SMUGGLERS' LANE.
"Shall we give you a lift downstairs, Mr. Everett?" asked Garry.
"Say, do you fellows take me for a confounded child?" snorted Mr.
Everett. "Just because I get bruised up a little is no sign that I'm a
helpless invalid. I'll go downstairs by the help of myself and no one
else."
"What's that I hear, Granddad?" demanded Ruth, from the bottom of the
stairs. "You are not to stir a single step unless you let two of the
boys help you."
"There, dang it, Ruthie, can't you let me save my pride in front of
these youngsters? All right, all right, have it your own way. But I warn
you, one of these days you'll boss me too much, and then well see, we'll
see."
As the boys, a little embarrassed by the turn of events, were helping
him down the stairs, he whispered delightedly:
"Bosses me round just like a youngster, that girl does. Only way I can
save my pride is to let on that I'm awful put out about it. But Lord
bless you, if she didn't boss me, I wouldn't know what to do," he
concluded with another chuckle of pleasure.
The boys then perceived that Ruth's "bossing" was evidently a daily
occurrence, a sort of family joke, and joined in laughing with old Mr.
Everett, who seemed to take such keen delight in "saving his pride."
Breakfast was a jolly affair. The eggs were done to a turn, the bacon
crisp, the coffee like drops of amber, and the hot biscuits would fairly
melt in one's mouth. They chatted merrily while they ate. Suddenly it
occurred to Garry to ask how it was Fernald had arrived that morning.
"Why I got the whole dope on the receiving end of the fur smuggling by
your tip on the two buyers, and have that ready to clean up any time I
want to. Then I got worrying about you boys here in a strange country,
and decided to hop on and lend what assistance I could. I got as far as
I could by passenger train, and then because of bad connections, got
waylaid and found I would have had to lay over. Fortunately that fast
freight came along, and by dint of a little persuasion managed to
convince the trainmen that I was not a tramp, but on government
business, with the result that I arrived here fourteen hours quicker
than I would have otherwise. It was a piece of good fortune, for I guess
I am here in just enough time to see the finish of a thrilling case,
minus the thrills for me."
Breakfast over, Fernald said he was off for the Customs House, while the
boys prepared for a long vigil at the border to spot the "lane" used by
the smugglers in their trips.
Ruth insisted on preparing a lunch for them, and packed it so it could
be comfortably slipped in the pockets, so that no excess baggage would
bother them.
Before starting out, Garry climbed to the attic of the Everett house,
and getting the range with his glasses, computed the distance by means
of the Mill scale on the glasses. This gave him a working plan to use
when they hit the border, and could direct their steps so as to come out
almost exactly back of the Green farm. All that they needed to know was
the distance from the Everett House to the border. Ruth informed them it
was a matter of almost exactly three miles and a half, so they were now
sure of their distances and course. By making straight north for the
border, they would have the advantage of avoiding going through the main
part of the town.
Starting out, the three made their way directly to the approximate
location of the border line. They kept track of the distance by using a
careful thirty inch step, such as is used in the regular army, and
counting their paces as they went. A pace consists of two steps, and is
measured by starting off with the right foot and counting every time the
left foot strikes the ground. This makes each pace just five feet, and
as there are five thousand, two hundred eighty feet in a mile, one can
estimate when he has paced a mile within a very few feet.
Arriving at the general point where the imaginary line ran, they
branched off at right angles and walked the necessary distance to bring
them to a location in line with the Green farm. To make sure, Garry
climbed to the top of a tree, and with his glasses soon spotted the
farm.
Garry elected to stay at this point, and instructed his companions to
pace a sixteenth of a mile to either side, and there find a likely tree
and mount it to keep their long vigil.
