LOOKING FOR THEIR CHUM.
We left Harry Ware, Percy Simmons and the three customs inspectors sadly
baffled on the dock of the Piquetville Yacht Club. Their search for the
_River Swallow_, it will be recalled, had revealed nothing of the craft.
Several inquiries made in the vicinity had met with the same
disheartening results.
Sick at heart and worried more than they cared to confess, Harry and
Percy listened to the consultation going on between the three
experienced servants of Uncle Sam’s revenue service.
“If that fellow La Rue is on board, there is no telling what may have
happened,” said Jennings. “He is a desperate man, as we have good cause
to know.”
“But he is a coward at heart,” struck in Adams. “Remember how he showed
the white feather in that affair of the Chinese smuggling three years
ago?”
“Yes, he secured immunity from punishment by turning state’s evidence on
his accomplices,” rejoined Jennings. “It was too bad he was allowed to
go. There’ll always be plenty of work for us as long as he is at large.”
“It’s odd, the way he’s managed to slip through the toils so many
times,” commented Prescott, the third customs man. “Why, the government
has had its hands upon him half a dozen times, and yet he has always
managed to get away in some mysterious manner.”
“There’s one member of the bunch, though, that I’d rather get than all
the rest,” declared Jennings.
“Who is that?”
“Rawson.”
“The captain of that night-running motor boat?” inquired Prescott, who
had been but recently transferred to the northern border after
commendable work in the southwest.
“That’s the fellow. I see you’ve heard of that boat.”
“Who hasn’t? Even these young men encountered her on several occasions.
She has been seen in the vicinity of Dexter Island. I assume that
Malvin, who was in the employ of Mr. Stetson, received consignments of
gems to be smuggled later.”
“That appears certain. But did you say Stetson was the name of the owner
of the island?” inquired Prescott.
“Yes, Stetson, the big railroad man. It’s his son Ralph that is on board
the _River Swallow_ in the power of those men.”
“The same Ralph Stetson that was mixed up in that affair of the arms and
ammunition, smuggled across the Mexican border by the underground
river?”
“The same fellow,” broke in Harry.
“Then depend upon it, young men, that your chum will be able to take
care of himself,” assured Prescott. “I heard full details of that
affair, and the way in which he and his friend Jack Merrill acquitted
themselves, showed that they were made of no ordinary stuff. I’d back
that boy against a dozen La Rues any time.”
“The way in which they have all handled this affair so far proves that
they are a bunch of uncommonly smart lads,” said Jennings. “If it hadn’t
been for a slip-up, we might have had La Rue in our hands by this time.”
Agitated though they were, Harry and Percy could hardly conceal a smile
at this ingenious way of putting the case. Had it not been for Jennings’
stupidity in arresting them—for that is practically what he had done—the
customs authorities might have reached the _River Swallow_ in plenty of
time to apprehend the rascals on board and save Ralph from being carried
off. For that he had gone of his own free will never entered the chums’
heads for an instant. They knew Ralph too well to think that he would
desert them in such a way, unless he had been literally abducted.
It was this fact that worried them. It pointed inevitably to one
conclusion: Ralph had been overpowered by the men on board the craft,
and either injured or made captive, while they worked out whatever
schemes they had in mind.
“Oh! if only one of us had stayed on board, it would have made the odds
less against good old Ralph,” sighed Harry.
But it was too late to indulge in regrets. The harm was done now.
Somewhere on the river the _River Swallow_ was speeding along with their
chum on board her. They wondered when, and under what circumstances,
they would hear from him again, for that they would join him before long
they had no doubt.
Great drops of rain began to fall. A puff of warm wind blew from off the
river into their faces.
“Here she comes,” declared Jennings, as a flash split the sky. “Boys,
we’d better get to shelter.”
“Can’t we do anything more to-night?” asked Harry anxiously.
“I’m afraid not, my boy. I know just how you feel about your chum, but
it would be worse than looking for a needle in a haystack to go chasing
after that boat to-night.”
“What do you recommend doing, then?” asked Harry.
“I would suggest that you find quarters in a good hotel. Have a sound
sleep, and early in the morning we will join you and the hunt will begin
in earnest. One other thing,” as he noticed their troubled faces, “don’t
worry about that fellow La Rue. He is a big bluff, an arrant coward. His
bark is a lot worse than his bite. He wouldn’t dare try any violence.
He’s a mixture of knave and craven, with the former predominating.”
How true this description of La Rue was we know from his behavior during
the storm, which shortly broke in all its fury. While Ralph was battling
with the elements, his chums were snugly in bed at the Piquetville
House. Despite their anxieties, they were too worn out not to fall into
a sound sleep, which endured till a loud knocking at their door, almost
as soon as it was light, informed them that the customs men were below.
They lost no time in dressing, and soon joined the others. They all ate
a hearty breakfast together, and then set out for the dock. It was a
glorious morning. All trace of the storm had vanished, leaving the air
clear and cool.
At the Yacht Club dock lay the _River Swallow’s_ tender. A few minutes’
delay occurred while the little craft was stocked up with extra
gasoline, for they knew that they might be off on a long chase. But at
last everything was ready. Harry took the wheel. Percy Simmons looked
after the engine. The three customs men sat at their ease in the stern
seat.
“Which way?” asked Harry, as they chugged out into the stream.
“Down the river,” was the reply of Jennings. “We’ll comb the islands
first.”
“Let her out,” ordered Harry to Percy Simmons, as they got clear of the
dock.
The engine gave a sputter and a roar, and the chase after their missing
chum was on.