CHAPTER XXI
AT SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
It was early twilight when a taxicab deposited Mr. Temple and the chumsat the entrance to the pier. At the suggestion of Inspector Burton, theboys had purchased and donned corduroy trousers. Each carried also aheavy sweater to be worn later against the evening chill, for they hadbeen warned that with the going down of the sun the air would becomesharp.
"Pass," said a sailor mounting guard at the big gates which, opened ontheir arrival, since had been swung across the entrance. "You areexpected."
He was one of the men who had been on deck watch earlier aboard the SubChaser, and had been placed there because he would recognize them.
Evidently the others of the party already had arrived, for the guardbarred the gate and followed them.
"How will I go through the gates when I return," objected Mr. Temple,turning around.
"The pier watchman will see you out, sir," said the sailor, a youngfellow, touching his cap.
Struck by the beauty of the scene, the party paused several moments. Tothe boys it was a revelation. To Mr. Temple, who had visited SantaBarbara in the past, it was a recurring delight. In the west, where thesun only a few moments before had sunk beneath the waters over theshoulder of San Miguel, the sky was yet bright. But behind themdeepening twilight lay over the tree-embowered town, while still fartherto the east the mountains were in darkness and lights twinkled here andthere among the houses in the foothills.
Over all was an atmosphere of peace, of lazy contentment, so much incontrast with the object of their expedition that it was remarked by thesensitive Frank.
"As peaceful as Paradise here," he said. "While out there----" He wavedhis hand to indicate the west, and paused expressively.
The others looked at the distant islands, humped mountainously likecrouching camels against the darkening western sky.
"I wonder what will happen?" said Bob.
"Come on, fellows," added Jack. "No time for fancies. The boat istooting for us."
They hurried along the pier to the stairway. Mr. Temple did not descendto the float, but remained leaning on the railing. He was inclined to beanxious about the welfare of the boys, but Inspector Burton reassuredhim.
"I'll see they come to no harm," he said. "And young huskies can't becoddled forever, you know."
"Yes, I realize that," said Mr. Temple. "They are growing up. I knowsuch experiences are good for them, and teach them self-reliance andsharpen their wits in a crisis. That is why I am letting them go. Thatis why I let them make that wild dash into Mexico, too. Just the same,Inspector, one of the three is my son, and the others are as close assons to me. And--well, you have to be a father to appreciate it."
"I'm only an old bachelor," said Inspector Burton. "But I think I canunderstand. Well, good-bye, and rest assured I shall look out for theirwelfare."
With that, he descended to the boat, which at once forged away from thefloat. The boys stood at the rail, waving farewell to Mr. Temple untilhis figure dwindled and was lost to sight in the growing darknesslandward.
"Good old Dad," remarked Bob, feelingly, as they at last turned awayfrom the rail and made their way forward. "He'll be worried about us allthe time. But he put his feelings aside, just the same, and let us go."
"He's a peach," said Jack.
"You bet he is," Frank echoed, emphatically.
For some time they stood at the rail forward in silence, each immersedin his own thoughts. But brooding of any sort was foreign to them. Andpresently they shook off the slight thoughtfulness into which partingwith Mr. Temple had thrown them, and began to discuss the possibilitiesthat lay ahead.
Presently Inspector Burton joined them.
"Well, boys," said he in a kindly tone, "not worried about the outcome,are you?"
"Oh, no, sir," answered Frank. "Just talking over what might happen."
"That's right, don't worry," said the Secret Service man. "Probablythere will be no fighting. These fellows may not have any force at theirhangout to speak of. Perhaps, only the crew of the trawler from whichyou escaped will be on hand. If we have luck, we can surprise them. AndI doubt very much whether they will put up any resistance against UncleSam's men."
"How many men have you?" queried Jack.
"Twenty-two in the crew, including Ensign Warwick, you three, DoctorMarley and myself--twenty-seven in all."
"Doctor Marley?" exclaimed Bob, surprised.
"Yes, he is a peace-loving man," remarked Inspector Burton, with aslight smile. "But I considered it necessary to have a medical man alongin case of accident, and persuaded him to come. It was rather difficult,because he fears the anger of 'Black George' if the latter succeeds inlaying hands on him. But he consented when I showed him how preposterousit was to expect any real resistance."
