IN STARFISH COVE AGAIN
"Sparks" as the radio operator aboard the sub chaser was known, sat
down to his key at once and sent out a wireless call for all members
of the "Dry Navy," requesting information as to whether any had
recovered the stolen speed boat belonging to the boys.
One by one, from their various stations along the coast, the boats
responded, giving negative replies. Several hours elapsed before all
had been heard from. Meantime the Nark crisscrossed and quartered the
sea off Montauk Point, in search of the rumored "fleet" of liquor
runners, but without success. Numerous sail were sighted as well as
steamers, but the latter were all so large as to preclude in the
opinion of the revenue men the possibility of their being liquor
carriers, and the former never stood close enough to be examined. Nor
did any assemblage of vessels sufficiently large to warrant the
designation "fleet" appear.
Late in the day, when the low descending sun warned of the approach of
nightfall, and the boys' watches showed 7 o'clock, Lieutenant Summers
again consulted with Captain Folsom, who presently rejoined the boys
with word that they were going to turn back and cruise offshore and
that the boys in an hour or two could be landed, not at Starfish Cove,
but at their own boathouse, thus involving only a short trip afoot
home for Bob.
Hardly had the boat's course been altered, however, when "Sparks"
appeared from the radio room in a state of high excitement, addressed
Lieutenant Summers who was on the little bridge, and the two returned
together. The wireless room originally had been the chart house. It
was equipped for the employment, both sending and receiving, of
wireless telegraphy and telephony.
"I wonder what is up," said Captain Folsom to the boys, with whom he
was talking in the bow. "Something has come by radio that has excited
'Sparks.' Excuse me, boys, a moment, while I go to inquire."
Captain Folsom, however, had not had time to reach the radio room when
Lieutenant Summers again appeared on the bridge, and beckoned both him
and the boys to approach.
"I'll explain in a moment," he said, "as soon as I can give the
necessary orders."
A number of orders were delivered, and the men on deck leaped to
execute them with alacrity. What their purport, was not made known, of
course, but the helmsman was given a course direct for Starfish Cove
and, in response to signals to the engine room for full speed ahead,
the craft seemed fairly to leap through the water.
"Something has happened ashore," said Frank, to his companions. "I
wonder what it is."
Their curiosity was soon to be satisfied. Lieutenant Summers led the
way below to his cabin, and, once all five were gathered inside, he
lost no time in coming to the point.
"The mystery of that sub chaser seen by the crew of the 'Molly M' with
your speed boat in tow is in a fair way to be solved," he said. "Also,
I have high hopes of catching the ringleader of the liquor smugglers
whom Captain Folsom and I have been seeking."
"What? What's that?" demanded Captain Folsom, excitedly.
Lieutenant Summers nodded.
"You couldn't imagine in a thousand years where the radio call came
from," he declared, "nor what it was all about. Well, I'll not attempt
to mystify you any further. The call was from one of the guards I left
posted at the Brownell place, and he was calling, not from the
Brownell radio station, but from yours, Hampton."
"From our station?"
Jack was puzzled.
"What's the matter with his own?" asked Frank.
"Our guards have been captured by raiders dressed in naval uniform who
disembarked from a sub chaser," said Lieutenant Summers, exploding his
bombshell. "Only one man escaped. And he made his way to your station,
Hampton, found your man, Tom Barnum, there and began calling for me."
The eyes of the three boys shone, as the implication reached them. The
smugglers evidently had obtained possession of a sub chaser and
wearing U. S. naval uniforms had carried out a bold coup d'etat,
although for what purpose could not be seen at the time. It looked as
if there were a fair prospect of action, and all were excited in
consequence.
Captain Folsom, however, began hunting at once for causes.
"But why in the world should such a move have been carried out?" he
demanded. "Of course, I take it the smugglers have obtained a sub
chaser somewhere, together with uniforms. Yet why should they seek to
recapture the Brownell place? They could not hope to hold it."
Lieutenant Summers shook his head.
"It's too much for me," he declared. "It's a mystery, indeed. But I am
not going to puzzle over that phase of the matter now. What I am
interested in is in getting on the ground."
Frank, who had been lost in thought, spoke up unexpectedly.
"Captain Folsom," he said, "isn't it pretty certain such a move would
not be carried out except by a man high in the councils of the
smugglers?"
