CHAPTER XXII--THE REVENUE OFFICERS
The motor-boat was a trim little craft, some forty feet in length, witha cabin forward, and an open deck aft, the latter covered with an awningand containing several chairs.
As she drew nearer Chot uttered an exclamation of astonishment, forplainly visible at the bow was a small brass swivel gun, evidently ofthe rapid fire variety.
"Mr. Lawrence is evidently prepared for war," said Fleet. "I didn't knowthey used such weapons on private yachts."
"That's no private yacht," said Chot, who was studying the boatintently; "see that American flag at the stern and the man in a blueuniform at the wheel. That, fellows, is a government boat, probably inthe revenue service. She is of a fine size to wind in and out amongthese islands."
"But what can she be wanting at Winnsocket Lodge?" asked Pod, perplexed.
"That I can't say, but, very likely, the officers are on the trail ofthe smugglers. They may have taken Mr. Lawrence captive, and are now onthe lookout for the rest of the band."
"We'd better go meet them," said Tom. "That will show our good will."
"Yes; Pod, you go down and tell Bert to watch the prisoners while we aregone, and don't say anything before the smugglers about the officersbeing here."
Pod hurried away to do Chot's bidding, and Chot, Tom, Fleet and Truemwent down to the little wharf toward which the motor-boat was heading.
The noise of her engines soon ceased, and describing a pretty circle,she came drifting up to the landing. Two men--one in the bow, the otherin the stern--threw painters to the boys, who made them fast to posts onthe wharf.
"Is this Winnsocket Lodge?" asked an officer, as he sprang ashore andeyed the boys keenly.
"Yes, sir," Chot responded.
"Do you live here?"
"No; we are a party of cadets from Winton Hall on the Hudson. We came uphere in canoes, then remained as the guests of a Mr. Lawrence, who leftthe day after we arrived."
"Do you know where he is?"
"No, sir; he went away in the night in a motor-boat."
"I am Lieutenant Weston Winters of the United States revenue service,"the officer went on, extending his hand. "We have been trying to traceto their hiding place a band of smugglers. We have every reason tobelieve that this Mr. Lawrence is the leader of the band. Have therebeen any unusual happenings since your arrival?"
"There has been nothing else," Chot replied, smiling. "As for thesmugglers, we have captured the entire band with the exception of Mr.Lawrence, and we were getting ready to take him, too, believing at firstthat this was his boat."
Of course, Lieutenant Winters wanted the details, and Chot related theiradventures from the moment they met Mr. Lawrence until the release ofBert Creighton from the smugglers' lair the previous night.
"And you have these men safe in the cellar?" asked Lieutenant Winters, amerry twinkle in his eyes.
"Yes, sir."
"Then I don't see much use of Uncle Sam keeping his officers in the St.Lawrence. You have done your country a noble service, boys, and onewhich will not be forgotten."
"We have simply tried to do our duty as citizens," returned Chot,earnestly.
"And you have more than succeeded. Now, let me see the captives."
The boys led the way to the lodge, Lieutenant Winters following with twoof his men.
Down into the basement they went where Bert sat with a revolver,guarding the prisoners.
"H'm! A bunch of beauties," was Lieutenant Winter's comment. "There is'Dandy Dick' Short, whom we have been wanting for some time, who wasformerly a notorious smuggler on the gulf coast; and Larry Nexton, andBill Gerry, and Flitty Gray, and, who's this--oh, yes, and JoeSilverton. Why, these are all old friends, boys--and old hands at thesmuggling business. They have been trying to elude our clutches for along time."
"And it looks like we succeeded pretty well," said Dandy Dick Short, theleader of the band. A sneer curled his lip. "It was left to a bunch ofkids to catch us when we were not looking."
"Then all credit to the 'kids,' as you call them," said LieutenantWinters, warmly. "The result has been accomplished, and I think I amsafe in saying that you won't do any more smuggling for some years tocome. How long have you been working for Lawrence?"
The men looked at each other, but said nothing.
"Don't want to squeal on him, eh? Oh, that's all right. I'm glad to seethat there is still some honor among thieves. We'll get him, all right.He knows nothing of what's happened here, and when he returns he'll finda little surprise waiting for him."
Still the men said nothing.
"That's all right, boys, just hold your tongues." The lieutenant turnedto Chot. "I'll leave my two men to take charge of these fellows. We'regoing to stay at the lodge until Lawrence returns."
"That suits us," said Chot. "We'll all wait, and if we boys can renderany further assistance, just command us."
The two men from the revenue boat were placed as guards over theprisoners, thus relieving the boys of all responsibility in this regard.
Lieutenant Winters took up his abode at the lodge, sending themotor-boat around to the east end of the island, where, in a littlecove, she was concealed from view from the north island, as well as theapproaches from the west and south, by one of which routes Mr. Lawrencewould be sure to come on his return to the island.
