CHAPTER XXIV
THE NIGHT RACE
The three looked at each other. For a moment they could notunderstand, and then, as they stood there, the meaning came to them.
"The smugglers!" whispered Tom.
"Of course!" agreed Mr. Damon. "And they must have taken him foryou, Tom, for he had on your coat and cap. What can they have donewith him?"
"Taken him away, that's evident," spoke Tom. "Let's look around, andsee if we can find him."
They looked, but to no purpose. Ned had disappeared. There were thesigns of a struggle, the fish rod was broken in several places, asif Ned had used it as a club, and the ground was torn up.
"Bless my tin whistle!" cried Mr. Damon. "What shall we do?"
For a moment no one knew what to say, then, as they looked at eachother in silence, a voice called:
"I say! What's up? What's the matter? Where are you all? Hey, TomSwift!"
"It's Mr. Whitford!" cried Tom. "He's just in time." Then he calledin louder tones:
"Here we are! In the woods by the trout brook! Come on over! Ned isgone!"
There was a commotion in the bushes, the trampling of a horse, and amoment later the government agent had joined the others.
"What's this?" he cried. "Ned gone? What do you mean?"
"He's missing. The smugglers have him, I'm afraid," explained Tom,and then he gave the details.
"It certainly looks so," agreed Mr. Whitford. "His wearing of yourcoat and cap fooled them. They must have spied out this campingplace, and they were in hiding. When they saw Ned coming to fishthey took him for you. Having failed in their attempt to damage theairship, they decided to get her captain. Probably they thought thatif they did the Falcon could not be run, and they would be safe. Butthey got the wrong man."
"Then we must get Ned back at once!" cried Tom. "Come on, we'llstart right away! Where do you think we can nab them, Mr. Whitford?"
"Wait a minute," suggested the government agent. He seemed in deepthought, and paced up and down. It was clear that a great questionwas confronting him.
"Well!" exclaimed Tom impatiently, "if we're going to get Ned wemust start at once."
"Perhaps it would be best not to try to rescue Ned at once," saidthe custom house man after a pause.
"What!" cried Tom. "Not rescue Ned, my best chum?"
"Not at once," repeated Mr. Whitford. "Look here, Tom. I know itseems a hard thing to say, but perhaps if we proceed on our originalplan, to hover over the border, and get on the trail of thesmugglers, chasing them to where they land the goods in the UnitedStates, it will be best."
"And not rescue Ned?"
"We can best rescue him by catching the smugglers."
"Then you think--"
"That they have him with them--on board one of their airships verylikely. If we get THEM we'll have NED."
"Then we'll get 'em!" cried Tom with energy. "Come on back to theFalcon. We'll get ready for a big flight!"
"Yes, I think they'll make a desperate effort to-night," went on theagent. "They have a lot of goods ready to rush over the border, andthe fact that they tried to capture you, shows that they are readyto pull off a big trick. I think if we can catch them to-night, itwill put an end to their operations, and, at the same time, bringNed back to us."
"Where do you think they will start to cross the line?" asked Tom.
"Near the place where we saw the man waving the flags. I haveinformation to the effect that they have a store of valuable goodsthere. They imagine that they have the master of the airship, andthe owner of the great searchlight in their power, and that they cannot be molested, so they will be bold."
"But they'll soon find out that Ned isn't Tom," said Mr. Damon.
"No they won't! Not if it depends on Ned!" cried Tom. "Ned is game.He'll soon get wise to the fact that they have taken him for me, andhe'll carry on the deception. None of the smugglers know meintimately."
"Unless Andy Foger should be with them," suggested Mr. Damon.
"Oh, Ned can fool Andy any day. Come on, Mr. Whitford. We'll get thesmugglers to-night, spoil their game, and rescue Ned. Somehow, Ifeel that we're going to succeed."
"Bless my tin dishpan!" cried Mr. Damon. "I hope we do."
Slowly, and with no very cheerful hearts, they filed away from thescene of Ned's capture. In spite of the fact that they did not thinkhe would be harshly treated, they worried about him, Tom especially.
A hasty supper was eaten, and then, Tom, having seen that everythingaboard the ship was in good order, sent her aloft on what he hopedwould be the last chase after the smugglers. He decided to have Mr.Damon steer the craft, as this was comparatively easy, once she wasstarted on her course, while the young inventor would manage thesearchlight, and start the automatic wizard camera, in case therewas anything to photograph.
Up and up went the Falcon, and soon she was making her way towardthe St. Regis Indian reservation, near which it was expected thesmugglers would start. Tom put out every light, as he wanted toremain in darkness, until he could see a moving glow in the sky thatwould tell him of a rival airship on the wing.
It did not take them long to reach the desired spot, and theyhovered in the air over it, every one with tense nerves, waiting forwhat would happen next.
Tom did not want to show his searchlight just yet, as he feared thegleam of it might stop the operations of the smugglers. So he waitedin darkness, approaching close to the earth in his noiseless shipseveral times, and endeavoring to see something through the powerfulnight glasses.
Suddenly, from below them, came a subdued throb and hum of a motor.
"There they are!" exclaimed Mr. Damon.
"I think so," agreed Tom. He looked below. He saw two flickeringlights, rather far apart. Mr. Whitford observed them at the samemoment.
"There are TWO of them!" exclaimed the agent, "TWO airships, Tom!"
"So I see. Koku, get out my electric rifle. We can't chase two, ifthey separate, so I may have to stop one. It's best to be prepared.I'm going to follow them in the dark, until they get over theborder, and then I'll turn on the light and the camera. Then it willbe a race to the finish."
The twin lights came nearer. Tom stood with his mouth to the signaltube that communicated with Mr. Damon in the pilot house. From aside window he watched the smugglers' airships. They shot upward andthen came on straight ahead, to pass to one side of him. Now theywere past. Tom started the wizard camera.
"Half speed ahead!" the young inventor signalled, and the Falconshot forward. The night race was on.