"We ought not to have to wait a great length of time, for they will have
to get to their destination to get the furs and come back again, since
they intend to bring them tonight," said Garry. "There doesn't seem to
be any way that we can signal to each other in the event that they see
the men pass, so I suggest that a full half hour wait be made after the
man or men, for they will probably all go together, or at very near
intervals, have passed and then duck back to this tree where I am
holding out, and report. We all know what LeBlanc and Green look like,
but Dick here never saw the other two accomplices, so I'll describe them
carefully. Wait until they have all crossed before leaving your post,
and when you do, be on your guard every step of the way, to prevent
surprise."
Garry then described the men for Dick's benefit, and assuring himself
that all instructions were understood, dispatched the chums to their
posts, and then selected the tree that he intended to use for a post.
Climbing up into the branches so that he would be out of sight, and yet
be able to command a view, he made himself as comfortable as possible,
although there was no rocking chair ease. Taking off his coat he made a
sort of a cushion of it, in the crotch formed by the juncture of two
heavy branches and made ready for his wait.
Nearly two hours passed without his seeing a sign of any approach, and
the uncomfortable seat began to be irksome. Occasionally he stretched
himself by climbing up into the tree a ways, and then back again.
He was beginning to think that he had bargained for too much, to
guarantee to stay there and watch for the approach of the smugglers.
Another hour passed, and he began to be stiff and strained. At that
moment he heard a whistle, a succession of different notes which he at
once recognized as a signal often used by the three when they were
approaching each other.
In a few moments Dick loomed into view.
Garry, rescuing his coat and rifle, slid down the tree and hailed him
with the all important question as to whether he had found what they
came in search of.
"Bet you I did," promptly responded Dick, when the question had been
put. "They came in a clump almost. First the two chaps you described,
and about five minutes after, LeBlanc and Green breezed by, not letting
any grass grow under their feet. I've marked the spot well, and have
located a good trail all the way, using private signs of our own that
would be meaningless even to a woodsman familiar with all trail markings
and signs. Fact I discovered one or two unfamiliar trail signs, that I
could not recognize, and I believe they are the ones put there by a
smuggler band. I'm pretty certain that is the regular trail used. Are
you stiff? Believe me, that is the last tree sentry duty I want for a
long time to come. I'd as soon sit two hours on a telegraph wire as the
limb of a tree. Let's hike after Phil and return to town. Guess we've
done all that we can."
"Yes, nothing remains now to be done except wait for the big doings
Saturday night. Let's go, and keep a sharp lookout all the time. By the
way, how near did they pass to you?"
"Not more than twenty feet above where I was located. Evidently they do
not cut a straight line from the farm, but slant a little, unless our
reckoning was a bit off. It is likely that they swerve a bit, because
there may be a pathway across the farm that they use to get here.
Believe me, I held my breath as they went by, although there was little
danger of their seeing me. I strained my ears to see what they might be
talking about, but could get nothing, as they talked in a low tone,"
answered Dick.
In a few minutes they had come to where Phil was perched, and he
clambered down and met them. They told him the latest developments, and
then struck out for town.
"I'm all in for a little sleep. I move we go back to Everetts', and ask
them to loan us a couch or a bed or something for a couple of hours or
so. I believe I could sleep for a year."
"That's a good idea. Mr. Everett said that we were to consider the house
as headquarters until the game was bagged, so there would be no danger
of our running into a scrape and spoiling the plans," remarked Garry.
The thought of a nap made them hasten their steps, and soon they were
back at the house. Ruth admitted them, and after telling her and her
grandfather of their success, proposed a nap.
"You deserve it, certainly. You can use the big double room, there are
two beds in it, and turn in till suppertime. Fernald won't be back
before then, and there's nothing to keep you up," said Mr. Everett.
The tired boys soon tumbled into bed, and without any preamble, dropped
off to sleep. They had slept what seemed to them to be only a few
minutes, when they were awakened by Fernald.
"Tumble up now, it's six o'clock, and the young lady downstairs says
that supper will get cold if you wait any longer."
A liberal application of cold water soon aroused them, and in a little
while they were doing justice to the ample meal served up for them.
As they were eating, Fernald told them he had made arrangements for four
men to come from the Customs House and help in the capture of the band.
