CHAPTER XXII--JED RUNS A NAVAL BOMBARDMENT
"Get into my machine, all hands," urged Deputy Sheriff Warren. "It's theonly way ever to get out of this crush."
Those who could not sit in the auto had to stand, wedged in, as Warren,clearing a way as fast as he could, got the various members of the partyto the car. Then, with a toot of the horn, the machine started.
"I want to get you all over to the hotel to see what is to be done inthe way of prosecution," the deputy explained to Mr. Dunstan. "Yourlawyer can help us, too, if he will."
Horace Dunstan had as yet had time to have but a very few words with hisnow astonished son. As soon, however, as the party got in a room bythemselves Master Ted stepped quickly over to Halstead, holding out hishand.
"I put up as good a fight against you as I could, captain," he said,"but now I want to apologize and thank you."
"I knew that time would come," Halstead laughed, as he took the youngerboy's hand.
"Now we want to understand a few things," broke in Lawyer Crane. "MasterTheodore, you have told us that you went away with strangers inobedience to what you considered written instructions from your father.Who handed you that note?"
"Gambon, dad's gardener."
"What did the note say?"
"The note said my inheritance was in great danger, and the two boys dadhad hired to run the 'Meteor' were in the plot against me. I was told togo to the men to whom Gambon would take me and to follow theirinstructions in everything for a few days."
"And you believed all that?" demanded the lawyer.
"Yes. Why not?" challenged Master Ted. "I thought the note was in dad'sown writing and he had always told me the truth about everything."
"Did those men treat you roughly?" inquired the lawyer.
"Never a bit of it," replied young Dunstan. "I thought I was having thebest time of my life. It was such fun to be in the woods, hiding fromthe plotters, as they told me, and then scooting about from place toplace to get rid of our enemies, as I also thought. And we had a lot offine fishing. Oh, it was all a great good time--until Tom Halsteadpounced upon me and bore me away."
"Where is that scoundrel, Gambon, now?" asked Lawyer Crane, lookingaround at the others.
"He ought to be out at the Sanderson farm or near there," replied Joe."I trailed him there and it was just after Gambon had slipped up to thefarmhouse that I ran against Tom in the dark."
"We want that fellow, Gambon," shouted Mr. Dunstan angrily. "I'll pay agood reward to have him caught and jailed."
"Remember, we have only your son's evidence that Gambon handed him thenote," replied Mr. Crane. "There is no other witness on the point,and----"
Rap, rap, rap! sounded a brisk summons on the door. Warren admittedthree men, one of whom he seemed to know.
"These gentlemen are United States officers," the deputy stated, comingback with the visitors, after a few words exchanged in a low tone. "Mr.Dunstan, this is Mr. Lawrence. The Government turned over to him theletter you sent about Alvarez and that fellow's filibustering work."
"I thought the Government intended to pay no attention to my letter,"said Mr. Dunstan.
"At first our department couldn't take up the matter," replied Mr.Lawrence. "All our men were busy. But Mr. Joyce," turning to indicateone of his companions, "has been here on the island since yesterdaymorning. His news, however, leads us to believe that the filibusterswill not attempt to get away from here with their unlawful cargo for afew days yet."
"Then perhaps Mr. Joyce does not know," put in Tom, "that Alvarez andSanderson have been moving that cargo from the farm buildings down to anew shed near the pier."
The United States officers looked at each other queerly at thisinformation.
"I think," pursued young Captain Halstead, "that the Alvarez crew meanto get their goods away to-night or to-morrow night."
"This matter will have to have quick looking into," said Mr. Lawrence,hastily. "But one thing we came here to learn is whether you intend toprosecute any of that crowd under the state law?"
