THE SOUND DETECTOR DETECTS
During the three-hour run east-southeast to Santa Barbara, which the Sub
Chaser reached between two and three o'clock that afternoon, the fog
lifted and the sun shone again, not only on the surrounding scene but on
the spirits of the three chums as well.
For one thing, Mr. Temple was persuaded not to hurry their departure by
train for San Francisco that night but to lay over in Santa Barbara a
day. For another, the boys received from Inspector Burton's confidences
the impression that in the next twenty-four hours developments of moment
would occur in the situation into which they had been drawn. And, being
on the ground, they believed they would be witnesses to such
developments at least, if not active participants.
For the Secret Service man confided that Inventor Bender's sound
detector had succeeded beyond his expectations and, incidentally, had
entirely upset his previous calculations by what it revealed. He had
believed, as earlier in San Francisco he had told them, that the
smugglers' cove was somewhere near San Diego in all probability. But the
sound detector very definitely had located it as in the group of wild
islands off Santa Barbara.
"Those are the islands," he said, pointing to three mountainous
formations rising from the sea to starboard. "Wild, craggy, isolated and
large; sparsely inhabited, and not on any steamer track; not a town nor
even a hamlet on any of them.
"They lie along this coast in a chain stretching seventy miles. There
are three large ones, San Miguel, the most northern, Santa Rosa and
Santa Cruz--the latter the largest and wildest. Then beyond Santa Cruz on
the south lies the mysterious vanishing island, Anacapa. At high tide it
is a group of little islands, almost submerged. At low tide, sandpits
connecting the low hummocks are revealed. This gives it the name of
'Vanishing Island.'"
"And is it on 'Vanishing Island' you believe the smugglers are located?"
asked Frank.
Inspector Burton shook his head.
"No, that island is practically uninhabitable, and, besides, would be
too open to observation. It is on one of the other three, although which
has yet to be determined. Good as is Inventor Bender's sound detector,
he said he was unable to locate the smugglers' secret radio station more
accurately than to say it was somewhere in that group. He gave me his
reasons, but I know so little about radio that I could not follow him
well."
"I know a bit about the subject of sound detectors," said Jack.
"Although it was not generally known, radio compasses were employed by
our forces and by the Allies, too, during the closing years of the war
to locate sounds. However, such compasses were not very accurate, and
from Inventor Bender's description of his own improved device I received
the impression that he had made a great advance.
"Probably," he continued, "Inventor Bender could obtain almost the exact
location of the smugglers' radio if he were able to surround the
suspected area with sound detectors. The detectors, then, would hunt out
the exact hub where the secret radio was in operation. But, if he has
brought only one or two detectors into play----"
"Three," interrupted Inspector Burton, who had followed Jack's
explanation with keen interest. "They are at San Francisco, at Ventura,
down the coast, and in the Santa Ynez mountains behind Santa Barbara."
"Then," said Jack, "the probability is that, while able to state the
secret radio is somewhere in those islands, he cannot say definitely
which one. Which one do you consider the most likely?" he queried,
turning to Inspector Burton.
"I have not formed an opinion," he said. "All three are admirably
adapted for the purposes of this Chinese-smuggling outfit. They are
thirty to fifty miles from shore, unvisited as I said. I believe there
is a launch takes occasional sightseers to Santa Cruz, the nearest, from
Santa Barbara. But they cannot stray far from the landing place and the
island, which is some twenty-seven miles long and five to fifteen miles
wide, with a range of mountains all along its length, can keep its
secrets without fear of discovery by tourists."
"Isn't it strange we have not caught sight of the trawler, if it was
heading for a refuge in those islands?" asked Bob.
Ensign Warwick answered.
"No, the obvious thing for it to do would be to take an opposite course
in the fog, stand out to sea, and run in under cover of darkness
tonight."
"Moreover," added Inspector Burton, "the smugglers' cove probably is on
the seaward side, while we are running down the channel."
"Yes," interrupted Mr. Temple, who had been leaning over the port rail,
watching the shore, and conversing with Doctor Marley whom he found a
surprisingly good companion when drawn out, "and we'll soon be in. Boys,
go forward and watch the shore and town. I'm delighted now that you have
an opportunity to see Santa Barbara, especially from this viewpoint. It
is one of the most beautiful cities in the world."
The Sub Chaser had rounded a point of land, and the curving beach of
Santa Barbara now came into view. Nearest them was a two-story structure
of light-colored stone which Inspector Burton pointed out as the
Natatorium.
A little park surrounded the structure and south of it, along the
waterfront, extended a boulevard flanked by palm trees of noble
proportions. Farther down the boulevard, amid a variety of tropical
foliage, rose a splendid hotel of huge proportions.
Back from the beach, rising steadily but gently toward the hills in the
rear, lay the town, embowered in trees. The foothills were crowned with
great houses that, in many cases, amounted to palaces. Behind all lay
the mountains of the Santa Ynez range, seeming almost to encircle the
town. Everywhere was a profusion of color, red-tiled roofs of houses
built in mission style vying with the flame of poinsettias. And over all
was a drowsy, somnolent warmth of sunshine under which the town seemed
to be taking a siesta.
Only a few bathers were in sight on the sands before the Natatorium, and
Inspector Burton explained that Santa Barbara was a winter resort,
rather than a summer one. It was July. Until September, he said, the
town would drowse under the summer sun with little activity apparent.
Then the wealthy Americans from all parts of the country who maintained
homes at Santa Barbara, and at nearby Montecito, would begin to arrive,
and the town would resume its winter gaiety.
The boat swung in to a long pier. The beat of the gasoline engines was
stilled. The speed slackened until presently the rakish craft came to
rest by the side of a floating platform, from which a flight of stairs
led to the high pier above. Ropes were thrown which several workmen on
the pier seized, and the boat was made fast. Then a little ladder was
lowered to the float, and Inspector Burton and Jack made their way
ashore. Jack had been commissioned to buy lightweight summer clothes,
shirts and shoes and hats for Mr. Temple and his two chums. He promised
to return as quickly as possible and, waving a hand in farewell, set off
along the pier with the Secret Service man.
He was not long in executing his commissions and returned in a taxicab
which rattled out to the pier and was kept waiting while Mr. Temple and
the other boys donned the clothing Jack had purchased. All praised his
selections. Then the taxi carried them back uptown to the Victoria
Hotel, some distance up State Street, the wide main thoroughfare. Ensign
Warwick accompanied them.
There, by pre-arrangement, they were met by Inspector Burton. After
lunching, the entire group retired to the sitting-room of Mr. Temple's
suite to await the arrival of Inventor Bender, who had been summoned by
telephone.
"You boys have been of such tremendous assistance so far," said
Inspector Burton, "that the least I can do in return is to let you know
what the inventor has discovered. He ought to be here shortly."
Presently from their windows overlooking the park-like grounds of the
hotel, they saw a huge, dust-covered automobile roll up to the _porte
cochere_, and recognized Inventor Bender beside the chauffeur.
"He made good time down from the mountains," said Inspector Burton,
glancing at his watch.
A few moments later the inventor was shown to the sitting room, and
entered with an air of triumph and suppressed excitement.
"Well," he cried, without even waiting to exchange greetings, "we have
got them."