A NIGHT EXPEDITION
For several minutes Jack and Captain Folsom listened with strained
attention while through the receivers came to their ears a series of
dots and dashes which to one corresponded exactly with the similar
sounds picked up by the prohibition enforcement officials on other
occasions, and which to the other were meaningless and, therefore,
significant.
That statement is not difficult to explain. Jack was familiar with the
Morse and Continental codes. What he heard in the receivers
represented neither. Therefore, either the station he had picked up
and was listening-in on was sending in some mysterious code or, as was
more likely, it was radiating control. And, all things considered, the
latter was the more likely supposition.
Meanwhile, Bob and Frank, unaware of what was forward, sat
disconsolately on the stoop outside in the warm night air, glooming
over the damage to their airplane.
Finally Captain Folsom took off the headpiece and, seeing that Jack
had done likewise, turned to him with an air of exasperation.
"This is maddening," he declared to Jack. "Evidently, if I know
anything about it, the smugglers are landing liquor somewhere along
the coast by means of a radio-controlled boat or boats."
Jack was thoughtful.
"Do you know what I think?" he asked. "I believe they are landing the
liquor somewhere near us. For one thing, the sounds in the receivers
are very clear and distinct. That, however, does not portend a great
deal. The night is exceptionally good for sending, clear and with
practically no static. But there is another thing to be considered,
and it's that I have in mind."
"What do you mean?" asked Captain Folsom.
"I am thinking of the attempt to destroy the airplane, and the
probable reason for it."
"Hm."
"You see," continued Jack, "if the smugglers planned to operate
to-night, and were made fearful by recent events that we either had
learned anything about them or suspected them, they might decide it
would be unwise to have us at large, so to speak. Suppose we were to
swoop down on them in our airplane, they might think, what then? This
man Higginbotham, now. He might not have been deceived by our
explanation of how we came to be on hand when he was flying in his
radio-controlled plane and fell into the water. Besides, and this is
the biggest point of all, we had appeared at his office to try and
find out who had bought the Brownell property. Oh, the more I consider
it, the more I realize that he could not help but suspect that we were
on the track of the liquor smugglers."
Captain Folsom nodded.
"Sound sense, all of it," he declared; "especially, your deduction
that they are landing liquor near us. Look here," he added, with
sudden resolution; "where does that man, Tom Barnum, sleep?"
"He has quarters opening from the power house here," said Jack, in a
tone of surprise. "Why, may I ask?"
"Well, I think so well of your supposition that I want to do a bit of
investigating. Barnum looks like a stout, reliant man. Besides, he
knows the neighborhood. I'll ask him to accompany me."
Jack's eyes glittered.
"What's the matter with us?" he demanded.
"Oh, I couldn't think of drawing you boys into this. It might involve
some little danger."
"Well," said Jack, "danger would be nothing new to us. If you do not
actually forbid our accompanying you, we'll go along. I'm keen to go.
And I can say the same for Bob and Frank without questioning them.
Besides, you must remember it was their airplane which these rascals
damaged. They'll be eager for a chance to even scores."
Captain Folsom still looked dubious.
"You are unarmed," he objected. "And we might, just might, you know,
stumble into a situation where we would need to protect ourselves."
"Oh, if that's all that stands in your way," said Jack, rising, "you
need not worry. Tom Barnum keeps a whole armory of weapons here. He
has at least a half dozen pistols and automatics. As for us, we are
all pretty fair shots and used to handling weapons. Now, look here,
Captain Folsom," he said, pleadingly, advancing and laying a hand on
the other's arm; "I know what you are saying to yourself. You are
saying how foolish it would be for you to encumber yourself with three
harum-scarum boys. But that is where you make a mistake. We have been
through a lot of dangerous situations, all three of us and, I can tell
you, we have been forced to learn to keep our wits about us. I can
promise you that we would not be a hindrance."
Captain Folsom's face cleared.
"Good," said he, heartily; "spoken like a man. I'll be only too glad
to have you fellows."
"We'll take Tom Barnum, too," said Jack. "He can be relied on in any
crisis. Wait here until I stir him up and tell the boys."
Leaving the other, Jack went outside and apprised his chums of the new
plan. It was just the thing they needed to rouse them from the
despondency into which contemplation of the damage to their airplane
had thrown them. Then he went to Tom Barnum's quarters. Tom had not
yet returned to sleep. He was eager to join in the adventure. Bringing
three or four pistols, Jack and Tom quickly rejoined the party.
"What is your idea, Captain Folsom?" Jack inquired, when all were
ready to depart and everything had been made tight about the station.
