Smugglers' Reef: A Rick Brant Science-Adventure Story

  CHAPTER XVIII

  Brendan's Marsh

  Rick stared out the window at the gathering dusk. "I'd like to knowwhat's taking Jerry so long with those pictures," he grumbled. "Heshould have been here an hour ago."

  Scotty had been trying to read a book. He gave it up as a bad job andjoined Rick at the window. "Maybe he stopped for dinner," he said.

  "I'll put ground glass in his cake next time he comes to dinner if hehas," Rick threatened.

  Jerry had phoned before leaving for New York earlier in the day. Afterconsultation with Duke, they had agreed that Jerry would bring thepictures directly to the island, and that Rick and Scotty would leavethe boat at the landing for him to use.

  The editor was as anxious as any of them to see the pictures, but, ashe pointed out, there was no longer any special haste, and hepreferred not to have both himself and Jerry away from the paper atthe same time, especially in the very early or very late evening whenthe wire service newscasts were coming in.

  Rick had agreed. He planned to project the film, choose the singleframes that would be the most useful, rephotograph them, and makeenlargements for Duke and Captain Douglas. The rephotographing wasdone with a special, inexpensive device that could be purchased at anyphoto supply store.

  Scotty opened the window wider and stuck his head out. "Thought Iheard something."

  Rick looked at his watch. It was shortly after eight. "Let's take theglasses and walk out to the north side," he said. "It won't becompletely dark until around nine, and we'll be able to see himcoming."

  "Wait a minute." Scotty held up his hand. "There. I thought I heardsomething. He's coming now. I recognize the launch motor."

  Rick started for the door, then he hesitated. "You go meet him. I'llget the projector set up in the library."

  He ran down the stairs and called, "Mother. Dad. Jerry's coming withthe pictures." Then he hurried into the library, took his foldingscreen from the closet and set it up. He got the projector from itscase, plugged it in, using his father's desk as a table, and put onthe take-up reel. He finished focusing just as Scotty and Jerry burstinto the room. Mr. and Mrs. Brant were right behind them.

  "Got a clogged gas line," Jerry explained breathlessly. "I finally gota man to push me to the nearest gas station. We took the gas line offat the carburetor and blew it out with compressed air. I didn't daretake time to find out what had clogged it, because I knew you'd lynchme."

  "You're forgiven," Rick said. He had already taken the film fromJerry and was threading it through the projector gate. He inserted theloose end in the take-up reel and motioned to Scotty. "Here we go."

  Scotty snapped out the light and Rick started the projector. Whiteleader ran through the gate, then suddenly, clear as day, there weretwo ships below, their center sections brightly illuminated and therest fading out slightly toward what had been the edges of theinfrared beam.

  "Excellent, Rick," Hartson Brant said. "Good work, son! That's muchbetter than I had hoped."

  "Same here, Dad," Rick said, eyes on the screen. The ships appeared tobe whirling slowly, the result of his having taken the picture whilecircling in a tight bank. He could see the men on the decks clearly,and even thought he recognized Brad Marbek. Then, as the anglechanged, he saw Marbek clearly, waving his arm.

  "What flag is that?" Scotty asked suddenly. "There, on the stern ofthe freighter."

  The flag was limp because there had been no breeze to speak of, butpart of the design was clear. "I have it," Hartson Brant exclaimed."That ship is of Caribbean registry." He named the country, then said,"Look for the name of the ship."

  But the angle was wrong for that. The name was not within the camera'sview, on either stern or bow.

  The film was running out rapidly now. Rick watched the cargo net swingover, full of wooden cases, and drop on the deck of the freighter. Fora moment it didn't register, then he yelled. "Hey! Ohmigolly! Did yousee that?" He threw the reverse switch and the film ran backward. Thenet lifted from the deck of the freighter and swung toward the_Albatross_. Then he ran it forward again and watched the load settleto the freighter's deck.

  Scotty yelled, too. "What a pair of chuckleheads! Rick, no wonder wedidn't find anything on the _Albatross_ and neither did CaptainDouglas! They're smuggling stuff _out!_ Not in!"

  The Plimsoll mark! The _Albatross_ had been heavily loaded becauseBrad Marbek had _taken on the load at Creek House he would deliverlater to the freighter_.