"If you can get the Alvarez crowd under the federal law," said LawyerCrane, quickly, "I think you will be able to push the prisoners harder.For one thing, we might be hampered by the fact that Alvarez and hisassociates didn't actually steal young Dunstan, but lured him away. Thesame thing, perhaps, but it might make a difference with a jury. What doyou say, Mr. Dunstan? Shall we forego prosecution in favor of giving thenational Government the best chance at the offenders?"
"Why, after thinking it over a bit," rejoined Horace Dunstan, "I aminclined to feel that I have won out over the rascals, and I can affordto let it go by by laughing at them."
"Good," nodded Inspector Lawrence. "Then, Mr. Dunstan, there are stillhundreds of people outside the hotel, talking over the whole wonderfulstory. Why don't you go out, the local officers and your lawyer withyou? The crowd will be sure to yell for a speech. Make them a littleone, and in it state that you consider the joke is on your enemies. Addthat you have therefore forgiven that other crowd, and that you willshow it by attempting no prosecution."
"I'll do that if it will help you," replied Mr. Dunstan, after lookingat his lawyer, who nodded.
"Dad, after this, if you send me notes," said Ted, "you'll have to havea private way of signing your name, so I'll know the note really comesfrom you."
Warren had been explaining the story of the mystery, aside, to InspectorJoyce, who now broke in:
"Alvarez, as you may not know, was formerly a Mexican. A series offorgeries, committed by him and detected, forced him to flee toHonduras. So it is easy to understand how the note to young Dunstan wasforged."
Ted again thanked Tom and Joe, and for that matter, the others who hadaided him. Then the Dunstan party prepared to go.
"Halstead, you and your friend will remain, I hope," proposed Mr.Lawrence.
"Certainly he may remain," said Mr. Dunstan. "I fancy he can be of muchassistance to you, gentlemen. So will Dawson."
"And Mr. Dunstan," suggested Lawrence, going after Ted's father, "maywe, if it seems necessary, use your boat to-night?"
"I would be a poor citizen to refuse that to the Government's officers,"smiled Mr. Dunstan. "Certainly you may have the 'Meteor.'"
Warren and his friends remained, but went to another side of the room.Tom and Joe were invited to seat themselves and go over the whole storywith the Government officers.
When Lawrence saw the note that had been pressed into Halstead's hand,out in the crowded square, the inspector looked rather grave.
"Yes, that defiance comes from Alvarez," he declared. "Now, CaptainHalstead, until the rascals have been taken, or driven from the country,you will do well to be wholly on your guard. Alvarez, when driven into acorner, is as desperate and remorseless as is the proverbial fightingrat."
"You're going over to Sanderson's place to-night, are you?" asked Joe,after some more of the tale had been told.
"Assuredly," replied Mr. Lawrence. "We shall have to watch every nightuntil an attempt is made to get the unlawful cargo out onto the highseas. But I am afraid Alvarez and his crowd will be in hiding to-night,fearing the local officers on account of the Dunstan business."
"Did you hear the cheers outside?" asked one of Warren's companions,entering at this moment. "Mr. Dunstan just made the requested speech.There was a dead hush when he declared to the crowd that he had no ideaof attempting to prosecute the men who had lured his boy away. The crowdwas plainly disappointed."
"It will be a good thing for us, if that news reaches theSanderson-Alvarez crowd," mused Mr. Lawrence.
"I haven't a doubt that the pleasing news will reach 'em," smiled TomHalstead. "If they had a man in the crowd to force that note into myhand, the same man must still be there and will take back any news thathe can."
"Then we'll stop talking of this matter until we've fortified ourselveswith something to eat," proposed Mr. Lawrence. "Are you young men of the'Meteor' hungry?"
"Hungry?" echoed Halstead, feelingly.
"No, I'm not really hungry," stated Joe. "At the same time if a nicelittle lamb, roasted whole, tried to walk by me just now, it would showgreat want of judgment on the lamb's part."
"Then we'll go to supper," declared the inspector rising. "But you youngmen would do well to keep away from us in the dining room, in case thereshould be any watchers about for the Alvarez party. We can meet up hereagain after the meal is over."