"You really expect, sir, that we can locate the smugglers' place in thedarkness?" asked Jack.
"Thanks to the sound detector which you boys were instrumental indiscovering," said the Secret Service man, "I believe the smugglers areon the island of Santa Cruz. And such being the case, they probably arein one certain spot, as I told you before. But, come into the cabin andI'll show you a map."
He led the way to the tiny cabin, the boys at his heels, and whileunrolling a large map of the Channel islands, continued:
"I had hoped, after leaving you this afternoon, to obtain a guide. Butthe old Mexicano who earlier had told me about the topography of theisland, was aghast at the proposal that he should accompany us. He wasvery superstitious, I could see. Apparently, he feared some sort ofghost said to roam over the island. I couldn't make much sense of whathe said. At any rate, I had to give up the idea of obtaining him asguide, and, as it was too late to look for another, I came off withoutone. However, I believe we shall have little difficulty making our way.Now, here is the island.
"You see from this map," he continued, "the coastline of the mainland isnot north and south here, but almost due east and west. The islands aresouth of Santa Barbara. Here is Santa Cruz, and this is its northernshore, about twenty-seven miles in length.
"It is on this northern shore that we will land one party, while anotherslips around West Point, the extremity of the island. The land partywill make its way through the hills to the headwaters of this littlestream emptying into the ocean on the southern shore. The boat willcontinue around the extremity of West Point to that stream. Thus we willhave the enemy between us."
"You feel that somewhere up that stream the smugglers are located?"asked Bob.
"Yes, and probably near its mouth. The old Mexicano told me the streambroadened out to considerable width, making a small bay in which severalschooners could ride."
"And which party will we go with?"
"I think it better for you boys to stay aboard the boat. Ensign Warwickwill command the craft, while I will take a party overland."
"Very good, sir," said Jack. "But we're not likely to see muchexcitement aboard the Sub Chaser, are we?"
Inspector Burton smiled tolerantly, noting the disappointment in Jack'svoice.
"Oh, you can't tell," he said, rolling up the map. "You fellows may haveall the excitement. But, come, let us go on deck and see where we are.It's a run of only twenty-five or thirty miles to West Point and, asthis boat is under forced draught of twenty-four knots an hour, weshould be nearing the island. You see, time has been flying. It's almosteight o'clock."
The moon had not yet risen, but the stars were out and a faint afterglowof sunset still lingered in the western sky. Against that sky, ahead,there loomed a huge island with a spine of mountains down the center solofty as to wring a cry of surprise from the boys.
"I hadn't expected them to be so tall," said Jack.
"Two thousand feet," said Inspector Burton.
The boat altered its course as it approached the land and, with enginesmuffled, was running westward at reduced speed. Alongshore, the boyscould see the ghostly white breaking of the surf.
"Where will we land?" asked Bob. "Th
e mountains seem to come right downto the sea."
"We are rounding Diablo Point in the center of the northern shore now,"explained Inspector Burton. "There, ahead, you can see the shore curvesinward. Farther ahead, toward West Point on the other side of thislittle bay, the mountains dwindle out, and there is a sandy shore onwhich we can land. I'll go ashore with my command and then strike backthrough the mountains for that stream--a distance of three or four miles.
"Ensign Warwick," he said, turning to the young naval officer, who hadjoined them in the bow; "after putting us ashore, do you make your waywith as little noise as possible around West Point and down the coast tothe creek. It should not be difficult to locate.
"Allowing for possible time lost in going astray on our part, we shouldbe pretty near the mouth of the creek two hours after landing. I shallfire three shots in rapid succession when we come up with the enemy.That will be your signal. Do you then make your way into the creek, andseize the trawler or any other craft you find there.
"Have your rapid-firers unlimbered and ready for action, in case ofresistance. And remember to throw your searchlight on shore to light upthe scene when I send up a rocket.
"And now, if your small boats are ready, and the men to accompany meselected, I'll say '_au revoir_,' for I can see your pilot is bringingus to, and evidently has singled out the beach where we must land."
Eleven men were set ashore with Inspector Burton, the small boats whichcarried them returned and were hoisted aboard, and then the Sub Chaserbegan nosing her way ahead once more.
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