CHAPTER XXV
A WELL OILED MACHINE
One thing in particular Jack had noticed--this was the fact that shortlybefore this stop had been made they had left the main stream, and pushedup some smaller subsidiary, although the water seemed to be quite deep.
He had found it easy to understand just how speedboats, loaded down tothe gunnels with sacks of contraband, were able to come up from themouth of the Yamasaw, and make their passage safe by means ofsearchlights on board for that particular purpose--since they mustinvariably choose the night for making their depot, and eluding suchsearching Coast Patrol revenue cutters as were on duty in those shorewaters.
It made Jack smile to think how in turn he was heading a swift patrol ofthe air, inaugurated to sweep this audacious combine from the sea, andbreak up the powerful syndicate so long defying the Government.
"It's now got down to brass tacks," he was telling himself, as with Perkat his side he carefully followed at the heels of the crawling crackerguide; "and a case of dog eat dog, as Perk would call it; so I only hopeour canine will act the part of a German police, or shepherd dog, andeat up the other beast, that's all."
The closer they drew to the camp of the smugglers the more Jethro drewupon his education as a skillful tracker and guide to avoid discovery.Perk, taking occasional sly peeps, could make out a number ofrough-looking men moving here and there, as though restless; and fromthis fact he felt confident they must be waiting for the arrival ofsomething that had to do with their presence here in this isolated camp.
Yes, and presently he also discovered several huge motor trucks parkednearby, the presence of which settled the matter; for he knew positivelya laden speedboat must be on the way, probably bucking against thecurrent of the river at that identical minute. If they stood by theirguns the best part of the night they might witness a transfer of thecontraband from boat to truck; and, if very lucky, even pick up someinformation regarding the destination of the double load.
When finally Jethro came to a halt they were really as close to the campas the lay of the ground on that side would permit, without taking toorisky chances for discovery.
Perk was soon pulling at Jack's sleeve as if desirous of attracting hiscomrade's attention. Seeing that the other was so persistent Jackinclined his ear as a sign for the other to only speak in the faintestpossible whisper, which of course Perk only too well knew was absolutelynecessary.
"Looky--over there jest back o' thet tree, an' away from the fires--aintthat some sorter crate yeou kin lamp?"
"Just what it is, a plane, and a whopping big one to boot," Jack assuredhim, when he could find Perk's ear. "No seaplane after all, so it can'tbe used for going out to the mother ship; but flies over the land,taking some sort of stuff to a certain depot--may have fetched a bunchof Chinks over from Cuba on its last trip. Keep still, now, Wally, andjust watch."
The time dragged on until several hours had passed since they arrived atthe landing field and camp of those busy bees engaged in hoodwinkingUncle Sam, and all his efficient coast patrol both on sea and the land.
Then a throbbing sound reached their ears; at the same time they couldnotice how the men no longer rough-housed among themselves. On thecontrary they began to gather at a small wharf built so that a boatcould draw alongside, and let the cargo be transferred to the waitingtrucks for further transportation.
Perk again touched his best pal's arm, to whisper:
"Boat's a kickin' up agin the current, an' gettin' nigh here," he said.
"Okay, but put a stopper on your tongue, matey--eyes are all we needright now--maybe ears as well, to pick up anything that's said worthwhile."
Thus crushed Perk fell back, and concentrated his observation upon thestirring little night drama that would soon be moving along at fullspeed--a common enough event it must be, judging by the long securityfrom interruption these reckless worthies had enjoyed.
The strong glare of a large searchlight down on the waterway grewbrighter continually, showing that the approaching boat must be close athand. Presently they were able to make her out, although almost dazzledby the brilliant light up in her bow, rendered necessary by the snagsand rocks scattered at intervals all along the Yamasaw.
No sooner had the boat been warped to the dock than men flocked aboard,and began to tote the heaped-up heavy sacks ashore. There could be notthe shadow of a doubt concerning the nature of their contents, foroccasionally the eagerly listening trio caught the sound of flint glassstriking against a similar clinking object; and when one sack seemed toaccidentally come open, Jack caught the sheen of the light on a serriedrow of bottles, all bearing foreign labels. He even saw the man carryingthe same swiftly crib a bottle, and conceal it under a friendly strip ofwood, as though laying by a means for conviviality at a later hour.
Taken in all it was a rather tempting spectacle for a pair of SecretService bloodhounds to find spread out before their admiring eyes. Jackwas priming his ears so as to catch any careless words spoken by thesemen landing the cargo fetched from one of those mother ships standing byoff the shore. Even a name spoken would be treasured in hopes of iteventually turning the scrutiny of Uncle Sam's vigilant enforcers of therevenue laws upon some party, who thus far had never once been suspectedas allied with this formidable conspiracy.