When the boys, Warren's party and the three United States officers cametogether again Mr. Lawrence proposed that Warren take Joe in the autoover to the Dunstan place. Joe and Jed could bring the "Meteor" aroundto a wharf in Nantucket harbor, and all could embark.
"The trip could be made by land, in autos, of course," InspectorLawrence explained to Halstead. "But there's a possibility that we mayneed to pursue a filibustering steam craft."
Later on the hotel party sauntered down, in three or four groups, to thewharf in question. By the time they arrived at the water front they madeout the "Meteor" just gliding into the harbor, Jed Prentiss at the wheeland Joe in the engine room. The entire party quickly embarked, Tom nowtaking the wheel. Darkness was just coming down as the "Meteor" with nolights showing by Mr. Lawrence's order, stole around Great Point. Now,Halstead let out a few more notches of speed, the boat going swiftlydown the east coast of the island.
"Joe," murmured Tom, his eyes shining as his chum came up from theengine room, "do you remember the 'great night' we had off the mouth ofthe Kennebec?"
"Yes," nodded Dawson, "but this is going to be easier for us. Instead ofone, there are seven officers aboard to-night, and the sea is almostglassy. This won't be anything but a business trip, so to speak."
Whether Joe was right in his prediction yet remained to be seen. AtHalstead's suggestion, made to Inspector Lawrence, the "Meteor" was runquietly into a small cove, just north of a bend that, in daylight, wouldhave shut them out of a view of Sanderson's pier. As the motor boat wascarrying no lights Mr. Lawrence felt confident that they had made thecove without having been discovered from lower down the coast.
"We'll want two guides who know every foot of the way," decided Mr.Lawrence. "Dawson will know the way to the outbuildings behind thefarmhouse, and the lay of the ground about there. Halstead, you canpilot some of us over the ground near the pier. Now that the anchor isoverboard the 'Meteor' will be safe here. Prentiss can remain aboard.Even if he discovered trouble threatening, he could raise the anchor andslip swiftly out into open water. The 'Meteor' can show a vanishingstern to any other boat in these waters."
"And if you _should_ want to signal us for help, Jed," said Tom, amoment later, bringing up on deck a box from one of the lockers, "hereare the signal rockets and Roman candles. Wait a moment."
Tom disappeared below once more, to return with a tin-lined troughaffair. By means of two hooks he made this device fast at the port rail.This "trough" was intended to rest a rocket in before touching it offand sending it skyward.
"I'll be snug and safe as anything," declared Jed, smiling. He feltbrave enough, in fact, until the dingey, going ashore for the secondtime, carried the last of his companions. Then all was still, absolutelyquiet, lonely and black. Jed, being highly imaginative, began to fancyhe saw figures darting from tree to tree on shore. The bushes had amysterious look, for it was so nearly dark that he could just make outtheir outlines.
Prentiss had said of himself that he was a hero, in theory, but thatwhen danger faced him he was likely to forget much of his courage. Thereare many such boys. They are not cowards, but are imaginative, havehighly strung nervous systems, and are without real experience ofdanger. When that experience does come they often find themselvespossessed of far more grit than they had believed.
Time slipped by. Nothing happened to justify the state of Jed's nerves.He was lonely, and wondering what the others were doing. At last,however, he heard something real. Prentiss sprang up, stepping to theport rail to listen. The sound was unmistakable, that of a marineengine, though as yet the sound was far away.
"Can that be the filibustering steamer?" Jed wondered, thrilling.
Nearer and nearer came the sound. Prentiss was enough of a salt-waterboy to know that the craft must be a more than usually fast one. Thestrange craft was evidently keeping in close to shore. At last, thekeen-eyed boy grimly made out a sea-going tug. Then she came nearer, andJed knew that she was going to pass within an eighth of a mile.