"First of all, how far is it to Starfish Cove?"
"Between two and three miles," answered Bob. "But the tide is out, and
we shall have good going on the hard sand, and ought to make it under
forced draught in a half hour or a little more."
"Is there any other place where small boats might land conveniently,
any other place reasonably near?"
The boys and Tom Barnum shook their heads.
"That's far and away the best place," said Jack.
"Well, then, I propose that we make our way close to the Cove, and
then take to the cover of the trees, which you have given me to
understand, come down there close to the water."
"They fringe the beach," Bob explained.
"Good. With reasonable care we ought to be able to make our way
undiscovered close enough to see what is going on, supposing a landing
such as I have in mind is taking place."
"There's armed guards on the Brownell place nowadays," interjected Tom
Barnum, to whom Jack had given a brief explanation of things. "Maybe,
them fellers have sentries posted."
"Well, we'll have to exercise caution when we get close to the Cove,"
said Captain Folsom. "And now, if we are all ready, let us start.
Every second's delay is so much time lost. They'll be working fast. If
we are to gain any information, we must hasten about it."
"Righto," said Bob, striding off. "And just let me get my hands on the
sneak that tried to burn the airplane," he added, vindictively. "I'll
give that gentleman a remembrance or two of the occasion."
The others fell in, and with long strides started making their way
along the sand left hard-packed by the receding tide, under the
moonlight.
Bob set a terrific pace but, fortunately, all members of the party
were young men and accustomed to physical exercise, and none found it
any hardship to keep up with their pacemaker. On the contrary, three
at least enjoyed the expedition and found their spirits uplifted by
the zest of this unexpected adventure undertaken at 2 o'clock in the
morning.
When they drew near the first of the two horns enclosing the little
bay known as Starfish Cove, Bob pulled up, and the others came to a
halt around him.
"Just ahead there," said Bob, pointing, and addressing Captain Folsom,
"lies our destination. I expect it would not be wise to make our way
any farther along the sands."
Captain Folsom nodded.
"Right. We'll take to those trees up yonder. I'll go first with Jack."
Unconsciously, he had taken to addressing the boys by their given
names. "Do you others keep close behind."
In this order they started making their way through the grove, just
inside the outer belt of trees. The moonlight was bright on the water
and the sands, and illuminated the aisles of the grove in fairylike
fashion.
"Keep low and take advantage of cover," whispered Captain Folsom, as
he saw how the matter stood. And crouching and darting from tree to
tree, they worked their way forward until a low exclamation from Jack
halted his companion who was a bit behind him. The others came up.
"Fence," whispered Jack, succinctly.
Sure enough. There it was, just ahead, a high wire fence, the strands
barbed and strung taut on steel poles.
"We can't see the Cove yet from here," whispered Jack. "Our first
glimpse of it won't come until we move forward a bit farther. We'll
either have to try to climb over this or go out on the beach to get
around it. It doesn't go down to the water, does it, Bob?"
"No, and I didn't see it when I was here several days ago," Bob
replied in a low voice. "I suppose it must have been here then, but I
didn't see it. There was no fence on the beach, and I was following
the water's edge."
"There's a big tree close to it," said Frank, pointing. "And, look.
There's a limb projects over the fence. We might shin up the tree and
out on that limb and drop."
"I'm afraid I couldn't do it," said Captain Folsom, simply. "This
arm----"
"Oh, I forgot," said the sensitive Frank, with quick compunction,
silently reproaching himself for thus reminding the other of his
loss.
"I'm not sensitive," said Captain Folsom, and added grimly: "Besides,
the German that took it, paid with his life."
There was an awkward silence.
"Anyhow," said Jack, breaking it, "it would be ticklish work for any
of us to get over that fence by climbing the tree. The fence is a good
ten feet high, and the strands of barbed wire curve forward at the
top. That limb, besides, is twelve feet or more from the ground, and
not very strong, either. It looks as if we would have to make our way
around the fence and out on the beach."
"Let's go, then," said Bob, impatiently. "Now that I'm here I want a
look at Starfish Cove. I have one of Frank's hunches that there is
something doing there."
He started moving forward toward the edge of the grove, which here was
out of sight, being some distance away, as Jack had led the way well
within the shelter of the trees because of the radiance cast by the
moon.
"Wait, Bob, wait," whispered Frank, suddenly, in a tense voice, and he
restrained his companion. "I heard something."
All crouched down, listening with strained attention.
In a moment the sound of voices engaged in low conversation came to
their ears, and a moment later two forms appeared on the opposite side
of the fence, moving in their direction.