"That will give us five men, and with the element of surprise in our
favor, we will have little trouble in capturing them," he said.
"How do you figure five?" broke in Dick.
"Why, myself, and the four men who are coming," he answered.
"Well, where do we come in?" demanded Phil, seconded by Garry.
"Oh, I had forgotten about the possibility of you're wanting to be
there. I'm afraid that it is too dangerous," said Fernald gravely.
The protests of the three came almost in one voice, until Fernald,
unable to keep a straight face any longer, broke out into a shout of
laughter. The boys then saw that he had been indulging in a quiet bit of
fun at their expense, and they were not to be cheated out of their share
in the capture of the outfit.
After supper the boys pitched in and helped wash and wipe dishes,
although Miss Ruth protested. Used as they were to camping, washing
dishes was no new experience to them.
A pleasant evening was passed, and then the chums trooped off to bed,
Fernald sharing the big room with them.
"Just think, while we are sleeping, LeBlanc and his outlaws will be
coming across the border with their cargo of furs," said Dick, as they
prepared for bed. "And we don't get any excitement now till the night
after tomorrow. It will seem an age, the waiting."
They were up with the sun, and after breakfast Fernald left to loiter
around the town, and see what could be seen, or hear any gossip. Of
course by this time LeBlanc knew that Phil had been rescued, so Fernald
judged that the safest thing for the boys to do was to keep either in
the house or close to it, thus giving LeBlanc the idea that the trio had
decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and had gotten out
of such a dangerous locality.
"I'd like to have seen LeBlanc's face when he found out that Phil had
given him the slip. I'll bet he was mad enough to chew nails," chuckled
Garry.
The day did not prove half so long in passing as the boys expected that
it would. Mr. Everett told them many a tale of the early days on the
border, and other stories of smugglers along the coast line, where he
first entered the Customs service.
There was a piano in the parlor, and the boys found that Ruth played in
excellent manner, and found hearty enjoyment in singing while she
played. Garry was greatly pleased to find that Mr. Everett played chess,
and they enjoyed several games.
Fernald returned in the evening with the report that LeBlanc had not put
in an appearance, but that Green had been much in evidence all through
the afternoon, and wore an aspect of being greatly pleased.
"Tomorrow night he won't be quite so tickled about things as he appeared
to be this afternoon," the agent remarked.
"Tomorrow night is a long way off, wish it was tomorrow night right
now," half grumbled Phil.
"Patience, my boy, patience. You know all things come to those who
wait," said Mr. Everett.
Mr. Everett had gained considerably in strength, and with the exception
of his broken arm, was as well as ever, showing what a fine healthy
constitution he possessed.
The second day seemed to be even longer in passing, for staying so much
in the house began to pall on the boys, who craved excitement.
In the later afternoon, the four men from the Customs House came,
arriving singly. They gathered in the big dining room, and there
received instructions from Fernald, who had assumed the lead.
The instructions were simple. The boys were to lead them to the "lane,"
as they called it, and there they would deploy slightly and lay in wait
for the quarry.
"I procured at the Customs House a star shell, such as was used during
the war. When the men are over the line, and almost upon us, I will
light it, and each one will pick a man and cover him. There will
probably be seven of them, LeBlanc and Green, their two aids, the two
Russians, and the man Anderson that you boys speak of. There are eight
of us here, and we will be joined when we start out by the sheriff of
this county and two deputies, who will arrive here after dark. That
makes a force of eleven, enough to do the work."
"You mean there are twelve of us," broke in Everett. "I am going to be
the twelfth man. Just because one arm is laid up doesn't mean that the
other one cannot do double duty."
All protests were unavailing, and rather than deny him the pleasure of
being one of the party, Fernald allowed that he could go, first
demanding and getting a promise that if there should be a mix-up he
would lose no time in getting to safety.