"It must be the filibustering steamer," throbbed the boy. "She's not aGovernment boat, yet she's showing no lights. That boat _must_ be makingfor Sanderson's pier!"
Then, all of a sudden, a single light _did_ show. An electricsearchlight blazed out, sweeping its ray along the coast. It was hardlya moment before that ray of light fell across the "Meteor" and remainedthere.
"Wow!" ejaculated Jed, in his excitement. "Now, those fellows can get inhere before I can signal any of our crowd back to the 'Meteor.'"
Prentiss immediately found himself trembling. He sprang down into theengine room, intent on starting the motor. In his excitable state ofmind it seemed to him that the motor had at least a dozen drive wheelsand no end of other things that had to be handled.
"And, oh, dear! I haven't got the anchor up!" he groaned. He rushed uponto deck, only to find that the tug had started ahead again, and wasbearing down directly upon him. Three men could be dimly made outforward of the pilot house.
"They're going to bear down upon this craft and sink her!" guessed Jed."And, confound 'em, they can do it before I can get up anchor, get theengine going, and get out of here!"
That it was the intention of those aboard the tug to ram the "Meteor,"and thus put her out of commission, seemed decidedly plain. The tug wassteaming slow but straight for the motor boat. Jed paused in a frenzy ofuncertainty.
Then, all in a flash, a luminous idea came to him. It looked almostcrazy, yet it was the only thing that it seemed possible to do. Bendingdown the signal rocket box, Jed grasped a piece of slow-match. This helighted, his fingers trembling. Then, as swiftly, he unfastened thelower hook of that rocket trough. He was able, thus, to swivel thetrough over the port rail.
"Now, we'll see if the scheme's any good," quivered Jed, snatching up arocket and resting it in the trough. Groping for his slow-match, hesighted along the stick of the rocket. Shaking, he applied the glowingend of the slow-match to the rocket's fuse. There was a sputtering, thena hiss.
Out over the waters shot the rocket, leaving behind a fiery trail. Itflew about three feet above the top of the tug's pilot house, droppinginto the ocean beyond.
"It was my trembling hand that spoiled my aim," gasped Jed. "Now,another, and steady, old boy!"
Jed fitted the second rocket, applying the match. Whizz! Smash!
"Ho, ho!" roared Jed, for that rocket, going straight and true, hadsmashed a light of glass in the tug's pilot house. Bang! Being anexplosive rocket, the thing blew into a thousand fragments inside thatpilot house. A yell came from the man at the helm.
But Jed did not waste time looking or listening. He fitted anotherrocket, touching it off after swift aim. That one whizzed between theheads of two of the three men out forward, and Jed heard their roughwords of alarm and anger.
"Wow!" ejaculated the boy. "I'm a whole Navy! What?"
Another rocket he aimed at the three men. They scrambled in alldirections. Still another rocket Prentiss drove through the pilot housewindows. Jed heard the engine room bell jingle for the stop.
"I'll give you plenty of it," gritted Prentiss, thrusting a hand intothe box and bringing forth this time a stout Roman candle--afourteen-ball affair.
Lighting and waving it, Jed was ready, at the pop of the first ball, toaim the affair at the tug boat. The missiles fell all about. Though Jeddid not know it, one of the hot, glowing balls struck Captain JonasFrench squarely on the end of his bulb-like nose. He let out anIndian-like yell, dropping the wheel. Another man crawled in on hisknees to take the skipper's place, but he kept down below the wood-workof the front of the pilot house,
steering by the lower spokes of thewheel.
The tug's bell sounded for reversed speed, then for the go-ahead, as thecraft swung her bow around. They were retreating, but Jed, chucklingaloud in his glee, sent three more rockets after the tug, just to showher people that he had plenty of ammunition left. Then, when the tug wasout of range, Jed stood up, gazing after her dim lines.
"Say, maybe there are a few Deweys left in America," he laughed aloud."I wonder what's the answer?"