  That was why no ships had been listed in the New York paper as beingin the right area at the right time. They had looked for arrivaltimes, not sailing times.

  That was why the cache of cases was no longer in the marsh behindCreek House. These pictures were of those cases being loaded on thefreighter!

  The picture ran through and white light flashed on the screen. Scottysnapped the lights on.

  "We've got to get these pictures to Captain Douglas," Rick exclaimed."I'll hurry and rephotograph them right away. It will only take amoment."

  He hastily rewound the film while Scotty ran ahead to the photo lab.Hartson Brant said, "Ed will be glad to get those, Rick. But don't getyour hopes too high. The pictures don't show any contraband in thosecases, and that's what you'll need."

  "I know, Dad," Rick replied. "But at least we know now why we'vealways been wrong. We were backwards!"

  He hurriedly excused himself, then he and Jerry hurried after Scotty.

  Scotty already had loaded the rephotographing camera with film andscrewed a photo flood bulb into a convenient receptacle. It took Rickonly ten minutes to select the frames he wanted to rephotograph andfinish the operation. Then he gave the rephotographing camera toScotty who wound the film all the way through and took it out.

  "Let's develop it," he said, and reached for the shelf to take down asmall developing tank.

  "Wait!" An idea struck Rick. "How do we know Brad isn't going to loadagain tonight? Remember the Kelsos have only a few more days at CreekHouse."

  Jerry snapped his fingers. "That's right! And I'll bet they'regloating over hoodwinking the State Police, too. They wouldn't beafraid to ship _out_ another load, particularly since they knowthey're suspected of smuggling stuff _in_ and it might be their lastchance."

  "We can't risk it," Rick said decisively. "We'll take this film toWhiteside and have the photographer at the paper develop it. How aboutthat, Jerry?" The reporter nodded agreement and he continued, "Whileit's being developed, we can go through the New York papers again andfind out if a ship of Caribbean registry is sailing. About midnightwould be right for a sailing time."

  Scotty reached for the light. "We'd better hurry." He snapped it outand led the way through the door. He and Jerry went directly to theboat landing while Rick ran upstairs and picked up his infraredcamera, just in case. If the police raided Creek House tonight, heintended to be on hand.

  Scotty had chosen the fast speedboat and already had the engineturning over. Rick jumped aboard and they roared toward Whiteside. Atthe dock they transferred to Jerry's car and sped through the streetsto the newspaper office. Duke Barrows had just finished with the earlynewscast and, taking advantage of the lull, had gone home for dinner;he would return in about an hour, the photographer said. He was theonly man in the office. Jerry gave him the roll of film on which Rickhad rephotographed the critical scenes from the movie and asked fortwo enlargements of each.

  "It's urgent," he said. "Duke will want to see these when he getsback."

  "He'll have 'em." The photographer headed for the darkroom.

  Rick and Scotty didn't wait any longer. They took the file of New Yorkpapers from the rack and hurriedly leafed through them to the properdates.

  "Here's one!" Rick found a pencil and jotted down the name of the shipand its owner. The next date disclosed a ship of the same registry andowner, but with a different name. They worked rapidly and it took onlya few minutes now that they knew what to look for, and presently theyhad the job completed. Jerry, who had been phoning Duke, joined themand looked ov
er Rick's shoulder as he read aloud.

  "All the same company and registry. It's the Compania Maritima Caribey Atlantica." He stumbled a little over the Spanish name. This wasgood evidence. He looked at his friends, eyes shining. "Now fortoday's paper. Got it Jerry?"

  The reporter found it on Duke's desk and they spread it out on atable. Three heads bent over it. There was no ship of that company andregistry listed as sailing tonight. Then Scotty spotted a separatelisting of ships now loading.

  "Got one! But it's scheduled to sail night after tomorrow. And look!It's the same ship that was here two weeks ago!"

  Rick sat down at Jerry's desk. He still couldn't escape the feeling ofurgency. He had played his hunches before and he did so now. He leanedover and picked up a copy of the New York phone directory. With theothers watching curiously, he leafed through it, found the right pageand ran his finger down it until he had the number, then he picked upJerry's phone and called it.