It did not take very long for the numerous workers to clear the decksand hold of the numerous staunch burlap sacks, each of which must haveheld possibly a full dozen quart bottles.
Some four stout men, apparently the crews of the two big motortrucks,kept busy loading the stuff aboard their cars. Evidently they meant tocover the entire load under some hay that was heaped up close by,possibly fetched for this very purpose, the whole being well tucked downunder a dingy looking but stout tarpaulin that could be roped securelyby expert hands.
Yes, it was certainly all very interesting, and instructive as well, butthen the three watchers were no novices, all of them having witnessedsimilar sights many times in the past.
At least Jack had reason to believe certain things that floated to hisears,--mostly names being mentioned by some of the talkativeworkers--might prove strong clues, that, being followed up to theirlogical conclusion, would bring interesting developments later on.
This encouraged him very much, as he realized he was now in a positionto reap some sort of harvest to pay for the hard work he had beenputting in.
Now that the speed boat had been cleared of its heavy load there weremovements aboard looking to a departure. It being already past midnightperhaps the master of the blockade runner--having been duly postedthrough some obscure means--knew just about where the Government vesselfrom which he had the most to fear would be cruising at that hour; andfigured it would be a wise move on his part to gain the high seas assoon as convenient.
Perk saw these actions with falling spirits--he had been so sure Jackmeant to begin operations without any delay that to thus let that swiftcontraband runner get away unscathed was really too bad.
So he had to crouch there behind the network of bushes, and see thevessel back away from the rough-looking dock, swing around in the narrowbut deep creek, and then disappear down-stream, the light of its glowingreflector gradually dying out as it drew farther away.
"Huh! nawthin' doin' seems like," Perk was telling himself in bitterdisappointment. "I'd a given a heap jest to slip one o' my ballytime-bombs aboard that ere craft, so she'd bust into flames when faraway down the river; but Jack, he doant seem ready to hit the fustcrack."
Next the two laden trucks pulled out, and could be heard bumping alongthe road, to take their chances of getting through without being stoppedby either high-jackers or revenue men.
"Makin' straight fo' that same corduroy road as runs plumb through themarsh; an' headin' due north, too," Perk further told himself, seeingthat evidently trying to talk with his chum was taboo for the timebeing, "Goin' up to Baltimore, I reckon, whar they got a big taste fo'strong stuff, 'specially se
ch as comes in from abroad--reg'lar goods,with a big kick backin' same. Huh!"
Jack had for some little time been looking earnestly first at thenearest campfire, and then diverting his gaze, seemed to stare over towhere the outlaw plane rested. It was as though it might be waiting forsome particular event, when possibly it would start off, after takingaboard certain valuables that would come by another airship from somepoint in the West Indies, evading the customs, and giving a rich bonanzato whoever was interested in thus beating the Government revenue.
"I say, Perk," he whispered in the ear of his mate.
The other must have sensed something of unusual importance coming, forhe displayed considerable eagerness as he moderated his own voice to itsvery lowest pitch, and made answer:
"On deck, suh!"
"That plane--I've been noticing how it's left high and dry there," Jackwas saying, significantly, Perk thought.
"Shore is, suh," the latter went on, invitingly.
"I figure that any clever lad might be able to creep close to thesame--coming along by that line of bushes you can notice on the sideaway from the fires, and the big searchlights they use when a ship istaking off at night."
"Easy--reg'lar snap, I'd say, suh."
"I've also figured out that it wouldn't be impossible for any clever ladto creep around from here without being seen, and so get in close gripswith that same plane--how?"
Perk lifted his head a trifle, and appeared to study the conditions,which was not at all surprising since up to that minute it had neveronce occurred to him there would be any call upon him for such services.
"I'd be tickled pink to tackle the job, suh--jest try me!" he finallydeclared, and at that without even asking why such a dangerous missionshould enter into the head of his superior.
"Can you first of all sneak back to the boat, and pick up that littlebottle you filled with gasoline before we left the Crocodile?"
"Easy as all get aout, that's right, suh."
"Well, make sure you've got plenty of matches that strike without makingany snap," warned Jack; "because we have a chance to get rid of thefirst outlaw airship, and so make our initial dent in the ironcladsyndicate!"
Flying the Coast Skyways; Or, Jack Ralston's Swift Patrol Page 25
