Let us leave the boys in the cellar and see what Chot and Truem were
doing in the passageway, as well as the cause of the revolver shot which
had been audible to those above.
After closing the massive door and fastening it securely, Chot and Truem
waited silently in the passageway for the developments they were sure
would not be long in coming.
After a few minutes they heard sudden footsteps in the room beyond the
door, then some one began rattling the door in a strenuous effort to get
out. Of course, this was the fourth member of the smuggler quartet, who
had escaped down the trap when Pod switched on the lights. But Chot and
Truem, not knowing how their chums were faring in the basement, thought
the entire band of smugglers was making an effort to escape.
So when the door began to tremble, Chot called in a loud tone:
"Stop, or I'll shoot you through the door!"
Evidently surprised at finding enemies in the passageway, as well as in
the basement, the man inside ceased his efforts. But he said nothing,
and after a short pause, Chot said again:
"Do you surrender?"
"Yes," came the voice from within.
"Well, we're going to open the door, and you're to come through with
your hands in the air--and _empty_! Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"You agree?"
"Yes."
"All right; Truem, open the door just enough to let him through," said
Chot, taking up a position half behind the door, his revolver ready for
use.
Truem did as requested, and the form of a man came quickly through, and
seeing Chot, leveled a revolver at him and fired.
But Truem had seen the move, and he knocked up the smuggler's arm. The
bullet whistled harmlessly against the ceiling of the passageway. Then
the smuggler found that he had tackled more than he could handle, for
both boys leaped on him, threw him quickly to the floor, and choked him
into complete submission.
"I surrender," he cried faintly, as Chot's grip tightened on his throat.
"You told us that before, then tried treachery," said Truem. "Don't let
go of him, Chot."
But such an appealing look came into the man's eyes that Chot, after
taking his revolver, and feeling in his pockets for other weapons,
released him and jumped to his feet.
The smuggler was dazed. His head had struck the stone floor with no
gentle force, and he gasped slightly as he drew his lungs full of air.
"You've got me, all right," he said. "There ain't no more fight in me."
"Where are the others?"
"In the same fix, I guess. I was the last man through the trap, and just
as I was about half way up, some feller switched on the lights and
covered my three pals. Then I dropped back. I didn't know there was
anyone on this end."
"The boys must have captured the other men," said Truem.
"Suppose you go to the trap and call while I watch our friend here,"
said Chot.
Truem nodded and sprang instantly away. He had no difficulty in finding
the stairs leading above, and ascending part way, he called:
"Tom--oh, Tom!"
"Well, what is it?" Tom replied.
"It's Truem. Have you got the smugglers?"
"We have three of them."
"Well, Chot and I have the other man. There were only four."
"I knew you were lying to me," Truem heard Tom say to one of the men
above. Then he called down to Truem:
"You fellows can bring your prisoner up through the trap."
"All right," shouted Truem; "we'll be there in just a minute."
He communicated Tom's request to Chot, and the latter marched his
prisoner into the chamber. Then Truem pushed the trap-door open, and in
this way the boys ascended into the basement of the lodge, revolvers
ready for any emergency.
But they saw that their chums had indeed been successful in their
capture of the other smugglers, Fleet having completely disarmed the men
while Tom and Pod covered them. The smugglers were now huddled together
in one corner, and the man brought up by Chot and Truem was placed among
them.
"Now, to rescue Bert," said Chot.
"I s'pose that's your pal that we've got on the other island?" said the
leader of the smugglers.
"Yes."
"Well, you'll never get him, for there's ten men over there, and they'll
be coming to see what's wrong with us in a few minutes."
"And they'll find out," said Tom. "But I don't believe your story of ten
men. You told us a lie before, and the man who lies once will lie as
often as the occasion demands."
"Leave it to me," said Chot, "and don't fail to keep a strict watch on
these men. If I need you I'll let you know through the speaking tube."
"Let me know, anyway, when you get away with Bert," said Tom.
Chot nodded his head and descended quickly into the lower chamber. It
was but the matter of a minute to run down the passageway to where Hoki
was still sitting in the canoe.
"It's me, Hoki," said Chot. "Did you think I had deserted you?"
"No think so," replied the Jap. "You, sirs, must have had pretty much of
a fine time."
Chot laughed and explained to Hoki what had happened. The Jap could
hardly contain himself for joy, but became still at Chot's request, as,
picking up a paddle, Chot sent the big canoe away from the shore, headed
toward the north island.
