Out came the moon again, sailing into a clear field.
But Jack no longer stood there on the little beach. He had taken time by
the forelock, and slipped among the rank growth; so that although Josh
strained his eyes to the utmost, not the faintest sign of his comrade
did he discover.
Jack's idea, of course, was to reach the vicinity of that tumbledown
shack. In his mind, that must be the central point of interest in the
game. He fully believed, though he had not mentioned the fact to the
rest, that the attempt to frighten the boys off with such a ridiculous
show of a pretended spirit waving them away, was meant to cover this
cabin.
What did it all mean? Why should any man, or set of men, wish to keep
others from prowling around that rickety building? Surely, any one with
common sense would hardly think to occupy it for a night's refuge. The
open air would be far more preferable in every way.
Still, Jack was positive that there was something in connection with
this same cabin that moved the unknown parties to endeavor to influence
an early departure on the part of the motor boys.
And he wanted to know what that mystery might be.
That was why he had come ashore so silently. It also accounted for his
creeping along through the bushes as carefully as he knew how, avoiding
the trail which he and Josh had followed on that other occasion.
It took him considerable time to draw near the vicinity of the cabin,
because he wanted to go without making any noise; and he was not
positive but that hostile eyes and ears might not be on the alert.
Twice some sudden little sound close by had sent a thrill of alarm
through his heart. But nothing followed, and he realized that these
noises must have been made by some little animal, disturbed in his
retreat by the creeping past of the intruder.
Jack had made a discovery before he was more than half way between the
beach of the cove and the cabin. There was a light inside the old
building! He could see little glimpses of it through what must be holes
in the walls, where the chinks between the logs were open, the mud
having fallen away in the process of decay.
And as Jack said to himself with a chuckle, ghosts did not, as far as he
knew, need lanterns in their business.
Finally the boy found himself close to the side of the cabin. With his
heart beating like a trip-hammer, he crept to the first little gap in
the wall, and glued his eyes to the aperture.
What he saw was nothing so very astonishing. A man stood inside the
cabin, holding a lantern. He was not doing anything, and seemed to be
waiting for some other person.
"One of the fellows in that boat today," was what Jack immediately said
to himself, as he fastened his eyes on the bearded face.
Even inexperienced as he was, Jack fancied that there was something of a
desperate type about the man's countenance. He did not seem to be such a
man as one was apt to trust on sight--like that jolly professor from Ann
Arbor, for instance.
But what on earth could the man be doing here? He did not seem to have
any sort of bundles with him, as might have been expected. Once Jack was
made to shiver just a trifle, when he saw the fellow take out a pistol,
and handle it with a grin of pleasure on his face.
Jack was beginning to see light. This could not be simply the ordinary
desire of some fishermen who disliked seeing strangers occupying a cove
they had come to look upon as theirs by right of previous use.
And this man he now saw had none of the characteristics of a rough
fisherman. He was rather nattily dressed, and would pass for a gentleman
in a crowd. The mystery seemed to grow more dense; but as it is always
darkest just before dawn, so Jack believed that he must be on the point
of seeing daylight appear in this matter.
By chance he raised his eyes a trifle. Perhaps some little movement may
have attracted him--he never knew. But again he was thrilled to discover
a face pressed against the broken pane of glass forming the sole window
on the opposite wall.
It was the strange gentleman who had claimed to be a college professor.
He did not wear his nose glasses now, and doubtless the look of culture
had given way to one of an entirely different nature; but Jack knew he
could not be mistaken.
Nor was he so very much surprised, come to think of it. He had half
anticipated something of this sort, at the time he heard what seemed to
be the peculiar chug! chug! of the noisy motor belonging to that
snub-nosed boat. The professor had indeed come back to the haunted
island; nor had he thought it advisable to inform his new boy friends of
his return.
Had Josh been there to see, he must have surely jumped to the conclusion
that it was his wild desire to set eyes on a ghost that had lured the
professor back.
Jack looked at the matter from an entirely different standpoint. He, for
instance, did not believe that the gentleman was one-half so much
interested in mysterious visitations from departed spirits as he was in
the movements of certain persons who might be engaged in a trade that
shunned the light of day, because it was by nature evil, and in defiance
to the laws.
And this party who stood there, holding that lantern and waiting, was
evidently something in the line of a leader.
Only for a brief space of time did the so-called professor remain at
that broken window; then he vanished from the view of the watching boy.
But it gave Jack considerable satisfaction and confidence just to know
that Herman Marshland was near by.
Already he had his hand upon the solution of the whole puzzle that had
been eluding his best efforts up to now. And just like Columbus
discovering America, it was so exceedingly simple, once you knew how,
that Jack silently laughed at himself for not having grasped the prize
answer before now.
Smugglers, that was what the rough-looking men in the boats were! This
must be a central point with them, where for some time they had secretly
landed the goods ferried over from the nearby Canadian shore. Here on
American territory they were perhaps secreted until such favorable
opportunity arrived to send them further afield into the sovereign State
of New York, when all trace of them would be lost to any government
agents who might be prowling around on the lookout for such
law-breakers.
Since coming to the St. Lawrence the boys had heard more or less about
such a class of persons, who made it their business to try and evade the
revenue men. In some cases it was Chinamen they shipped across the
border, receiving so much per head to get them into the protected
country. Then again it meant laces, diamonds, silks, anything that was
small in dimensions, but upon which the government at Washington levied
a heavy toll.
Pleased with having guessed the secret, Jack could not think of slipping
away. It might be none of his business what these bold and bad men were
doing; but somehow he could not help feeling a deep interest in the
movements of the man who had visited them that very afternoon, and made
such a hit with the boys.
Of course the pretended college professor must really be one of those
sagacious revenue men, engaged in running these rascals to earth.
Besides, the "professor" might need help, and Jack was of a mind to
render such a service if the chance came. A strange freak of fortune
seem to have thrown them in contact with these warring factions; and
while some timid people might consider it the height of folly for any
one of the boys to take sides, Jack's bold spirit would never allow of
his standing there and seeing the man who represented law and order
outclassed.
He half expected to see the "professor" step into the cabin through the
doorway, and call upon the unknown man to surrender. But then, as there
was as yet no evidence of crime, possibly a cautious revenue agent would
be apt to hold his horses and await further developments.
A sound came faintly to the ears of the crouching lad--voices of several
persons, and approaching the cabin at that.
Jack dared not keep his position, with his eye glued to the crack; there
was a chance that he might be discovered; and so, although he wanted to
look more than ever, he dropped flat upon the earth and waited.
At any rate, he had made no mistake about others approaching, for
presently he knew they had entered the cabin. After that he ventured to
look again. Yes, two rough-looking fellows had entered, and were already
conversing in low but eager tones with the one who had waited for their
coming.
Seeing was all very well, but just then Jack thought that if he could
only hear what was passing between these fellows he would have the last
bit of fog cleared away. To this end he clapped his ear against the side
of the cabin at the very point where the mud had fallen, leaving a hole
in the chinks between the logs.
Nor was he mistaken when he believed he might pick up some of the words
passing between the men. The two newcomers seemed more or less worried
about something, and kept urging delay; but the leader would have none
of it, apparently.
"Antoine," he said, gruffly, "you go and watch the three boats lying in
the cove. If there's any sign of life about them, come back and warn us.
We must get those goods ashore tonight. It's too risky holding them any
longer. And one of the cubs might break away, to inform on us. That
would ruin all. Bart, you be off and start things moving this way. I
know the new trail is rough and long, but it can't be helped. Next time
we'll have things back the old way again. These kids ain't going to hold
on much longer. Now, both of you be off!"