CHAPTER XVII
LOST TRAIL
As they gained the deck of the Sub Chaser they were confronted by ayoung ensign in the uniform of Uncle Sam's navy. He regarded themkeenly, then offered his hand to Mr. Temple.
"It seems we came just in time," said he. "A bit later and we would havehad difficulty in locating you in the fog. As it was, we got yourposition through the glasses before the fog closed down. Did they setyou adrift?"
"No, we broke away of our own volition, in a way of speaking," said Mr.Temple. "But explanations can come later. My name is Temple, GeorgeTemple of New York. This is Doctor Marley, and these young men are myson Bob and his chums, Jack Hampton and Frank Merrick."
"And mine is Arthur Warwick," said the other, acknowledging theintroductions, "Ensign Arthur Warwick, U. S. N., at your service. Let usgo to my quarters."
Turning, he led the way with Mr. Temple beside him and the othersfollowing, under the gaze of a number of American sailors scatteredabout.
"Are you going to stick to the trail of the trawler?" queried Mr.Temple.
"We shall try to," said the other. "Although if this fog continues long,our chance of success will be small. We were heading for the S. S. Bear,a north-bound coast liner, to take off Inspector Burton of the SecretService, when your radio caught us and faced us about. Now, from whatMr. Merrick said over the radio, I fancy we had better stick to thistrawler as long as there is a chance of capturing her. If we miss her, Ishall speed up to catch the Bear. Meantime, I have given orders to slowdown with muffled engines, so that if we hear the trawler in the fog westand a better chance. Let us go below, for I want to hear your story ingreater detail."
In the tight little cabin of the Sub Chaser they were considerablycrowded, but by disposing themselves as compactly as possible all foundroom. Then Mr. Temple and the boys told their story. It tookconsiderable time in the telling, for Ensign Warwick asked so manyquestions they were compelled to begin at the very beginning of thingswith Frank's overhearing the words dropped by "Black George" on thetrain.
Ensign Warwick nodded warmly many times during the course of thenarrative, evidently in high approval of the courage and resource shownby the boys. He himself was a young man, not more than twenty-five, tallas Bob and of much the same deep-chested frame with tanned face in whichtwinkled honest blue eyes that impressed the chums favorably.
"You fellows certainly have been having a lot of fun," he said, halfenviously, half laughingly. "While here am I with nothing exciting tobrighten things for me since the war ended."
"Were you on the other side?" asked Frank eagerly. "Golly, how I wantedto go over, but Uncle George said I was too young."
Warwick nodded.
"I was on convoy duty," said he, "and had several brushes with Germansubmarines. I was torpedoed twice, and once sunk a sub."
The three chums regarded him with the greatest interest.
"Just now," he continued, "I've been loaned to the Secret Service. LeftSan Pedro harbor only yesterday morning to report to Inspector Burton atSanta Barbara. Evidently he had boarded the Bear at that port, however,and then changed his mind about going north, for he radioed me to takehim off."
A rap on the door interrupted and Ensign Warwick called an order toenter. A sailor stood in the doorway, coming smartly to salute.
"Fog's not lifting, sir," he said. "And no sound to indicate thetrawler. Your orders to report in an hour, sir."
"Right, Farrell," answered Ensign Warwick. "You may go."
The young sailor withdrew.
"How far down the coast are we now, Ensign?" asked Frank. "Murphy gaveme our bearings aboard the trawler, so I could radio them to you. But Ihave no idea where that is on the map. We had been trying to compute thedistance we traveled from San Francisco, but when we awoke this morningthe trawler's engines were still, and I don't know how long she had lainthere. You spoke of Santa Barbara. Are we near that point?"
"About fifty or sixty miles west-north-west," said the naval officer. Herose. "Shall we go on deck? In this weather I ought to be there."
They followed him from the cabin.
"Say, Bob," said Frank, as the pair dropped behind, "wouldn't it be funto take a cruise aboard this Sub Chaser in pursuit of 'Black George's'gang?"
"Great."
"I mean not just after the trawler. Probably we'll lose her in this fog.But to go on a regular expedition, maybe to nose out the smugglers'rendezvous, maybe clear down into Mexican waters?"
"Great," agreed Bob again.
"Well, we've already had considerable fun out of this," declared Jack,joining them and leaving Mr. Temple and Doctor Marley to continue withthe naval officer.
"Haven't we, though," agreed Frank. "Why, when we get back to HarringtonHall in the fall, and tell the fellows about this----"
"And about our Mexican border adventures, too," supplemented Jack.
"Huh. They'll think we're awful liars," said Bob.
All three laughed.
Mr. Temple turned and beckoned to them to approach.
"We are going to turn about and make a run for the Bear," he said."Ensign Warwick believes this fog will not lift for some time, and thatthe trawler has pretty well given us the slip."
"Well, he's in command," said Frank, ruefully, "but I did hope we'dcapture the trawler. I don't care so much about capturing 'BlackGeorge,' although it's a pity to let him slip through our fingers. But,do you realize that we're not very presentable for polite society? I'dlike to recover our wardrobes."
For the first time it was borne in upon them that Mr. Temple, Bob andFrank were, indeed, scantily clad, and that most of their possessionswere aboard the trawler. In their haste to act quickly in seizing theradio room, all but Jack had set forth clad only in shirt and trousers.They were even without shoes. In their excitement theretofore, none hadthought of this.
"Fortunately, they did not take my wallet," said Mr. Temple, pulling itfrom a pocket, and examining the contents. "I have plenty of money here,so that as soon as we reach port somewhere we can send Jack ashore tobuy us some clothing."
"We're a fine-looking bunch of thugs, now, though, Dad," said big Bob."You and I both need a shave badly. Frank and Jack have such lightwhiskers, you can't tell whether they've shaved or not."
This was a cruel thrust at which Bob's two chums bridled. Bob's whiskerswere heavy, and he had been shaving for years. Frank and Jack, however,only recently had taken on man's estate in this respect.
"Some folks are proud of being hairy as an ape," said Frank cuttingly.
Big Bob merely laughed good-naturedly, and ruffled his smaller chum'shair.
Ensign Warwick with difficulty suppressed a grin.
"I can let you have razors," he said, "and probably we can find shoesfor all of you of some sort. But I have no civilian clothes, and itwould be against regulations for you to wear uniforms."
"Good thing the weather's warm," said Bob.
"Say, I have an idea," cried Frank. "Suppose I call Inspector Burton onyour radio, Ensign, and ask him to see if he can't dig us up someclothes aboard the Bear. He knows us well enough to estimate our size,and, of course, I can give him further specifications."
"Go ahead," said the naval officer. "I planned to call him, anyhow, toreport why we were delayed."
"Good idea, Frank," approved Mr. Temple, who did not relish the prospectof going any longer than necessary clad as he was. "Tell him I'll payany price within reason for good outer clothing."
"You see," said Frank, starting away, "he may not want to put into anyport for some time, and then we'd be out of luck."
"But you will be going aboard the Bear, won't you?" said Ensign Warwick."I hadn't thought of that before, but, of course, that will be the thingfor you to do. Then you can return to San Francisco."
The three boys glanced at each other in dismay.