"We'll lay back a bit from the spot where they cross, because the arrest
must be made on this side of the border, otherwise we would get in a jam
with our neighbors to the north of us, and the arrest would not be
valid, for they are not smugglers till they have crossed the line. One
of your duties, boys, will be to keep your flashlamps going after the
star shell has dimmed. That will last long enough to show them our
force, and I anticipate no resistance."
Shortly after dark fell, the party was joined by the sheriff and his two
deputies, and the little force, led by the three chums, made their way
over the course taken the morning they set out in search of the point of
crossing made by the smugglers.
Walking in Indian file, with no conversation other than an occasional
direction or order given in a low tone of voice, they reached the border
line. The boys felt a thrill of excitement at the thought of the part
they were playing on this adventurous night. Soon they reached the point
where Garry had watched, and from then on, Dick was the sole guide.
Flashing his lamp only often enough to find the trail marks he had left,
he led the way unerringly to the point where he had seen them cross.
There was no light save the feeble bit given by the stars, for it was in
the dark of the moon.
"Now," whispered Dick to Fernald, "it was at this point that they
crossed the border."
"All right, now men, follow me."
Fernald led the way back about twenty feet, having received the
assurance of Everett, who was thoroughly familiar with that part of the
country, that they were on the American side, and ordered the men to lay
down, keeping their rifles and revolvers constantly at hand.
"No man is to make a move till I explode the star shell, then each one
here pick a man. If orders are implicitly obeyed, there will be no
trouble and no bloodshed."
"Beg pardon, sir," said Garry. "If we are laying down and you explode
the shell, we'll be at a disadvantage, losing precious seconds in
springing to our feet. I suggest you and I stay close together, and a
few seconds before you are going to explode the shell, give me two taps
on the shoulder. Then I can give the cry of a hoot owl, and each man can
jump to his feet to be ready when the shell lights up the surroundings."
"Fine. Every man here know the cry of an owl?"
All did, so Fernald gave the order to lie down. The long, long minutes
dragged into an hour, and the hour into a second. The boys were so
restless that it was hard to lie quiet and still, but they forced
themselves to.
It was almost midnight, but it seemed like a week to the boys, when the
cracking of twigs and the crunch of feet warned of the approach of men.
It proved to be the party, for they heard a low growling imprecation
from Green as he stumbled over some object. Garry nudged Fernald, and
immediately felt two sharp taps on his shoulder. At once he imitated the
plaintive hoo-o-o- hoo-o-o- of an owl.
The men sprang to their feet. Fernald pressed the detonator of the star
shell, tossing it into the air as he did so. It fell to the ground and
shed its light, making it seem as bright and glaring as it would be in
the noonday sun.
The attacked party halted as though turned to stone for a moment, so
great was their surprise. Then Green let out a mighty cry.
They had no chance, for the businesslike rifles and revolvers of a dozen
men were pointed straight at them. The two Russians were unarmed, and
consequently unable to do anything had they wished. Every man gave up
except one.
That was the half-breed, LeBlanc. With a cry of rage he fired his rifle
into the midst of the men, fortunately hitting no one, and then turning,
ran fleet as a deer back across the border. One of the deputies raised
his rifle to shoot, but was speedily checked by Fernald.
"Shoot above his head to try and stop him, but don't hit him. He's on
the other side of the border now!"
Then ordering the men to extend their hands, the Customs agents soon had
them securely handcuffed.
Just at that moment an appalling thought came to Garry.
"Oh, Mr. Fernald. Suppose LeBlanc had the jewels!"
Truly the thought was a chilling one, but Fernald, always a man of
action, made no reply, but sprang to the side of one of the Russians and
searched him hastily but carefully. His search revealed nothing. Then
he turned to the second, and in a minute uttered a jubilant shout.
"This fellow has a chamois money belt on, and unless I'm greatly
mistaken, that's where the jewels are."
Making the Russian strip off his shirt, he unhooked the money belt, and
while Garry held his light, examined the pockets.
Each one was crowded with magnificent gems that flashed under the rays
of the flashlamp!