  While the operator made the connection, he held his hand over themouthpiece. "A hunch. The shipping offices are closed now, but thePort Director at New York will know."

  A female voice said, "Port of New York Authority."

  "Information on ship sailings, please," Rick requested.

  The operator rang an extension and a male voice answered.

  "I know you don't usually bother with information of this kind," Ricksaid, "but this is the Whiteside _Morning Record_ and we need it fortomorrow's edition. I'd like to know if there is any correction on thesailing date of this ship." He read off the name and company and thepier number.

  "Just a minute, Whiteside. I'll be glad to look it up."

  Rick waited tensely.

  "Here it is. That ship was supposed to sail Friday night, but thesailing has been moved up. She leaves tonight at midnight."

  "Thanks," Rick said. "Thanks!" He hung up and turned to his friends."Tonight's the night! I had a hunch something was up. Of course Bradand the Kelsos would have the sailing moved up, because they'refrightened. I'll bet tonight will be their last load, then the Kelsoswill clear out and Brad will go back to just fishing."

  "Tonight or never," Scotty echoed. "What do we do now?"

  "Call Captain Douglas." Rick picked up the phone again and asked forState Police headquarters. There was a little delay while the officerwas called to the phone, then Rick quickly outlined their findingsfrom the movie film and the New York paper. "If we get down there, wecan catch them in the act of loading," he said. "How about it,Captain?"

  Captain Douglas hesitated. "I hate to stick my neck out again afterlast night, but this looks like a sure thing. We'll need a searchwarrant, Rick, and it will take a little time to rout out a judge. AndI'll have to see the pictures first. We have to show cause when we geta warrant, you know, and the judge will be a little reluctant afterlast night."

  "The pictures are being printed now," Rick told him. "You can havethem in a little while."

  "Right. I'll round up the men I need and bring them with me. And I'llget the judge on the phone and ask him to make out the warrant andpromise to show him the evidence when I pick it up."

  "How long will it take?" Rick asked.

  "We'll be on our way in an hour. I'll get going right now."

  The captain hung up. Rick looked at his watch and then at the rapidlyfading light outside. "They won't be in time," he said desperately."If they rush the loading, they can have the _Albatross_ out of there.Then what happens? They'll have to get another warrant to search thetrawler at the pier, and there won't be any evidence to tie the cargoup with the Kelsos!"

  Scotty held up the infrared camera. "Unless we get it," he said.

  Rick's eyes widened. Go back to Creek House? But even as he shudderedat the thought of what would happen to them if they were caught again,he knew there was no other way.

  "Jerry," he said crisply, "we're going on ahead. Run us down to thedock and we'll get started. Then you come back here and wait forCaptain Douglas and Duke. Give them the pictures and this dope fromthe shipping news, and for the love of Rick and Scotty, tell them tostep on it when they start for Seaford!"

  Jerry protested halfheartedly as they sped to the dock, but theyconvinced him it would be better for him to wait and impress on theothers the need for speed. He dropped them at the speedboat with aplea to be careful, then headed back to the office.

  Scotty got behind the wheel while Rick cast off and they roared out tosea with the throttle wide open. The speedboat climbed to the step andplaned along like a racer, leaving a foaming wake. Then, as theypassed Spindrift Island and met rougher water, it began to bouncefrom one wave crest to the next. Spray swirled over the windshield andinto the boat. Scotty started the wipers. Rick crouched down under thedashboard and rechecked his camera, trying out the infrared dynamo andthe camera motor. Just to be on the safe side, he had brought thecamera case, which contained the extra film and a tripod. Now he gotthe tripod ready but waited to see what would happen before he placedthe camera on it.

  He sat back in the seat, satisfied that everything was in readiness,and looked around him. Suddenly he stiffened. There were ship runninglights on the horizon. The trawler fleet was returning to Seaford, andBrad Marbek would be among them! He leaned over and switched out theirown running lights.

  Scotty glanced around, saw the masthead lights, and nodded hisunderstanding.

  "Better make a plan," he suggested. "What do we do when we get there?"

  "Stick our heads into the lion's mouth," Rick replied unhappily. "Ihate to try getting into the Creek House grounds again after lasttime!"

  "Do we have to? How about watching from the boat?"

