turned to greet the customs inspectors.
All was in readiness. Nothing was to be gained by waiting, and the wordto cast off soon came. Through the fast falling gloom the _RiverSwallow_ slipped out into the St. Lawrence, while a thrill ran throughall of those on board as they thought of the night's work that dependedupon them.
"Want the search-light?" asked Harry, as they moved along.
Old man Whey, who acted as pilot, from his thorough knowledge of theriver, had just told them they were not far from Windmill Island.
"Not on your life," snapped the chief inspector; "we don't want toherald the fact that we are coming. I would suggest, captain, that youextinguish even your side-lights."
"Taking a chance," said Ralph, scanning the compass card.
"Never mind. We'll have to risk it."
The next instant a sharp click showed that the lights were out.
Stealthily as a shadow the _River Swallow_ crept over the dark water,not a light showing on board her. With her under-water exhaust, too, herengines were perfectly silent. Like a ghost ship she crept along, withold man Whey guiding Ralph's steering.
After a while the old man signaled to the chief inspector.
"Better take to the small boat here," he advised, "and anchor the _RiverSwallow_. I'm not sure of the rocks and shoals, and Windmill Island liesright off there."
"Very well," said the inspector, "anchor as noiselessly as possible."
The anchor chain was slipped out slowly with hardly any of its customarywhirring and rattling. The engines ceased to revolve. The _RiverSwallow_ swung noiselessly at her moorings. Then came the command tolower the launch tender.
When this was done, they all descended into it and, using the oars--forthey did not want to announce their coming by the popping of theengine--they set off through the darkness for the shore.
Presently, like a tall ghost, the white finger of the windmill towerupreared itself through the surrounding gloom.
Ralph, who sat next Harry, felt the lad give a shiver.
"Goose flesh?" he laughed, nudging the boy.
"Goose flesh nothing!" exclaimed Harry indignantly. "It's fightingflesh."
The bow of the tender grated on the beach. It was after ten o'clock. Nolight or other evidence of human habitation was visible.
"Maybe our birds have skipped," said the chief inspector, indisappointed tones.
"Hold on a minute!" whispered Ralph, in a low, tense voice. "What's thatcoming?"
"It's a motor boat," cried Harry.
"Heading this way, too," declared the inspector.
"Lie low, everybody," cautioned Jennings the next instant. "It's the_Artful Dodger_, for a thousand dollars!"