CHAPTER XXV
STRATEGY
"Bill, Bill, we've found Tony! Saw him a little in the dark and talkedto him. We're going to get him out, Bill!" And Gus, after bursting inwith this good news, told his chum and old Dan all about it. Then theyheld a council of war.
It was pretty certain that the Malatesta had no means of radiocommunication, as they could not have burdened themselves with theapparatus, nor could they have confined their communications to oneperson. That they were seeking ransom money was also pretty certain, andthey were in a position to get it, too.
Bill, Gus and old Dan laid some plans, carefully considered from everyangle, and with the impetus of youth to be acted upon at once. Havingput their transmitting station in operation, Bill got busy on the wires,and on a wave length of 360 meters, began broadcasting notifications toMr. Sabaste and to the police relative to Tony's whereabouts.
"Mr. Angelo Sabaste, do not send ransom money. Mr. Angelo Sabaste, donot send ransom money. Please convey this message to Mr. Angelo Sabaste,banker, of New York City, do not send ransom money. Police departmentsand coast patrol, send swift vessels all along the coast to Lower PointGifford, and the lower inlet to head off any foray from the sea on thepart of those who may have caught this; also to prevent escape ofkidnapers from the inlet.
"Send men to surround the point and cut off escape by land along thepeninsula north of the inlet; also to watch the lower thoroughfare. Somemen meet the senders of this at Oysterman Dan's, in neck of woods aboveLower Point Gifford, to raid kidnapers' roost from there, and effectrescue of young Anthony Sabaste.
"Station men and vessels to-night. Watch all landing places around LowerPoint. Be prepared for trouble. Kidnapers armed and will shoot. AnthonySabaste in small cabin in pine woods about one mile north of inlet. Hardplace to find. Guarded by three men.
"This is William Brown speaking, at Oysterman Dan's cottage--forAugustus Grier, also. Have situation well in hand. Please radio reply atonce."
Bill switched off his batteries and clamped the 'phones of the receiverto his ears. He had to listen in for but a few moments.
"Police Department, City. West Rural Section speaking. We are in directcommunication with East State Mounted Force and contingents and willrelay, acting in unison. Also in communication with coast patrol whoalso have your radio, no doubt, and will act independently. We aresending men and will make raid in morning, closing in north of LowerPoint. Men sent to Oysterman Dan's house to-night. Coast patrol willalso go out to-night. Will advise you personally in the morning. HaveDan send boat for men across thoroughfare to Stone Landing. If men notthere by three A.M., go to Possum Beach and wait."
Bill still listened and the message was repeated, almost verbatim; thensilence. He communicated the information to Gus and old Dan, and theoysterman went off to tidy up his boat for the trip. Bill and Gusdecided to snatch a little sleep. Old Dan, who had napped in theafternoon as usual, agreed to wake them before he left at about twoo'clock, which he did.
"Bill, I've got a hunch we are going at this thing a little too fast,"said Gus.
"How too fast? We can't delay at all, can we?"
"But suppose, when the police make their raid, these Malatestas getdesperate and mad enough to kill Tony? They're a bad lot. I've a notionwe ought to get Tony out of there before----"
"The iron gets too hot, eh? I guess you are right, Gus."
"Look, Bill, here's a scheme. What if we work it this way?" Gusproceeded to outline a plan with every detail of which Bill agreed; andit called for action.
Taking the revolver and some extra cartridges, Bill hobbled along byGus, who gave him a lift, now and then, piggy-back. The boys made theirway south for more than a mile along the thoroughfare swamp edge. Thenthey turned sharply on a path across the wooded peninsula to the beach,and went another half mile among the dunes. A very tall pine treeagainst the sky-line gave Gus his bearings. A little below that theystopped, and Bill found a comfortable hiding-place among scrub pines,with the boom of the breakers in his ears and the sea breeze keeping offthe mosquitoes.
Gus cast about silently for the path that led in to the kidnapers'cabin. Finding it with some difficulty in the darkness, he noted certainlandmarks and went back to Bill. Agreeing on signals in whispers, Guswent back to the path and struck a match, whereupon Bill fired a shot,and immediately afterward, another. Then Gus swiftly made his waydirectly toward the cabin, and when near it, called softly:
"Hello, hello, you fellers! It's me, Sam."
There was a very profound silence for a few minutes. Gus called again:
"Hello! It's me, Sam. Don't shoot!"
And very much with his heart in his mouth, but still determined, headvanced, crouching low so that a bullet would most likely pass highover him. Suddenly a figure appeared directly in front of him and aflashlight was thrown in his face for an instant. Gus knew that he hadbeen identified.
"Lay low," he whispered, not forgetting to keep up the dialect. "They'reout there, somebody--sneakin' along in the open. I seen 'em an' let flyat 'em an' they shot back, but I run on down the woodses. Git yer gangan' come along so's we kin head 'em off if they start in here."
"How we do that? We stay here an' fight 'em, eh?"
"An' that'll give 'em the lay o' this place. We want t' draw 'em up thebeach. Chase along up through the woodses an' come out 'bout a mileabove and shoot oncet er twicet. Two of us kin do that an' two kin layout yan at the end o' the path an' watch fer any of 'em startin' in thisaway, an' then you kin lead 'em off. See? That's the way the smugglin'fellers do it."
The plan must have looked good to the fellow still in the darkness; Gusdid not know to whom he was talking, but he heard the man walk awayrapidly. He waited, as though on pins, and in a moment three figuresloomed before him, one voice questioning him again. The boy tactfullyrepeated his suggestions--then turned back with them as they startedforward, evidently agreeing.
One fellow, Gus could see, was rubbing his eyes. All carried guns.
Two men kept to the path that led toward the beach edge of the woods.Another and Gus went straight on. Presently Gus suggested that they stopand rest awhile; then move on farther up, stop, scatter a little, andlisten. He would sneak out into the open, he said, and look around.There was no danger of his being seen. It would be best to remain thusfor an hour or more--perhaps till morning, mosquitoes or no mosquitoes.A grunt signified agreement.
The boy crept out toward the dunes and on, until he felt sure he couldnot be heard. Then, with the smooth, hard sand for a track he ran,softly on tiptoe, until once again he came below the tall pine. A lowhiss thrice repeated was answered, and he found Bill in the same spot.
"They're all stuck along in the woods yonder," Gus whispered. "If youhear them moving off toward the cabin again, shoot. If they go on, shoottwice. If they come your way, lie low. Here goes for Tony, old scout!"
Gus had some difficulty getting to the cabin from the south side. Hemissed it once, got too far into the woods, turned, regained the dunes,struck in again and this time started to pass within a few yards of it,but by merest chance saw the gable end against the sky.