CHAPTER XXII
IN THE SMUGGLERS' COVE
"Don't know whether I'm cold or just plain scared," said big Bob,laughingly. "But I'm going to put on this sweater, because I'm beginningto shiver."
The others were quick to follow his example.
They stood in the bow of the boat, which long since had rounded WestPoint and was proceeding very slowly along the southern shore of SantaCruz Island. An hour and a half had elapsed since Inspector Burton andhis party had been set ashore. They were standing close in. And nowagain the mountains, which around the western extremity of the islandhad retreated inland, had drawn close to the shore. The mouth of thecreek had not yet been sighted by any of those straining their eyes togaze shoreward.
Ensign Warwick joined the boys, snapping shut the lid of his watch.
"Time's almost up," he said. "Half an hour yet. Surely, we cannot havepassed the creek. Inspector Burton said his information was that itbroadened out sufficiently to admit several schooners."
"I've watched every inch of the shore," Jack said. "And I haven't seenit yet. But, look. There." He pointed ahead.
A break appeared in the surf tossing against the foot of the steepcliffs that came down sheer to the shore.
Ensign Warwick stared keenly, then nodded with satisfaction.
"That's the creek, undoubtedly," he said. "Too bad we have to operatewithout moonlight."
He stepped to the side of the man at the wheel and whispered alow-voiced direction. Then he signaled the engine room. As a result, thepilot swung the wheel over, and the Sub Chaser responded by heading forshore. At the same time, the slow beat of the engines was still furtherreduced, and the craft proceeded under its headway aided by the drift ofthe incoming tide.
The farther point of land at the mouth of the creek was low, but a hugerock towered like a guarding tower on the hither side. Atop of it grewseveral twisted, stunted oak trees. These could plainly be distinguishedas the boat slowly drew closer in.
"Deep water, apparently right to the foot of the rock," said theleadsman in the bow, drawing in the wet string with its knob of lead onthe end, and reading the record.
"We'll lay here under shelter of the rock until we hear InspectorBurton's signal," Ensign Warwick told the boys. "On this still night,with no other sounds about, the sound of his shots will carry plainly toour ears."
He was about to give orders to drop the grapnel, when Jack laid a handon his arm:
"Listen."
The sound of three shots fired in rapid succession came faintly to theirears. It was followed by distant shouts, and then several more shots atragged intervals, then silence.
"The signal."
"Yes," said Ensign Warwick, springing into instant activity, "and ourmen are meeting with resistance. We'll have to go in at once."
He turned away to issue the necessary order. In a trice, the rakishcraft quivered with the sudden picking-up of the engines, the screwbegan to revolve with increased violence, her head was put out to seaand she started to run away from shore.
"I suppose we'll go out to where we can get a better view into thecreek, and then speed in," said Frank.
The surmise was correct. The boat swung about in a circle, her nosepointed straight for the entrance to the creek eventually, and then theybegan speeding shoreward again.
A powerful beam of light suddenly shot over their heads, and the boysturned with a gasp. It came from the searchlight mounted on the bridgebehind them. They gazed ahead, and saw the light illumine the entranceto the creek. Then something appeared in the rays which caused them toshout simultaneously:
"The trawler."
There it was, the boat on which they had been carried captive from SanFrancisco, riding at anchor in the cove.
Ensign Warwick approached.
"I decided not to take a chance on running into any craft inside withoutwarning," he said. "That's why I turned on the searchlight. I cannot seea soul aboard the trawler. Can you?"
"Not I," answered Bob.
"Nor I."
"Nor I."
"Well, I'm going to board her. We'll soon find out how matters stand."
The Sub Chaser's speed slackened at a signal once more, and she slippedalongside the trawler. A rope ladder dangled down the side.
"Fend off, you men, and hold your position," said the young navalofficer resolutely. "I'm going aboard. Do six of you follow me."
Seizing the ladder, he clambered up swiftly, revolver in hand, peeredover the edge, then swung over the rail and dropped to the trawler'sdeck.
"All right," he called down. "Not a soul in sight."
