CHAPTER XXI
THE CAPTURE
Impulsively the boys clasped hands as they realized what the discoverymeant. They had come upon the new hiding place of the wreckers, and thechances were good for capture if no alarm was given.
Joe, perhaps, felt more elated than did Blake, though the latter wasglad that his theory in regard to the direction taken by the men hadproved correct.
But Joe felt that now he had a better chance to prove his fatherinnocent of the charge made against him--that he was involved with thewreckers.
"We've got 'em!" he whispered.
"Yes--we've got 'em--to get!" agreed Blake. "No slip-up this time."
In whispers they consulted, and decided to creep forward a shortdistance to make sure of their first surmise that the men, whose voicesthey heard, were really the wreckers.
"We want to be certain about it," warned Blake, in a cautious whisper.
"That's right," agreed his chum. "Go ahead, and I'll come after you."
Cautiously they advanced until they were in a position to look forwardand make out a number of men working on a sort of mound of rock thatrose from the surface of the cliff.
"This is a better place, from their standpoint, than the other,"whispered Blake. "A light can be seen farther."
"Yes, and they're putting up the same lantern on a rock pile," remarkedJoe. Both lads recognized the apparatus they had seen before. The menwere busily engaged in setting it in place, evidently working fast tomake up for lost time.
"It's the same gang," observed Blake; "and they must know of some vesselthat is to pass here soon, or they wouldn't be in such a hurry. Probablythey count on the steersman mistaking this light for the one atRockypoint, and standing in close here. Up at Rockypoint there is deepwater close in shore, but it shoals very fast both ways, up or down thebeach. So if a vessel saw a false light, and stood close in to get herbearings, she'd be on the rocks in no time."
"That's right," agreed Joe. "She'd be wrecked and these fellows wouldget what they could out of her, caring nothing for the lives lost.Blake, we've got to stop 'em!"
"We sure have."
"Not only to clear my father, but to save others," went on Joe. "What'sbest to be done?"
"Well, we can't capture 'em by ourselves; that's sure," went on Blake,each lad speaking in a cautious whisper. "The best thing for us to do isto go back, I think, and tell Tom Cardiff. He'll know what to do."
"Maybe one of us had better stay here to keep watch. They may skip out."
"No danger. They don't know that we have followed 'em, or that we arehere."
"Then we'll go back together."
"Sure, and give the alarm. Then to make the capture, if we can."
For a few minutes longer the eager boys looked on, unseen by the menwhom they had trailed. The wreckers were busy putting up their lantern,and were making as much noise, talking and hammering on the apparatus,as though they were far removed from possible discovery.
"Well, we'd better be going," suggested Blake, after a bit; and theymade their departure without causing any suspicious sounds, so that thewreckers had no idea, as far as our heroes could ascertain, that theywere being spied upon.
In order to save time, as soon as they got to the nearest smallsettlement, Joe and Blake hired a carriage, and drove to the lighthouse.As may well be imagined their report caused considerable excitement.
"We'll get right after 'em!" cried Tom Cardiff. "I just got a telephonemessage from the secret service men that they are on their way here.They'll arrive in about an hour. We were counting on getting on thetrail ourselves to-day, but you boys got ahead of us. So in about anhour we'll start. I guess they'll be there then; won't they, lads."
"I should judge so," was Blake's answer. "They've got quite a good dealyet to do to get that fake lantern in shape, and they don't seemsuspicious."
"We can't have our life saving friend with us now," went on theassistant keeper, "as he is on duty, but I guess the five of us will beenough."
"Say!" cried Blake, with sudden thought, "if it's going to be an hourbefore we start we've got time to get our automatic moving picturecamera, Joe."
"What for?"
"To get some views of this capture. It ought to make a dandy film, andwe can set the machine in place, start the motor and then you and I canjump in and help catch these wreckers!"
"The very thing!" cried his chum. "I wonder I didn't think of it myself.Come on!"
"Don't be late!" advised Tom Cardiff, as they ran toward the ancientcarriage they had hired. "We don't want any slip-up this time. I'm gladwe're going to try for the capture by daylight, though, instead ofdarkness; it gives us a better chance."
Mr. Ringold and Mr. Hadley were surprised and delighted at the news theboys brought, but they voted against the automatic camera.
"This is a rare chance to get a film," said Mr. Hadley, "and we don'twant to miss it. I'll go along with you, taking a regular moving picturecamera, and while you capture the wreckers I'll make a film of it."
This suited the boys as well, and a little later, with the chiefphotographer, they started back for the lighthouse. They found thesecret service men and Tom Cardiff waiting for them, and, well armed, inaddition to the clubs they carried, and with ropes to bind the wreckers,they started off.
"We're almost there now," said Blake, in a whisper, when they neared thesecond hiding place of the desperate men. "Go easy, now."
"Let me get a chance to go ahead and place the camera," suggested Mr.Hadley, who had the apparatus fully adjusted.
"That's a great idea," declared one of the government men. "Taking theirphotographs in moving pictures! There'll be no chance for them to denythey were present when they were captured," and he chuckled grimly.
Mr. Hadley was given an opportunity to move forward alone. He found anadvantageous spot and almost at once beckoned to the others to hasten.
"They're getting ready to leave!" he whispered, as they reached hisside.
"Come on, then!" cried Tom Cardiff. "Jump in on 'em, boys. Lively now!"
As he spoke he leaped forward, followed by the others.
"Surrender! We've got you surrounded!" yelled the assistant keeper."It's all over but the shouting!" and as he made a grab for one of themen the moving picture machine began clicking.
"Hands up!" ordered Mr. Wilton.
"At 'em, boys!" called the other government man, as he and Blake and Joeleaped to the attack together.
For a moment the wreckers stood as if paralyzed about the stone pedestalon which the false lantern was being built. Then, with one accord, thedesperate men made a dash for the bush.
"Stop 'em!" cried Tom Cardiff. "Don't let 'em get away!"
"Come on!" yelled Blake to his chum. "We've got to get in this fracas!"
And as they dashed after the wreckers the moving picture camera in thehands of Mr. Hadley recorded view after view of the exciting scene.