  "We couldn't get near enough without being seen. Wait! We could atthat!" Rick struggled to remember details of the photo they had takenshowing the marsh opposite Creek House. "We could go into the marsh.Remember that inlet nearest the creek? That branched off in the rightdirection. There are emergency oars in this and we could use them aspoles and shove our way in. We might get close enough."

  "And if we don't, we can wade the rest of the way." Scotty leaned overand wiped mist from the windshield. "Good idea." He laughed, withoutmirth. "Brad and the two redheads would have a fine time chasing usthrough the swamp. Here's one pigeon they'd never catch."

  "Make it two pigeons," Rick corrected.

  They were making good time, even though the slapping of the speedboatover the rough water was giving them a bad jouncing. They roared pastthe last group of summer cottages before Brendan's Marsh, leaving awake that set the boats anchored near the shore to rocking.

  At Rick's suggestion, Scotty throttled down as they swept along theedge of the marsh. The noise of the wide-open engine might be heard atCreek House and arouse suspicion. Then, as Smugglers' Light neared andthey knew they were getting close, Scotty throttled down still more.Rick unlashed the pair of oars from their position along the gunwaleand got them ready. It was fully dark now and difficult to see,although the moon was rising.

  Scotty leaned over and cut the ignition. "Don't dare to use the engineany nearer than this," he said, his voice low.

  Rick saw that they were perilously near the creek mouth. He turned tolook at the incoming trawlers and saw the nearest one almost abeam ofthem a quarter mile out. "Watch for that inlet," he whispered. "Andlet's get into the next seat back. The windshield will interfere if wetry to paddle from here." He hadn't rigged the oarlocks, knowing theywould be unable to row in the narrow inlet. They would have to usethe oars as paddles.

  They climbed over the seat back and each took an oar, kneeling likecanoeists. Rick was on the inland side, and he saw the inlet mouthfirst. "Here," he whispered, and backed water with his oar. The bow ofthe boat swung around.

  Rushes and marsh grass scraped past them. The lights of Creek Housewere still invisible. Rick strained his eyes to see; it was almostinky black in the tall rushes. Then Scotty reached out and felt withhis oar.

  "Left turn," he whispered. He had found the inlet branch that ledtoward the hotel. Now
he backed water, trying not to splash, whileRick poled ahead. The boat swung into the narrow channel, reedstouching it on both sides and making a hissing noise as theyprogressed.

  "Only a few feet of water," Rick said softly. "And mud at the bottom."Each time he lifted his oar he felt the weight of a ball of muck onthe end.

  The boat slid gently to a stop. Both boys put their weight on theoars, but it moved only two feet ahead then stopped once more. Theyput their heads together and discussed it in a low whisper becausethey were near the creek.

  "We're aground," Scotty said.

  "Guess we get out and walk," Rick returned. "Better take our shoes andsocks off. It will be muddy."

  "We'll be lucky if we don't sink in up to our necks."

  Scotty took his arm suddenly. Rick started to ask what was the matter,then he heard it, too. The cough of a Diesel engine exhaust and theclanking of gear told him that a ship was nearing. A shiver ranthrough him. Brad Marbek, coming in to load!

  "Let's step on it, he whispered. He sat down and removed his shoes andsocks, then climbed up on the gunwale and walked forward, brushingagainst the rushes but trying not to make too much noise. He took hisoar and shoved straight down from the bow. There was about a foot ofwater, then another eighteen inches of mud before the bottom firmed.It would be hard going. He started back, but Scotty came to meet him,carrying the camera and power pack.

  "The tripod," Rick requested in a low whisper. "If the ground is sosoft I can't get a firm stance, I'll need it."

  Scotty handed him the equipment, then went back and got the tripod.Rick screwed the camera into place with a few turns of the tripod nut.Scotty disconnected the power cord that led from the power pack to thecamera and coiled it up. They could reconnect it when they needed it.Meanwhile, it would interfere with their progress. He slung the powerpack over his shoulder.

  Rick put the camera and tripod on the deck, then turned his back tothe creek and lowered himself. The water was cold and the muck seemedto reach up for him. He felt firmer ground under his toes and lethimself go, then held his hands within reach of the boat as hecontinued to sink. He was up to his thighs when the ground finallyheld. He reached up and took the camera, holding it high in the air,and started forward.