Eager to be at his heels, the three chums held back until the sixsailors commanded to follow had complied. Then they, too, gained thedeck of the trawler. Hurried search revealed the craft was deserted. Noteven a watchman had been left aboard. The doors to the cabins they hadoccupied were locked. The boys burst the locks.
With delighted cries they greeted sight of their grips. Quick rummagingdisclosed the ring-radio with its appurtenances, which Frank had used tosuch good effect to discover the proximity of the Sub Chaser when theywere captives aboard the trawler. Nothing had been taken away.
"Locked the doors to keep our stuff from the crew," decided Jack.
On deck, carrying their recovered possessions, they found Ensign Warwickpreparing to depart.
"Signs in forecastle and engine room," he said, "that the crew left in ahurry, and only recently, too. Evidently, they were aboard and werecalled ashore for some reason. What did you find in the cabin?"
"To tell the truth," admitted Bob, "we didn't look around much. Foundour things still aboard, and that occupied our attention. But we can goback and look?"
"No, no. That would be a waste of time. I'm afraid the presence of theland party was discovered, and the crew here went ashore to oppose ourmen. We'll have to make a landing and go to their aid. Listen."
Again down the wind, and this time only very faintly came the sounds ofdistant firing. Apparently, the fight was drawing away from them.
Down the ladder to the deck of the Sub Chaser they scrambled. Then, withsearchlight playing along the shore, the craft moved slowly up theestuary. Presently, a landing appeared in the rays of the light, juttingout into the stream, a huge shed or barracks at its end ashore. The boatwas turned toward it, and slid alongside. Sailors with ropes leaped tothe planks of the landing and made fast.
"The place seems deserted," said Ensign Warwick. "Not a sound. But younever can tell. We'll have to take precautions. Wouldn't do to gotearing off this pier, and run smack-dab into a trap."
He turned to the group behind him. Every man aboard the Sub Chaser withthe exception of Doctor Marley had followed. The worried face of the fatlittle physician watched them from the deck.
"Here, you men," he said authoritatively. "Six of you will have to stayaboard the boat. Robbins, Dewart, Murphy, Thompson, Berger and Strunk,you stay behind. Robbins is in charge. Keep the searchlight playing onthe shore. Train a rapid firer on the landward end of this pier. DoctorMarley," he called up to the physician, "I presume you will prefer toremain aboard. You boys"--turning to the three chums--"can follow me. Youhave those revolvers I served out to you?"
They nodded.
"Good. Now, Robbins," he continued, turning to the leader of the partyto be left on the boat, "we will make our way up the pier. If we aresurprised, we will drop to the ground. Do you at once open with therapid-firer, shooting high. That ought to be sufficient to rout anybodyopposing us. Then leave two men aboard to keep guard against surpriseand look after the searchlight, and with your other men charge up thepier. Understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well. If we find nobody about, we shall follow upstream to attemptto join the other party. In that case, I shall fire three shots as asignal of our intentions. Do you keep the searchlight in play along thepier, with stabs into the sky at five minute intervals as a guide whenwe return. We may be led far inland. The smugglers may flee to somefastness in
the mountains. But do you stay by the ship under anyconditions until we return.
"Morgan," he added, turning to one of the men in his party, "here are mykeys. You will find a box of flashlights with extra batteries in mycabin. Do you and Doniphan go and get a flashlight for each of us with aset of spare batteries. Let's see. That will be nine."
The men sprang to obey with alacrity, and were back on the pier in avery few moments. The flashlights and spare batteries were parcelledout. All was in readiness for the advance.
"The firing has been growing more and more distant," said the youngnaval officer, turning to Jack who stood beside him. "Doesn't it seem soto you?"
"Yes, it does," said Jack. "For several minutes now I have not heard ashot, and the last was very faint."
"From the look of things aboard the trawler, the deserted appearanceashore, and those receding sounds, I suspect the smugglers fled with ourfriends in pursuit," said Ensign Warwick. "Perhaps, however, they hopedto drive them off, and the crew of the trawler was called ashore tohelp. If that is the case, our men may be hard pressed. Come, we havetaken all the precautions possible here. Let's go."
And with Jack beside him, Bob and Frank close behind and the sailorspressing on their heels, the young naval officer started up the pier.