As he turned to proceed up the steps, after ordering two sailors to accompany Ryan, Captain Folsom said to the boys and Lieutenant Summers, who had joined the party:
“From the way Ryan is acting, I believe he is trying to throw us off the scent, and that Higginbotham really is hidden hereabouts.”
No reply, however, was received in response to Ryan’s announcement of the ultimatum laid down by Captain Folsom, both at the secret passage under the roof and the other underground.
“Very well,” said Captain Folsom, lips compressed, at the failure of his stratagem. “We shall post guards here until we can decide what to do.”
Ryan therefore was returned to keep company with the other prisoners under guard in the big living room. In another room the two officers, together with the boys, gathered for a consultation. Tom Barnum, meantime, seeing that dawn had come, and that the first faint streaks of daylight were beginning to light up the woods outside, left the knot 166 of sailors to whom he had been recounting the events of that exciting night and re-entering the house called Jack aside.
“Mister Jack,” he said. “It’ll be broad day in another hour. Don’t you think I had better go back and tell the Temples and your housekeeper what’s become of you three and of Captain Folsom, too. If they happen to notice you’re missin’ they’ll be worried.”
“Right, Tom,” approved Jack. “But do you think it’s safe for you to make the trip alone? Some of these fellows may be lurking in the woods.”
“Oh,” said Tom, “it’ll soon be daylight, as I said. Besides, I’ll be on the beach. And, anyhow, why should any of them attack me? They’ll be runnin’ like hares to get away, and none of ’em will be around here.”
Thereupon Tom set out, and Jack returned to the conference. On his re-entry, he learned the two officers had decided to remove the liquor in the cellar to the beach and thence by boat to the Nark, as the easiest method for getting it to New York and the government warehouses for the storage of confiscated contraband. A sailor appointed to inspect the premises had reported finding a large truck and a narrow but sufficiently wide road through the woods to the beach. Evidently, it was by this method that 167 liquor had been brought from the beach to the house on occasion.
This would be a long process, but it was considered better than to attempt to remove the liquor by truck to New York. Only one truck was available, in the first place, and that would not carry more than the smallest portion of the big store of liquor.