Fearing that some of the smugglers' companions might be waiting on the
shore for their comrades' return, Chot sent the canoe around to the side
of the island.
Before landing he lay for the space of several minutes listening
intently for some sign of the presence of other smugglers. But the
island was dark and still, so making the canoe fast to a small tree on
the shore, he and Hoki effected a landing, and stood considering the
best method to accomplish the purpose for which they had come.
The island was heavily-wooded and presented many difficulties to Chot
and the little Jap. They had no means of knowing any of the plans of the
island, and were in complete ignorance as to the location of the
smugglers' quarters.
But they had come for a purpose, and starting blindly ahead toward the
center of the island, Chot softly told the Jap to follow.
They made very little noise, and held their revolvers ready for use.
Reaching the top of an incline, similar in many respects to the one on
which stood Winnsocket Lodge, they paused perplexed. The island was not
a large one, and Chot felt that they must be in close proximity to the
smugglers' rendezvous.
"See!" whispered Hoki, suddenly. "Light!"
Following the direction of the Jap's extended finger, Chot saw a yellow
streak, seemingly in the ground a few yards distant. Closer examination,
however, revealed a huge wooden door leading into the hillside, and
peering through the crack Chot saw a sight which amazed as well as
delighted him.
Sitting on a stool in one end of the apartment, his hands bound behind
him, was Bert Creighton, while nearby, reading by an ill-smelling oil
lamp, was a man--apparently the only member of the smuggler band left on
the island.
"Hoki, when you open the door, I'll rush in and cover him," said Chot.
"With greatest of pleasure," replied the little Jap, and seizing the
huge door by a strap which hung outside, he gave a strong pull. The
portal swung wide, and Chot, revolver in hand sprang through the opening
into the smugglers' chamber.
"Hands up!" he cried, covering the smuggler before the latter could make
a move toward his own weapon.
"Chot!" cried Bert, starting up. "Hurrah!"
"Cut Bert loose, Hoki," commanded Chot, still keeping his eye on the
smuggler, who was so surprised he was for a moment speechless.
"What does this mean?" he cried out, at last.
"It means that the smugglers of the St. Lawrence are a thing of the
past," Chot replied, as he grasped Bert's outstretched hand. "We have
your pals, safe and sound. Are there any more of you?"
"Yes; lots of us," responded the man. "There's two of them behind you
now."
Chot smiled, but did not turn.
"You can't fool me by that old ruse," he said.
"He lies, anyway," said Bert. "If you've got the four men who went to
the lodge you've got them all. What are you going to do with this man?"
"Put him with the rest."
"But how?"
"I'll show you. Where's the speaking tube?"
Bert pointed it out, and calling up Tom, Chot informed him of the
success of the trip to the north island, and asked him to send Pod over
in his canoe for the prisoner.
"Tell him to head straight across for the island," he said.
Turning out the light in the chamber, and lighting a lantern for use on
the shore, the boys went out, closing the door. With Hoki and Bert
guarding the smuggler, Chot went back to where he had left Fleet's
canoe, entered it, and paddled around to the other side of the island,
just as he heard Pod calling out to know where to land.
Chot gave him directions to head for the light, and a few minutes later
the smuggler, bound hand and foot, was bundled into Pod's canoe, and the
little fellow was paddling back toward the lodge, while Bert, Chot and
Hoki followed in Fleet's larger craft.
There was a scene of rejoicing at the lodge that night. The prisoners
were all securely bound, and the boys took turns in guarding them
through the night.
Bert told his story before the boys retired. He had been aroused from
his sleep in the hammock by strange noises in the lodge, and had cried
out almost before he realized it. Then, believing that some of the
mysteries that had puzzled them were about to be solved, he had run
inside, motioning Chot and Tom to follow. The smugglers had evidently
thought the boys all out of the lodge, for Bert surprised them, as well
as himself, by dashing in among them. Then he had been taken captive and
carried out through the tunnel, the trap-door dosed behind leaving no
trace.
"Had you fellows looked out of the rear window you could have seen them
carrying me across to the north island in their boats," said Bert.
"We were too busy speculating as to what had become of you," smiled Chot
"I'm glad we have you safely back."
As Hoki was getting breakfast the following morning, the boys were
startled to hear several blasts from a boat's siren, and looking out
from the verandah of the lodge they saw a motor-boat about two-thirds of
a mile distant, and headed straight for the island.
"It's Mr. Lawrence!" cried Chot. "Act as if nothing has happened,
fellows, and we'll nab him, too!"