  Each step was an effort. He had to lift his leg high before each step,and the mud clung. Behind him, he heard the sucking, splashing, ofScotty's progress.

  Then the ground began to get firmer until at last there was only athin film of water and about a foot of mud. The lights of Creek Housecould be seen through the rushes now. He held up his hand as a warningto Scotty. They were close to the bank. In a moment he parted thereeds and looked through. Scotty moved to his side. The _Albatross_was tying up at Creek House pier, and Brad Marbek was just leaping tothe dock where the Kelsos waited. But the boys were too far downtoward the creek mouth. They would have to move along the bank. Rickgave Scotty a little push in that direction and Scotty understood. Hewent back into the marsh a few feet, then led the way.

  It was easier going, but still far from pleasant. The muck gave everystep a slurping sound, and it clung in gobs. Then the vantage pointScotty selected was reached, directly opposite the pier. They partedthe rushes slightly and looked out.

  The crew of the _Albatross_ was climbing down under the pier. As theboys watched, they poled out a shallow-draft, broad-beamed rowboatabout fifteen feet long. It was the barge on which the contraband hadwaited in the swamp.

  Rick put his lips to Scotty's ear. "Wonder why Captain Douglas didn'tsee that?"

  "He probably did. It wouldn't mean anything with the cargo gone."

  Sensible, Rick thought. There would have been no occasion for thecaptain to mention it. He searched for a bit of firmer ground on whichto rest the camera and found it. He began to worry about the hum ofthe dynamo. Would it be heard when they turned it on? And thefilament of the infrared searchlight would be visible, too, againstthe dark background of the marsh. Did they dare try it?

  The crew of the _Albatross_ was in the flatboat--it scarcely could becalled a rowboat--already heading upstream. The Kelsos and Marbekwalked toward the house.

  Good! That would give them a chance to try the camera. Rick waitedimpatiently until the boat rounded the turn leading to Salt CreekBridge, then he sighted in on the _Albatross_, checked his settings,and started both the camera and infrared light. The dynamo and cameramotor hummed quietly. He breathed a sigh of relief. Surely that muchsound would blend imperceptibly with the normal night noises. Peepersin the fresher water upstream made more noise than that. He walkedahead of the camera and peered into the infrared searchlight. Ifanyone looked real closely, they might see it. He hoped the men on theopposite shore would be too busy to glance his way.

  He switched off the mechanism and settled down to wait. His trouserswere wet and heavy with mud, and his legs and feet were chilled.Mosquitoes whined around his head and little gnats settled down for ameal on his exposed neck and head. He began to wonder if it was worthit.

  Carrots Kelso came out of the house, and he had his rifle. The boyswatched as he disappeared behind the hotel, taking up his position asguard.

  Each minute had lead in its shoes. Why didn't the boat return? Andthen, suddenly, it was rounding the bend! Rick moved behind the cameraand loosened the pan-head. He swung the lens upstream. Scotty partedthe rushes for him and he began to shoot. Infrared illuminated theboat clearly. He saw the faces of the crew, saw the cases stacked fromstem to stem and even read their labels. Hummer sewing machines. Hedidn't believe for a moment that there were really sewing machines inthem, but he couldn't guess their actual content.

  He stopped shooting and rewound the camera while Scotty cranked thedynamo spring, then he took another brief sequence, stopped, andwaited. No more now until they actually reached the dock and startedto transfer the stuff.

  Red Kelso and Brad Marbek came out of the hotel and he startedshooting again, then he switched to a telephoto lens and took aclose-up of their faces as they watched the boat draw near.

  Carrots appeared around the front of the hotel and Rick got him, too,before he vanished again, patrolling the grounds.

  The boat touched the dock. A crewman leaped to the place where Kelsoand Marbek stood. There was conversation with much gesturing andpointing into the boat. Then the crewman jumped down again andmotioned to one of his fellows. Rick started shooting. Clearly, asthough it were day, he saw the two bend over something in the bow.They heaved upright and a chill shot through him. A man, bound andgagged! Then they turned the man over to hand him up to the dock andRick's teeth clamped on his lip so hard that he groaned.

  It was Jerry Webster!