Reluctantly Tommy obeyed.
"Now remove the other."
He did so.
The officer laid it on the table, and the bags of tobacco were revealed to view.
Passing his hands up and down the boy's vest and pants, the officer smiled serenely.
"Decided case of smuggling!" he exclaimed, triumphantly. "I'll have to arrest you. Put on your coats, and, when we land, come with me before a magistrate."
"Oh, please, sir, don't do that. Take the stuff and let me go," pleaded Tommy.
"Can't do it."
"I—I'm very sorry."
"I'm not. This is a good haul. We have suspected that there has been a great deal of smuggled tobacco taken off these ocean steamers, and I'm pleased to think we've spotted some one at last."