"Lawrence will no doubt come as he went, in the night," said LieutenantWinters, "so we had best arrange a watch."
"He will probably enter by means of the secret passage," said Tom. "Thatis the way he left, I am sure."
"In other words," said the lieutenant, "believing that you know nothingof the underground exit, he will probably seek to enter his room in thenight and appear before you at the breakfast table as a completesurprise."
"That's the way he likes to do things, I should say, from what littleopportunity I have had for observation," Tom replied.
"Does anyone know what Mr. Lawrence does in Boston?" asked Pod.
"I understand he is a diamond merchant," said Lieutenant Winters, "andthat is one reason why we have been so anxious to catch him. The duty onprecious stones is something enormous, and the government stands to loseconsiderable as long as such clever smugglers remain at liberty."
Chot took occasion to explain the assistance the Jap had rendered them,telling the officer how the Oriental had feared Mr. Lawrence, who hadkept him at all times in a state of subjection and humility.
"I am sure the little Jap never did a wrong thing in his life," saidChot--"in fact, we found that he knew absolutely nothing about thesmuggling, except that something mysterious was going on in the lodge. Idoubt if he even understood what the word, 'smuggling' meant."
"Very likely you are right," replied the lieutenant, "and I assure youthat I have no desire to place him in custody. I should like to have himwhere I can reach him, however, in case I need his testimony at thetrial of the smugglers."
Hoki was delighted when informed that the officers had no designs on hispeace and happiness. He declared his life-long devotion to the boys, andexpressed an ardent desire to learn some American trade or businesswhere he could always be near them. He had saved over a thousand dollarsin his two years' service with Mr. Lawrence, he told them, the smugglerchief having been generous in his reward for Hoki's faithful work.
"Mr. Lawrence can't be all bad," said Fleet, "when he treats Hoki sowell."
"At any rate," said Chot, "this has given me an idea regarding Hoki."After a moment's pause in which he was apparently thinking deeply, hesaid: "Hoki, how would you like to go to an American school?"
"It would give me greatest of pleasure, sirs, if my money issufficiently large enough to accomplish such desires as you mention,"replied Hoki.
"I believe a few years at Winton would make a good American out of you.You already read English do you not?"
"Yes; I read quite well, thank you, sirs."
"Then I believe we can induce Commandant Cullum to take you in."
"It will give me
much joy, believe me, sirs," said the little Jap.
The prospect of being near the Comrades and their chums appealed to himmore than anything else.
The boys resolved to take the Jap to Mortonville as their guest at theend of the canoe trip, from which place negotiations could be carried onwith the commandant at Winton, looking to Hoki's entry into the school.He would be unable to pass a rigid examination, they knew, but in thecase of foreigners exceptions had often been made in other schools, andthey felt sure that Commandant Cullum would make it possible for the Japto attend his institution.
A plan of action was agreed upon before any of the inmates of WinnsocketLodge retired that night. If Mr. Lawrence cared to return to the lodge,he was to be allowed to enter and go secretly to his room. A man wouldthen be stationed outside his door, and another in the yard outside, toguard against any tricks, and in the morning the leader would beinformed of the capture of his band.
As the chief would probably enter the lodge through the basement, thesmugglers were removed to one of the upper rooms of the lodge, that theymight have no opportunity for disclosing their capture prematurely. Twomen still remained on guard over them.
It was assumed that Mr. Lawrence would return in a motor-boat, as he hadleft, and Lieutenant Winters arranged that at a signal from him--a lightplaced in an upstairs window on the side where the government boat wasmoored--the "Lucia," as the government boat was named, was to go inpursuit of the boat which landed Mr. Lawrence, overhaul and capture her,returning thence to the island to take the prisoners to the New Yorkshore.
Nothing occurred the first night, but shortly after midnight on thesecond the sound of a motor-boat was wafted over the water to LieutenantWinters and Tom, who were doing guard duty. Every light had beenextinguished, and from the rear window they waited for some sign thatthe smuggler chief was returning.
They had not long to wait, for the motor-boat came up to the shore ofthe island at a rapid pace. It was a perfect starlit night, and whilethe craft had no lights out, they could make out her dark outlineagainst the water. There was some conversation which they were unable tocatch, then the figure of a man sprang ashore and made for the mouth ofthe passage.
Lieutenant Winters called softly to one of his men to flash the signalto the "Lucia," and a moment later they heard the government boat moveout of the cove and shoot around the end of the island in pursuit.
Tom ran quickly to his room and crawled in bed, and presently thelieutenant heard a soft, scraping sound in the basement, then lightfootfalls on the stairs. Mr. Lawrence made no attempt to strike a light,being thoroughly familiar with every foot of the lodge, and he tip-toedsoftly to the door of his room, entered and closed it with scarcely asound.
"Ah!" breathed the revenue man. "The most important bird is caught atlast."
Then he sat down outside the door of the smuggler chief to await thecoming of day.