CHAPTER XXI
MR. PERIOD ARRIVES
Greatly interested in what was about to take place, and not a littlesuspicious, our friends stood on the bank of the river and watchedthe motor boat returning. As it reached a little dock in front ofthe hut, the man who had waved the red flag of warning came out, andtalked rapidly to those in the power craft. At the same time hepointed occasionally to Tom, Ned and the government agent.
"This is getting interesting," remarked Mr. Whitford. "We may haveaccidentally stumbled on something important Tom."
"See, they're signalling to the steamer now," spoke Ned, and, as hesaid this, his companions looked, and noted the man from the hutwaving a white flag, in a peculiar manner. His signals were answeredby those on the vessel anchored out in the stream, and, a littlelater, black smoke could be seen pouring from her funnel.
"Looks as if they were getting ready to leave," spoke Tom.
"Yes, we seem to have started things moving around here," observedNed.
"Or else we have prevented from moving," remarked the custom agent.
"What do you mean?" Tom wanted to know.
"I mean that these men were evidently going to do something just aswe arrived, and spoiled their plans. I would say they were going toland goods from that schooner. Now they are not."
"What kind of goods?" asked Ned.
"Well, of course I'm not sure, but I should say smuggled goods."
"The smugglers!" cried Tom. "Why, they can't be smugglers, for weare on Canadian territory. The river isn't the dividing line betweenthe Dominion and the United States at this point. The St. Lawrencelies wholly in Canada here, and the men have a right to land anygoods they want to, dutiable or not."
"That's just it." put in Mr. Whitford. "They have the right, butthey are afraid to exercise it, and that's what makes me suspicious.If they were doing a straight business they wouldn't be afraid, nomatter who saw them. They evidently recognize us, by description, ifby no other means, and they know we are after smugglers. That's whythey stopped the bringing of goods from that vessel to shore. Theywant to wait until we are gone."
"But we couldn't stop them from landing goods, even if they know weare working for Uncle Sam," declared Tom.
"That's very true, but it is evidently their intention, not only toland goods here, which they have a perfect right to do, but to sendthem into the United States, which they have not a right to dowithout paying the duty."
"Then you really think they are the smugglers?" asked Ned.
"I'm pretty sure of it. I think we have stumbled on one of theplaces where the goods are landed, and where they are loaded intothe airships. This is the best luck we could have, and it more thanmakes up for not catching the rascals last night. Now we know whereto get on their trail."
"If they don't change the place," observed Tom.
"Oh, of course, we've got to take that chance."
"Here's one of them coming over to speak to us, I guess," remarkedTom in a low voice, as he observed the man, who had waved the flagapproaching. There was no doubt of his intention for, as soon as hecame within talking distance, the stranger called out:
"What are you fellows doing here?"
"Looking at the river," replied Mr. Whitford, calmly.
"Well, you'd better find some other place for a view. This isprivate property, and we don't like trespassers. Get a move on--getout!"
"Are we doing any harm?" asked the agent.
"I didn't say you were. This is our land, and we don't likestrangers snooping around. That's all."
"Particularly when you are going to land some goods."
"What do you mean?" gasped the man.
"I guess you know well enough," was Mr. Whitford's reply.
The man suddenly turned, and gave a shrill whistle. Instantly, fromthe hut, came several men who had been in the motor boat. One or twoof them had weapons.
"I guess you'd better go now," said the first man sharply. "You'renot in the United States now, you know."
"It's easy to see that, by the POLITENESS of the residents of thissection," put in Tom.
"None of your back talk! Get away from here!" cried the man. "If youdon't go peaceably--"
"Oh, we're going," interposed Mr. Whitford calmly. "But that isn'tsaying we won't come back. Come on, boys. We'll get over on UncleSam's territory."
The group of men stood silently watching them, as they filed backthrough the woods.
"What do you make of it?" asked Tom of the agent.
"I'm positive that I'm right, and that they're the smugglers. But Ican't do anything on this side of the line. If ever I can catch themacross the border, though, there'll be a different story to tell."
"What had we better do?" inquired Ned.
"Go back to our airship, and leave for Logansville. We don't need toland until night, though, but we can make a slow trip. Is the gasmachine all right again, Tom?"
"Practically so. If that hadn't gone back on me we would have hadthose fellows captured by this time."
"Never mind. We did our best."
It did not take Tom and his chum long to complete the repairs, andsoon they arose in the air.
"Let's take a flight over where those fellows are, just to show themwhat we can do," proposed Ned, and Tom and Mr. Whitford agreed toit. Soon they were circling over the hut. The launch was juststarting out again, when a cry from the man who seemed to be a sortof guard, drew the attention of his confederates to the noiselessairship.
Once more the launch was turned about, and sent back to shore, whilethose in it shook their fists at Tom and his friends.
"We can play tag with 'em up here!" chuckled Ned.
"There's the small vessel that pulled up anchor a while ago,"remarked Mr. Whitford, pointing to the vessel which had steamedaround a wooded point. "They thought we had gone for good, and theywere getting ready to land the stuff. Well, we'll know where to headfor next time, when we watch for the smugglers at night."
Realizing that nothing more could be done, Tom sent his airshiptoward the camp, just outside of Loganville. But he did not landuntil after dark, when, making out the spot by means of the electriclights, which were set aglow automatically at dark, he descended.
"We won't try anything to-night," said Mr. Whitford. "I doubt if thesmugglers will themselves, after their experience last night. I'llget into town, see some of my men, and come out here to-morrow nightagain."
Tom and Ned spent the following day in going carefully over theFalcon, making some slight repairs. The great searchlight wascleaned and adjusted, and then, as dusk came on once more Tomremarked:
"Well, we're ready for 'em any time Mr. Whitford is."
Hardly had he spoken than the tramp of horses' feet was heard comingalong the bridle path through the woods, and a voice was heard toexclaim:
"There, now, I understand it perfectly! You don't need to sayanother word. I know it may be against the regulations, but I canfix that. I'm the busiest man in the world, but I just had to comeup here and see Tom Swift. It's costing me a thousand dollars, butthe money is well spent. Now don't interrupt me! I know what you'regoing to say! That you haven't time to bother with moving pictures.But you have! I must have some moving pictures of your chase afterthe smugglers. Now, don't speak to me, I know all about it. Youcan't tell me anything. I'll talk to Tom. Are we most there?"
"Yes, we're here," answered Mr. Whitford's voice, and Tom fanciedthe government agent was a bit puzzled by his strange companion.
"Bless my shoe string!" gasped Mr. Damon.
"Him picture man!" cried Koku.
"Mr. Period!" exclaimed Tom. "I wonder what he is doing here?" andthe next moment the excitable little man, for whom Tom had run somany risks getting marvelous moving pictures, with the wizardcamera, entered the clearing where the airship was anchored.