"I should imagine so."
"And he would not run the risk of discovery and capture without some
very good cause?"
"True."
"Then," said Frank, "is it possible his reason for this act is to
drive the guards away or take them prisoner in order to obtain
temporary possession of the house and remove incriminating
papers--perhaps, from some secret repository--which the smugglers
failed to take away or destroy when Lieutenant Summers captured the
place last week?"
The others were silent a few moments. Then Captain Folsom said:
"Perhaps, you are correct. Certainly, your theory is plausible. And it
would account for such a rash step being taken, by the smugglers."
Further general discussion was abandoned, as Lieutenant Summers felt
his services were needed on deck. The boat was nearing Starfish Cove.
Night had fallen. Another half hour would bring them in sight of the
strand. Captain Folsom went with the boat's commander to discuss
campaign plans. The boys were left to themselves.
"Who do you think this mysterious man behind the operations of the
liquor runners can be?" Frank asked, as they leaned in a group apart
on the rail, watching the phosphorescence in the water alongside.
"I haven't the least idea," confessed Jack.
"Nor I," said Bob. "Unless, after all, it is Higginbotham."
"No," said Frank, "Captain Folsom declares it cannot be he, that he
himself is not a wealthy man, and that he probably is only an agent."
"The little scoundrel," exclaimed Bob. "He's a smooth one to take in
Mr. McKay like that. Dad always speaks of Mr. McKay very highly. Think
of Higginbotham playing the perfect secretary to him, yet behind his
back carrying on such plots as this."
The beat of the engines began to slow down. They were stealing along
as close to the shore as Lieutenant Summers dared venture with his
craft. Not long before, on this same coast, although not this very
spot, Eagle Boat 17 had run aground in the shallows during a fog,
between East Hampton and Amagansett. It behooved the Nark to proceed
with caution.
The boys were in the bow now, peering ahead. Starfish Cove was very
near. Ahead lay the nearer of the two horns enclosing it. Gradually
the little bay opened out around the point of land, and a dark blot
showed in the water. The moon had not yet risen high, but it was a
Summer night and not dark.
Suddenly, from the bridge, the glare of the great searchlight carried
by the Nark cut through the darkness like the stab of a sword.
Lieutenant Summers directed it be played full upon the dark blot
ahead, and instantly the latter stood out fully illumined. It was a
sub chaser.
Smoke was coming from her funnel. She had steam up. She was preparing
to depart. There were a score of figures on her deck. But what delayed
her departure was the fact that she waited for a small boat, dancing
across the water toward her from the shore. The latter caught full in
the glare of the searchlight contained a pair of men tugging
frantically at the oars, and a third seated in the stern, grasping the
tiller ropes and urging the rowers to exert themselves to the utmost.
He wore a cap pulled far down to obscure his features, and did not
look up as did his companions when the light smote them.
There was excitement among those on deck of the strange sub chaser.
Men ran here and there, as if undirected, not knowing what to do.
"He's running away," cried Frank, suddenly. "Look. In the small
boat."
He pointed. True enough, the man at the tiller had swung her about for
shore, and the rowers were bending their backs as they sent her along
on the opposite course. Moreover, a few strokes more would interpose
the strange sub chaser between her and the Nark, and whoever was
aboard would escape.
It was a time for quick action. Lieutenant Summers was equal to the
occasion. Unknown to the boys, he had ordered the three pounder
unlimbered, and now sent a shot ricochetting so close to the small
boat that the oarsmen were spattered by the spray and the boat rocked
violently. Nevertheless, exhorted by their commander, the rowers, who
had ceased at first, bent anew to their oars. Another moment, and they
were under the stern of the strange vessel and temporarily safe from
danger of shot.
Jack, who had been watching developments breathlessly, ran to the
bridge, and called:
"May I make a suggestion, sir?"
"What is it?" asked Lieutenant Summers.
"Whoever is in that boat is heading for the other horn of land
enclosing the cove," said Jack, speaking rapidly. "He will land far
out on a narrow peninsula. If we send a boat ashore, on a tangent, we
can strike the base of the peninsula in time to cut off his escape by
land."
"Good," cried Lieutenant Summers. "I'll order the boat out at once. Do
you go in it and point the way."